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The Kingdom Of God Is Not Yet - Part 2

May 18, 2008

 

Daniel prophesied of four world wide kingdoms
Daniel 2:40 "And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
 
Men establish and rule these kingdoms
Daniel 4:32 “…the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” 
 
For example
Daniel 4:28-30 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
 
Daniel spoke of a fifth kingdom – the kingdom of God
Daniel 2:44 "And in the days of these kings [under the fourth kingdom - Gentile rulers – fallen man] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [“the kingdom of God” in the NT] which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms [the kingdoms of men], and it shall stand forever.
 
Daniel spoke of God’s kingdom as a future event
Daniel 2:45 "Inasmuch as you saw that the stone (The Messiah) was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold (all the Gentile world kingdoms) -- the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."
 
At the second coming of Christ
Daniel 7:13-14 " I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! (Mt.24:30) He came to the Ancient of Days (The Father), And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
 
God’s kingdom will be a literal rule on the earth just
as the other four kingdoms
Daniel 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven [upon the earth Rev.5:10], Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'
 
Daniel’s future kingdom is consistent
with the book of Revelation
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded (at the end of this age); and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
 
The kingdom of Christ brings an end to this age
Matthew 13:39-43 "… the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
 
Two specific ages
Matthew 12:32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
 
Ephesians 1:21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
 
To enter into the kingdom of God means
to enter into the age to come
Luke 18:25-30 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you,  There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, 30 "who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come *eternal age-lasting life."
 
*The English word “eternal” is the Greek adjective aionios, it is in the singular.  It is describing the quality (not quantity) of life that is in the age to come. It is the reward of “glory, honor, and immortality” to the faithful elect (Rom.2:6-7).  It is better-translated “age-lasting life.”
 
The age-lasting kingdom of Jesus Christ
2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting the age-lasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
 
In the regeneration: The Messianic Age at Christ’s return
Matthew 19:24, 27-28 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration (“In the Messianic age”) when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye [the apostles] also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(CEV)  Matthew 19:28 Jesus answered: Yes, all of you have become my followers. And so in the future world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, I promise that you will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(ESV)  Matthew 19:28  Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(GNB) Matthew 19:28   Jesus said to them, "You can be sure that when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the New Age, then you twelve followers of mine will also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(GW)  Matthew 19:28   Jesus said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the world to come, you, my followers, will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(ISV)  Matthew 19:28   Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the renewed creation, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, governing the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(Phillips NT) Matthew 19:28   "Believe me," said Jesus, "when I tell you that in the next world, when the Son of Man shall sit down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones and become judges of the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(NCV)  Matthew 19:28   Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, when the age to come has arrived, the Son of Man will sit on his great throne. All of you who followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(NET) Matthew 19:28  Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: in the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
(HCSB) Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, "I assure you: In the Messianic Age, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
 
To be “in the kingdom” anticipates the future resurrection
Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with [“to share the banquet with,” NET] Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob [these are faithful dead saints that need to be raised to live], in the kingdom of heaven.
 
The fulfillment of Lord’s kingdom banquet
Isaiah 25:6-8 And the LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain [Jerusalem]; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,  And refined, aged wine. 7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.
 
Christ’s apostles were not yet “in the kingdom”
Matthew 26:29 But I (Jesus) say unto you (the apostles), I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
 
 “In My Father’s kingdom” is when the kingdom shall come!
Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come
At that time they shall sit on thrones
Luke 22:28-30 Ye, however, are they who have remained throughout with me in my temptations; 29 And, I, covