(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) Jesus Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Kingdom of Solomon
(Part - 5)
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Prosperity and Joy
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Holiness
- Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Kingdom of Solomon
“He had peace on all sides around about him. So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.”
(1 Kings 4:24-25)
The time of Solomon is a time of peace and is seen in scripture to foreshadow the time of the Messiah’s earthly kingdom, “In His (a righteous Branch) days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely,” (Jer 23:6). The name Solomon (“Shlomo”) is derived from the Hebrew word for peace, “shalom.” The phrase “every man under his vine and his fig tree,” is seen by the rabbis as a metaphor for the prosperity, blessing, and peace that accompanies the kingdom. Micah connects the fig tree to the coming of the kingdom saying,
“They will hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they train for war. 4 Each of them will sit under his vine And under his fig tree, With no one to make them afraid,” (Mic 4:3-4)
Sitting under the fig tree was seen by the prophets as a time of personal and national peace that is brought about through the removal of iniquity by “My servant the Branch.” Zechariah wrote of this time saying,
"‘Behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch’…declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.’ ‘In that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’”
(Zech 3:8-10)
We see this concept of “sitting under the fig tree” in the New Testament when Jesus called Nathanael to be a disciple. “‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,’” (John 1:48). The statement of Jesus results in Nathanel alluding to the kingdom of God, “You are the Son of God; the King of Israel,” (John 1:49).
The fig tree was a picture of the kingdom and is used in scripture to foreshadow the return of the kingdom, “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near,” (Luke 21:31). Since the fig tree is seen in the context of the physical land of Israel, both in Solomon’s kingdom and the ministry of Jesus, the reappearance of the land of Israel announces the season for the coming of the kingdom.
The days of Solomon were a time of unprecedented understanding and wisdom. In the days of Solomon, “All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart,” (1 Kings 10:24). In the words of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, “How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom,” (1 Kings 10:8). The days of Solomon foreshadowed the days of the coming kingdom spoken by Isaiah about Jerusalem, “All the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths,” (Is 2:2-3). The teacher will be Jesus and the world will come to know the ways of the LORD.
Jesus alluded to the days of Solomon saying, “The Queen of the South…came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is hear,” (Luke 11:31). It was not just royalty that had access to Solomon, but “your servants who stand before you.” Even two women who were harlots were able to come and stand in the presence of the king in the famous story of Solomon’s wisdom, (1 Kings 3:16-28).
The deficiency of Solomon’s kingdom was not its inability to influence the world, but that Solomon let the world of his wives influence him to build high places to foreign gods that would ultimately result in the downfall of Judah.
During the time of Solomon’s reign, the nation of Israel possessed great wealth, “All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold…None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon,” (1 Kings 10:21). Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. Ships brought wealth to nation from other countries, “They brought…articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mule… year by year,” (1 Kings 10:25). So it shall also be in the days of the coming kingdom.
“The abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6 ‘A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD…11 ‘Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession…16 ‘You will also suck the milk of nations And suck the breast of kings; Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 "Instead of bronze I will bring gold, And instead of iron I will bring silver, And instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. And I will make peace your administrators And righteousness your overseers." (Isa 60:5-17)
The bringing of “gold and frankincense” by the wise men to Jesus (Matt 2:11), may have been in response to the prophecy of Isaiah and a testimony that the magi believed Jesus would bring about the fulfillment of the kingdom. How do we know that the time Isaiah speaks of is the Millennial Kingdom, because his prophecy is followed by the words mirror those of John,
“No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over. Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever…The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, the LORD will hasten it in its time.”
(Isa 60:19-22)(Rev 21:23).
The rabbis saw the latter part of this Isaiah passage as speaking of the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom prophesized elsewhere in scripture. They noted the seeming contradiction between the kingdom coming “in its time,” while at the same time, the LORD “will hasten it.”
“Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked, ‘It is written (Isa 60:22) “in its time” and is written, “I will hasten it”’. He answered, ‘If they merit it, I will hasten it (HASHEM will bring the promised redeemer before the appointed time). But if they do not merit it, he will nevertheless come at the appointed time.’”
Jesus and the apostles appeared to have different interpretations of Isaiah 60:22. Peter seemed to hold a position that the date of Jesus’ return could be brought about sooner by the righteous deeds of the saints. “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,” (2 Peter 3:11-12).
On the other hand, Jesus appeared to indicate to the apostles that the future day of His return associated with the kingdom was fixed by God, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority,” (Acts 1:7). If the time is fixed, how did Jesus understand “hasten it in its time”? Maybe Jesus explained the phrase this way concerning the coming tribulation, “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matt 24:22). Maybe "hasten" will mean to "cut short" and will be an act of grace and mercy not dependant on the actions of man.
(to be continued - Scott)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Seek First the Kingdom - Part 4
(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) Jesus Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness (Part 4)
- The Promised Land (Part 4)
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom - Prosperity and Joy - Peace - Righteousness - Holiness - Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Wilderness
The time Israel spent in the wilderness is one of the patterns in scripture for the kingdom. God provided manna every morning for the people to eat so they did not have to sow, cultivate, or harvest. All the gospel writers record at least one of the miraculous feeding of the multitudes by Jesus because it both identifies Jesus with Moses and testifies to the power of the Kingdom of God. In the wilderness, there was no need to dig wells because the people all drank from the rock that miraculously flowed water and followed the nation wherever it resided, (1 Cor 10:4). The miraculous water is like that which will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem, (Rev 22:1).
After the Exodus, the LORD promised the nation of Israel that He would keep the diseases and infirmities that plagued the Egyptians away from the Hebrew people.
“You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. ‘The LORD will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all who hate you.’” (Deut 7:14-15)
There is a hint of extended life in the wilderness in the persons of Caleb, Joshua, and Moses. The latter two were probably at least forty when they entered the wilderness and lived forty years in the wilderness. Joshua then had strength to lead the nation into the Promised Land and conquer the nations. It was said of Moses when the LORD took him, “Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated,” (Deut 34:7). The Bible indicates that Moses did not age in the presence of the LORD. Nehemiah records that in the wilderness even “their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell,” (Neh 9:21).
Scripture prophesizes of a future time that alludes to the days of Israel in the wilderness, where the people of Israel were even protected from the elements.
“The LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.” (Isa 4:5-6)
In the wilderness, all the needs of the people were met and they were protected against the elements and disease so that the majority of every day and night could be devoted to dwelling in the presence of God Who tabernacled among them. The “flaming fire by night” gives hint to the illumination of God at all times and foreshadows the time in the New Jerusalem when “the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light,” (Rev 21:23-24).
The annual Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration that looks forward to God’s Kingdom on earth foreshadowed by the experience of Israel as they dwelled in tents in the wilderness when the LORD tabernacled among them. I smile when I say this because believers are often too fixated on their “mansion above.” The people in the wilderness lived in tents, which is given as the picture of our mansion above. You see, it is not what you live in, but who you are living with, God Almighty. We are not blessed with the same ability to be removed from cares and burdens in the present world, but we look forward to a time when we will live continually in the presence of the LORD.
The tabernacle gave the people of Israel a unique access to the LORD through Moses. When a man was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath the case was taken directly to the LORD Who instructed the nation to stone the individual who violated the Sabbath, (Num 15:32-35). Ultimately, Moses did not have the stamina or opportunity to hear every case or to bring every question before the LORD. The human nature of Moses became the weak link for each person in the nation to have access to the LORD. In the Millennial Kingdom, the righteous will have access to the LORD.
One sobering fact of the wilderness is the judgment that came on all those who did not believe, (Jude 1:5). No man twenty years old or older who left Egypt entered the Promised Land because of disbelief, except Joshua and Caleb. It is not clear when most of the deaths occurred, whether these died throughout the course of the nation’s wandering in the wilderness or near the end to allow time to raise the new generation. Some speculate that Korah’s rebellion (Num 16), occurred near the end of the wilderness as a reaction to the judgment that was occurring. Miriam, Aaron, and Moses all died during the last few weeks in the wilderness.
A final rebellion, then judgment, followed by the entry into the Promised Land follows the pattern of Revelation. In the Book of Revelations, the end of the Millennial Kingdom is depicted as a time of rebellion, as Satan deceives the nations into attacking “the camp of the saints and the beloved city (Jerusalem),” (Rev 20:9). Satan is defeated and thrown with his followers into the lake of fire. At the conclusion of this conflict, the dead are resurrected, judged, and those whose names are not written in the book of life are also thrown into the lake of fire, (Rev 20:15). At this time, those whose names are written in the book of life are ushered into the new heaven and new earth, where “nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying shall ever come into it,” (Rev 21:1-27).
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Promised Land
“So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey,” (Ex 3:8)
The Promised Land is seen as a land of abundance, the desired destination of the people of Israel. As the old church hymnal goes, “To Canaan’s land I’m on my way.” I have always wondered why the song refers to the land as “Canaan’s land” and not “Israel” since the Canaanites were a pagan worshiping and child sacrificing civilization. Moses gave the people of Israel a lengthy description of the Promise Land at the end of their journey in the wilderness.
“A land flowing with milk and honey,” (Deut 11:9)
Sounds like a great opportunity where the "all these blessing" of the LORD "overtake you if you obey." The LORD promised a land where the nation of Israel would be:
The United States does not sound like the Promised Land. Maybe it has to do with our level of obedience to the Word of God. The Promised Land contained the essential ingredients of the kingdom previously discussed: Prosperity, Peace, Righteousness, and the presence of the LORD Who would dwell in the midst of the people. All these blessings were promised, but contingent on the obedience of the people, “if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them,” (Deut 28:13-14).
Unfortunately, the people did not remain obedient to the commandments of the LORD. The promises, which had been contingent on the obedience of the people, were deferred, but not lost forever. The prophet Zechariah foretold of a future time when the promises will be fulfilled for the remnant of the people of Israel.
“'But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days, 'declares the LORD of hosts. 'For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.’” (Zech 8:11-12)
(to be continued - Scott)
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) Jesus Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness (Part 4)
- The Promised Land (Part 4)
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom - Prosperity and Joy - Peace - Righteousness - Holiness - Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Wilderness
The time Israel spent in the wilderness is one of the patterns in scripture for the kingdom. God provided manna every morning for the people to eat so they did not have to sow, cultivate, or harvest. All the gospel writers record at least one of the miraculous feeding of the multitudes by Jesus because it both identifies Jesus with Moses and testifies to the power of the Kingdom of God. In the wilderness, there was no need to dig wells because the people all drank from the rock that miraculously flowed water and followed the nation wherever it resided, (1 Cor 10:4). The miraculous water is like that which will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem, (Rev 22:1).
After the Exodus, the LORD promised the nation of Israel that He would keep the diseases and infirmities that plagued the Egyptians away from the Hebrew people.
“You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. ‘The LORD will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all who hate you.’” (Deut 7:14-15)
There is a hint of extended life in the wilderness in the persons of Caleb, Joshua, and Moses. The latter two were probably at least forty when they entered the wilderness and lived forty years in the wilderness. Joshua then had strength to lead the nation into the Promised Land and conquer the nations. It was said of Moses when the LORD took him, “Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated,” (Deut 34:7). The Bible indicates that Moses did not age in the presence of the LORD. Nehemiah records that in the wilderness even “their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell,” (Neh 9:21).
Scripture prophesizes of a future time that alludes to the days of Israel in the wilderness, where the people of Israel were even protected from the elements.
“The LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.” (Isa 4:5-6)
In the wilderness, all the needs of the people were met and they were protected against the elements and disease so that the majority of every day and night could be devoted to dwelling in the presence of God Who tabernacled among them. The “flaming fire by night” gives hint to the illumination of God at all times and foreshadows the time in the New Jerusalem when “the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light,” (Rev 21:23-24).
The annual Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration that looks forward to God’s Kingdom on earth foreshadowed by the experience of Israel as they dwelled in tents in the wilderness when the LORD tabernacled among them. I smile when I say this because believers are often too fixated on their “mansion above.” The people in the wilderness lived in tents, which is given as the picture of our mansion above. You see, it is not what you live in, but who you are living with, God Almighty. We are not blessed with the same ability to be removed from cares and burdens in the present world, but we look forward to a time when we will live continually in the presence of the LORD.
The tabernacle gave the people of Israel a unique access to the LORD through Moses. When a man was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath the case was taken directly to the LORD Who instructed the nation to stone the individual who violated the Sabbath, (Num 15:32-35). Ultimately, Moses did not have the stamina or opportunity to hear every case or to bring every question before the LORD. The human nature of Moses became the weak link for each person in the nation to have access to the LORD. In the Millennial Kingdom, the righteous will have access to the LORD.
One sobering fact of the wilderness is the judgment that came on all those who did not believe, (Jude 1:5). No man twenty years old or older who left Egypt entered the Promised Land because of disbelief, except Joshua and Caleb. It is not clear when most of the deaths occurred, whether these died throughout the course of the nation’s wandering in the wilderness or near the end to allow time to raise the new generation. Some speculate that Korah’s rebellion (Num 16), occurred near the end of the wilderness as a reaction to the judgment that was occurring. Miriam, Aaron, and Moses all died during the last few weeks in the wilderness.
A final rebellion, then judgment, followed by the entry into the Promised Land follows the pattern of Revelation. In the Book of Revelations, the end of the Millennial Kingdom is depicted as a time of rebellion, as Satan deceives the nations into attacking “the camp of the saints and the beloved city (Jerusalem),” (Rev 20:9). Satan is defeated and thrown with his followers into the lake of fire. At the conclusion of this conflict, the dead are resurrected, judged, and those whose names are not written in the book of life are also thrown into the lake of fire, (Rev 20:15). At this time, those whose names are written in the book of life are ushered into the new heaven and new earth, where “nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying shall ever come into it,” (Rev 21:1-27).
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Promised Land
“So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey,” (Ex 3:8)
The Promised Land is seen as a land of abundance, the desired destination of the people of Israel. As the old church hymnal goes, “To Canaan’s land I’m on my way.” I have always wondered why the song refers to the land as “Canaan’s land” and not “Israel” since the Canaanites were a pagan worshiping and child sacrificing civilization. Moses gave the people of Israel a lengthy description of the Promise Land at the end of their journey in the wilderness.
“A land flowing with milk and honey,” (Deut 11:9)
- “A land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,” (Deut 11:11)
- “A land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year,” (Deut 11:12)
- "He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil,” (Deut 11:14)
- “He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied,” (Deut 11:15)
Sounds like a great opportunity where the "all these blessing" of the LORD "overtake you if you obey." The LORD promised a land where the nation of Israel would be:
- Blessed in every place (v 3 & 6),
- Blessed in the offspring of man, animal, and field (v 4, 8, 11, & 12),
- Blessed in every endeavor of the hands (v 5 & 8),
- Protected from enemies (v 7)
- Established as a holy people (v 9)
- Called by the name of the LORD (v 10)
- A Leader among the nations (v 13)
The United States does not sound like the Promised Land. Maybe it has to do with our level of obedience to the Word of God. The Promised Land contained the essential ingredients of the kingdom previously discussed: Prosperity, Peace, Righteousness, and the presence of the LORD Who would dwell in the midst of the people. All these blessings were promised, but contingent on the obedience of the people, “if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them,” (Deut 28:13-14).
Unfortunately, the people did not remain obedient to the commandments of the LORD. The promises, which had been contingent on the obedience of the people, were deferred, but not lost forever. The prophet Zechariah foretold of a future time when the promises will be fulfilled for the remnant of the people of Israel.
“'But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days, 'declares the LORD of hosts. 'For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.’” (Zech 8:11-12)
(to be continued - Scott)
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Seek First the Kingdom - Part 3
(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) I Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom? (Part - 3)
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture (Part - 3)
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Prosperity and Joy
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Holiness
- Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
(10) The Millenium Kingdom
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM?
Most believers acknowledge the existence of the kingdom, but not many see the propagation of the kingdom as central to the earthly ministry of Jesus. Fewer still can define the kingdom in a concise manner, which makes it difficult to fulfill the commandment, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matt 6:33). This difficulty is due, in part, to the broad variation and seemingly contradictory scripture concerning the kingdom. Matthew records Jesus saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 4:17), while at the same time, John records Jesus saying, "My kingdom is not of this world," (John 18:36).
Luke records Jesus saying, "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:21), while at the same time believers are told to pray, "Your kingdom come," (Luke 11:2). Paul adds to the confusion telling Timothy, "The LORD will rescue me…and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom," (2 Tim 4:18). Even the words of the Hebrew writer, "since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken" (Heb 12:28), shade the kingdom as a future event and not a present reality. One time when Jesus was near Jerusalem, the people "supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately," (Luke 19:11). The words of Luke make us wonder what the people expected to appear. So which statements are correct? Is the "kingdom at hand" and "in your midst" or is the kingdom "not of this world" and in "heaven" requiring us to pray, "Your kingdom come"?
Matthew consistently refers to the kingdom as "the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:10), while the other gospel accounts almost universally refer to the kingdom as "the kingdom of God," (Mark 14:24)(Luke 9:60)(John 3:3). Although different in terminology, the phrases are one and the same in reference. Since Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience, the author elected to use a circumlocution to protect the Most Holy Name of the Creator. Jesus also employed this technique, substituting alternate names to avoid referring to the creator by His most Holy Name. The most common circumlocution Jesus used was "Father," but other examples He used include Most High, Heaven, and LORD.
The kingdom is confusing because it both exists in the present world, while at the same time, the kingdom is moving toward a greater and greater fulfillment to be witnessed at "His appearing and His kingdom," (2 Tim 4:1). Although the kingdom of God existed from the "foundation of the world" (Matt 25:34), the fullness of the kingdom has not yet been revealed. Such is the revelation of God’s plan to the creation, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live," (John 5:25). Like the resurrection that occurred in the days of Jesus and will have a greater fulfillment at His return, so the kingdom was also revealed in the days of Jesus, while it awaits a greater fullness in the days of His return.
The most concise definition of the kingdom in scripture can be found in the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," (Matt 6:10). From the words of Jesus, the kingdom can be understood to exist in any person or place where God’s rule is accepted as supreme. Contrary to what most believers have understood, the kingdom is not the church, though the church is a subset of the kingdom. The kingdom existed long before the church, but the church has been given a significant role in revealing the kingdom to the world in this present age. Paul summarized the kingdom in terms of the fruit it produces.
"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men" (Rom 14:17-18).
Uniting the statements of Jesus and Paul leads the believer to understand that the kingdom exists where the submission to God’s will produces righteousness, peace, and joy. The words of Paul provide a framework to understand characteristics of the kingdom that we will explored later in this chapter. The greater these attributes are exhibited, the greater the presence of the kingdom.
One way to understand the kingdom is to examine patterns in scripture that foreshadow the fullness of the kingdom because these patterns contain characteristics of the kingdom. Examples include:
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Lane
- The Disciples After Receiving the Holy Spirit
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Life and Ministry of Jesus
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden prior to the fall, "Paradise," stands as a picture of the fullness in the coming kingdom. Hunger was never a concern since the Garden was filled with the fruit of many trees. Although Adam had a responsibility to "cultivate" the Garden (Gen 2:15), we are given the impression that this was not a time consuming job until after the fall. Unhindered by the burdens of the world, Adam had frequent opportunity to fellowship with God. The characteristics Paul listed for the kingdom were all in the Garden prior to the fall: Prosperity, Peace, and Righteousness.
For all its bounty and proximity to the LORD God, the Garden appeared to have two striking deficiencies when compared to the future kingdom. First, Satan was permitted to roam in the Garden to tempt Adam and Eve. During Jesus’ coming reign on the earth, Satan will be bound in the abyss "so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed," (Rev 20:3). Before the "World to Come," Satan will be "thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone…and…will be tormented day and night forever and ever," (Rev 20:10).
Second, although the LORD God apparently walked with Adam in the "cool of the day" (Gen 3:8), scripture is unclear if Adam was always in the presence of God. Apparently Adam and Eve were not in the presence of God when they were tempted by Satan since Adam and Eve "hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God" (Gen 3:8). During the coming fullness of the kingdom, Jesus will be ever present ruling the nations with "a rod of iron" (Rev 19:15), until "all things are subjected to Him," (1 Cor 15:28).
Beginning in Genesis 2:4 and continuing through Genesis 3:23, the Creator is primarily referred to as the "LORD God," a name used in scripture for the totality of the Creator. The name also indicates the unique relationship that was offered to Adam and Eve by the Creator. After the fall, beginning in Genesis chapter four, the creator is more commonly referred to as "God." In fact, the Creator will tell Moses that "I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself know to them," (Ex 6:3). In other words, a revelation of the totality of God was lost to mankind after the fall. The future kingdom will restore that relationship, "’They will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD," (Jer 31:34).
In the garden, the serpent refers to the creator only as "God" (Gen 3:1), not the complete nature of the creator. Eve also refers to the creator in this manner, "God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die,’" (Gen 3:4). The fact that Eve does not refer to the creator as "LORD God" indicates that something was lacking in her relationship with the Creator, which exposed her to the tempting of the serpent. In the future kingdom, we will no longer "see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face," then we will "know fully," (1 Cor 13:12).
Finally, in the Garden, Adam and Eve had the evil inclination, which allowed them to be tempted and to sin. In the fullness of the kingdom, the evil inclination will be removed by the LORD Who will circumcise our hearts (Deut 30:6), and give us new hearts that are obedient to His will, (Ezek 36:27). In the New Jerusalem, "nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life," (Rev 21:27).
(to be continued - Scott)
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) I Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom? (Part - 3)
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture (Part - 3)
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Prosperity and Joy
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Holiness
- Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
(10) The Millenium Kingdom
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM?
Most believers acknowledge the existence of the kingdom, but not many see the propagation of the kingdom as central to the earthly ministry of Jesus. Fewer still can define the kingdom in a concise manner, which makes it difficult to fulfill the commandment, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matt 6:33). This difficulty is due, in part, to the broad variation and seemingly contradictory scripture concerning the kingdom. Matthew records Jesus saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 4:17), while at the same time, John records Jesus saying, "My kingdom is not of this world," (John 18:36).
Luke records Jesus saying, "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:21), while at the same time believers are told to pray, "Your kingdom come," (Luke 11:2). Paul adds to the confusion telling Timothy, "The LORD will rescue me…and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom," (2 Tim 4:18). Even the words of the Hebrew writer, "since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken" (Heb 12:28), shade the kingdom as a future event and not a present reality. One time when Jesus was near Jerusalem, the people "supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately," (Luke 19:11). The words of Luke make us wonder what the people expected to appear. So which statements are correct? Is the "kingdom at hand" and "in your midst" or is the kingdom "not of this world" and in "heaven" requiring us to pray, "Your kingdom come"?
Matthew consistently refers to the kingdom as "the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:10), while the other gospel accounts almost universally refer to the kingdom as "the kingdom of God," (Mark 14:24)(Luke 9:60)(John 3:3). Although different in terminology, the phrases are one and the same in reference. Since Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience, the author elected to use a circumlocution to protect the Most Holy Name of the Creator. Jesus also employed this technique, substituting alternate names to avoid referring to the creator by His most Holy Name. The most common circumlocution Jesus used was "Father," but other examples He used include Most High, Heaven, and LORD.
The kingdom is confusing because it both exists in the present world, while at the same time, the kingdom is moving toward a greater and greater fulfillment to be witnessed at "His appearing and His kingdom," (2 Tim 4:1). Although the kingdom of God existed from the "foundation of the world" (Matt 25:34), the fullness of the kingdom has not yet been revealed. Such is the revelation of God’s plan to the creation, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live," (John 5:25). Like the resurrection that occurred in the days of Jesus and will have a greater fulfillment at His return, so the kingdom was also revealed in the days of Jesus, while it awaits a greater fullness in the days of His return.
The most concise definition of the kingdom in scripture can be found in the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," (Matt 6:10). From the words of Jesus, the kingdom can be understood to exist in any person or place where God’s rule is accepted as supreme. Contrary to what most believers have understood, the kingdom is not the church, though the church is a subset of the kingdom. The kingdom existed long before the church, but the church has been given a significant role in revealing the kingdom to the world in this present age. Paul summarized the kingdom in terms of the fruit it produces.
"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men" (Rom 14:17-18).
Uniting the statements of Jesus and Paul leads the believer to understand that the kingdom exists where the submission to God’s will produces righteousness, peace, and joy. The words of Paul provide a framework to understand characteristics of the kingdom that we will explored later in this chapter. The greater these attributes are exhibited, the greater the presence of the kingdom.
One way to understand the kingdom is to examine patterns in scripture that foreshadow the fullness of the kingdom because these patterns contain characteristics of the kingdom. Examples include:
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Lane
- The Disciples After Receiving the Holy Spirit
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Life and Ministry of Jesus
PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden prior to the fall, "Paradise," stands as a picture of the fullness in the coming kingdom. Hunger was never a concern since the Garden was filled with the fruit of many trees. Although Adam had a responsibility to "cultivate" the Garden (Gen 2:15), we are given the impression that this was not a time consuming job until after the fall. Unhindered by the burdens of the world, Adam had frequent opportunity to fellowship with God. The characteristics Paul listed for the kingdom were all in the Garden prior to the fall: Prosperity, Peace, and Righteousness.
For all its bounty and proximity to the LORD God, the Garden appeared to have two striking deficiencies when compared to the future kingdom. First, Satan was permitted to roam in the Garden to tempt Adam and Eve. During Jesus’ coming reign on the earth, Satan will be bound in the abyss "so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed," (Rev 20:3). Before the "World to Come," Satan will be "thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone…and…will be tormented day and night forever and ever," (Rev 20:10).
Second, although the LORD God apparently walked with Adam in the "cool of the day" (Gen 3:8), scripture is unclear if Adam was always in the presence of God. Apparently Adam and Eve were not in the presence of God when they were tempted by Satan since Adam and Eve "hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God" (Gen 3:8). During the coming fullness of the kingdom, Jesus will be ever present ruling the nations with "a rod of iron" (Rev 19:15), until "all things are subjected to Him," (1 Cor 15:28).
Beginning in Genesis 2:4 and continuing through Genesis 3:23, the Creator is primarily referred to as the "LORD God," a name used in scripture for the totality of the Creator. The name also indicates the unique relationship that was offered to Adam and Eve by the Creator. After the fall, beginning in Genesis chapter four, the creator is more commonly referred to as "God." In fact, the Creator will tell Moses that "I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself know to them," (Ex 6:3). In other words, a revelation of the totality of God was lost to mankind after the fall. The future kingdom will restore that relationship, "’They will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD," (Jer 31:34).
In the garden, the serpent refers to the creator only as "God" (Gen 3:1), not the complete nature of the creator. Eve also refers to the creator in this manner, "God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die,’" (Gen 3:4). The fact that Eve does not refer to the creator as "LORD God" indicates that something was lacking in her relationship with the Creator, which exposed her to the tempting of the serpent. In the future kingdom, we will no longer "see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face," then we will "know fully," (1 Cor 13:12).
Finally, in the Garden, Adam and Eve had the evil inclination, which allowed them to be tempted and to sin. In the fullness of the kingdom, the evil inclination will be removed by the LORD Who will circumcise our hearts (Deut 30:6), and give us new hearts that are obedient to His will, (Ezek 36:27). In the New Jerusalem, "nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life," (Rev 21:27).
(to be continued - Scott)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Seek First the Kingdom - Part 2
I have been doing alot of studying on the kingdom as of late and have tried to compile a concise list of scripture on the subject. So much that it seems appropriate to give an outline of where I might be headed over the next 10-12 parts. Whatever I try to cover will be grossly inadequate because the kingdom is a principle theme throughout the entire Bible. In the words of Jesus, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this very purpose," (Luke 4:43). Sounds like a pretty important topic in the Bible. Any input you have will be greatly appreciated. Here is the outline on what I am hoping to cover.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) I Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Prosperity and Joy
- Knowledge of the LORD
(7) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Garden of Eden
- The Days of the Apostles
(8) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Progression of the Kingdom
CREATING SHALOM OUT OF CHAOS
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters." (Gen 1:1-2)
The phrase “formless and void” is derived from the Hebrew words “tohu (to’-hoo)” and “bohu (bo’-hoo).” The Hebrew phrase attempts to convey a condition that is empty, void, undistinguishable, without purpose, without order, without meaning, a total ruin, utter and complete chaos. There is no English word that comes close to adequately capturing the concept of the phrase “tohu-bohu.”
Frustrated with the inability to convey this concept to his class, a professor ran to his office and brought back a blender. Into the blender he placed various fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and grapes. After operating the blender he still did not feel he was anywhere close to the concept of tohu-bohu. He proceeded to add water, turn the blender on high, and then he removed the cover to reveal chaos everywhere. Tohu-bohu, a difficult concept to convey.
Perhaps a better way to explain tohu-bohu is to offer the Hebrew word that is the exact opposite of chaos, that word is “Shalom.” Shalom is translated into English as “peace,” but its meaning is much richer and far deeper than simply “peace.” Shalom is the complete and total peace that proceeds from a condition of perfect order, harmony, wholeness, and purpose.
At creation, “tohu-bohu” is represented by the water, which has no form nor order. It was the Spirit of God moving over the waters that brings “Shalom” to the creation. When Jesus calmed the waters on the Sea of Galilee, it became a reminder to the disciples of the LORD’S hand at the time of creation, evoking the response, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:25).
Every day of creation concludes with the statement, “there was evening and there was morning,” (Gen 1:5). The Hebrew day begins at dusk based on this pattern from Genesis, then moves from evening to morning, from darkness to light. Darkness is seen as chaos without God, while the light that follows is seen to reflect God’s order. At the conclusion of God’s work, the creation is called, “very good,” (Gen 1:31). The creation testifies to the work of God, that He is in the business of bringing Shalom out of chaos.
THE FALL BROUGHT CHAOS BACK TO CREATION
The creation remained in a state of Shalom for only a short time until the serpent tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden. When Adam succumb to the temptation and sinned, chaos was introduced back into the creation. Chaos (tohu-bohu) returned to the creation in the form of hard labor, hatred, violence, and murder. The contrast between God and Satan became evident in the Garden, God brings order into the world, but Satan introduces chaos.
After the fall, God could have chosen to wipe man off the creation map and start with a fresh creation and a new man. God did not choose that path, in part, due to His great mercy. In the words spoken to David, “God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from Him,” (2 Sam 14:14). God could have remade the creation and placed the fallen man in a new garden, removing the consequences of Adam’s sin. God did not choose that option either, nor did He relieve Satan of his ability to tempt mankind.
Some commentators suggest that man failed to comprehend the mighty work God performed to bring Shalom to the creation. If the world was going to be restored, God determined that man would participate in the restoration process. Through his participation, man would come to appreciate the work of creation and come to know and worship the creator.
The great Hebrew sage Hillel, born eighty years before Jesus, made famous the principle found in scripture that he called “tikkun olam.” The phrase literally means, “repairing the world,” although it is sometimes translated as “perfecting the world” or “bettering the world.” Hillel believed that in every task a person performs he has a responsibility to make the world a better place. In the words of Paul, to “overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21), just as the LORD God originally brought shalom to the world out of chaos.
THE KINGDOM: GOD’S PLAN TO RESTORE ORDER TO THE WORLD
“The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them…6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.” (Isa 9:2&6-7)
The LORD brings “Shalom” back into the world through the propagation of His Kingdom, as it is written, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of His peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom.” The Kingdom is not a concept unique to the New Testament, but one that has been prepared from the foundation of the world, (Matt 25:34). The first reference in scripture to the kingdom is seen in the Song of Moses (Ex 15:1-18), spoken after Israel crossed the Red Sea in safety, while they witnessed the destruction of their enemies. The song of Moses concludes by saying, “The LORD shall reign forever and ever,” (Ex 15:18). If the LORD is reigning, the rabbis concluded that there must be a kingdom, dominion or place of ruling authority, and servants who submit to the will of the king.
We come to learn about the kingdom through the words of Moses, the prophets, the apostles, and the life of Jesus Who began His ministry proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matt 4:17). The ministry of Jesus revealed the kingdom to Israel through His parables that began, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” and through His miracles, “If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt 12:28). Luke recorded Jesus as saying,
“I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose,” (Luke 4:42-43)
The gospel that believers preach should be “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,” (Acts 8:12). The preaching of Jesus Christ should always be within the greater context of the kingdom of God. Since the kingdom was spoken about in the days of Moses, the writer of Hebrews could say, “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also,” (Heb 4:2). The “good news” was the kingdom, “but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”
(to be continued - Scott)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) I Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Prosperity and Joy
- Knowledge of the LORD
(7) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Garden of Eden
- The Days of the Apostles
(8) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Progression of the Kingdom
CREATING SHALOM OUT OF CHAOS
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters." (Gen 1:1-2)
The phrase “formless and void” is derived from the Hebrew words “tohu (to’-hoo)” and “bohu (bo’-hoo).” The Hebrew phrase attempts to convey a condition that is empty, void, undistinguishable, without purpose, without order, without meaning, a total ruin, utter and complete chaos. There is no English word that comes close to adequately capturing the concept of the phrase “tohu-bohu.”
Frustrated with the inability to convey this concept to his class, a professor ran to his office and brought back a blender. Into the blender he placed various fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and grapes. After operating the blender he still did not feel he was anywhere close to the concept of tohu-bohu. He proceeded to add water, turn the blender on high, and then he removed the cover to reveal chaos everywhere. Tohu-bohu, a difficult concept to convey.
Perhaps a better way to explain tohu-bohu is to offer the Hebrew word that is the exact opposite of chaos, that word is “Shalom.” Shalom is translated into English as “peace,” but its meaning is much richer and far deeper than simply “peace.” Shalom is the complete and total peace that proceeds from a condition of perfect order, harmony, wholeness, and purpose.
At creation, “tohu-bohu” is represented by the water, which has no form nor order. It was the Spirit of God moving over the waters that brings “Shalom” to the creation. When Jesus calmed the waters on the Sea of Galilee, it became a reminder to the disciples of the LORD’S hand at the time of creation, evoking the response, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:25).
Every day of creation concludes with the statement, “there was evening and there was morning,” (Gen 1:5). The Hebrew day begins at dusk based on this pattern from Genesis, then moves from evening to morning, from darkness to light. Darkness is seen as chaos without God, while the light that follows is seen to reflect God’s order. At the conclusion of God’s work, the creation is called, “very good,” (Gen 1:31). The creation testifies to the work of God, that He is in the business of bringing Shalom out of chaos.
THE FALL BROUGHT CHAOS BACK TO CREATION
The creation remained in a state of Shalom for only a short time until the serpent tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden. When Adam succumb to the temptation and sinned, chaos was introduced back into the creation. Chaos (tohu-bohu) returned to the creation in the form of hard labor, hatred, violence, and murder. The contrast between God and Satan became evident in the Garden, God brings order into the world, but Satan introduces chaos.
After the fall, God could have chosen to wipe man off the creation map and start with a fresh creation and a new man. God did not choose that path, in part, due to His great mercy. In the words spoken to David, “God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from Him,” (2 Sam 14:14). God could have remade the creation and placed the fallen man in a new garden, removing the consequences of Adam’s sin. God did not choose that option either, nor did He relieve Satan of his ability to tempt mankind.
Some commentators suggest that man failed to comprehend the mighty work God performed to bring Shalom to the creation. If the world was going to be restored, God determined that man would participate in the restoration process. Through his participation, man would come to appreciate the work of creation and come to know and worship the creator.
The great Hebrew sage Hillel, born eighty years before Jesus, made famous the principle found in scripture that he called “tikkun olam.” The phrase literally means, “repairing the world,” although it is sometimes translated as “perfecting the world” or “bettering the world.” Hillel believed that in every task a person performs he has a responsibility to make the world a better place. In the words of Paul, to “overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21), just as the LORD God originally brought shalom to the world out of chaos.
THE KINGDOM: GOD’S PLAN TO RESTORE ORDER TO THE WORLD
“The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them…6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.” (Isa 9:2&6-7)
The LORD brings “Shalom” back into the world through the propagation of His Kingdom, as it is written, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of His peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom.” The Kingdom is not a concept unique to the New Testament, but one that has been prepared from the foundation of the world, (Matt 25:34). The first reference in scripture to the kingdom is seen in the Song of Moses (Ex 15:1-18), spoken after Israel crossed the Red Sea in safety, while they witnessed the destruction of their enemies. The song of Moses concludes by saying, “The LORD shall reign forever and ever,” (Ex 15:18). If the LORD is reigning, the rabbis concluded that there must be a kingdom, dominion or place of ruling authority, and servants who submit to the will of the king.
We come to learn about the kingdom through the words of Moses, the prophets, the apostles, and the life of Jesus Who began His ministry proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matt 4:17). The ministry of Jesus revealed the kingdom to Israel through His parables that began, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” and through His miracles, “If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt 12:28). Luke recorded Jesus as saying,
“I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose,” (Luke 4:42-43)
The gospel that believers preach should be “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,” (Acts 8:12). The preaching of Jesus Christ should always be within the greater context of the kingdom of God. Since the kingdom was spoken about in the days of Moses, the writer of Hebrews could say, “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also,” (Heb 4:2). The “good news” was the kingdom, “but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”
(to be continued - Scott)
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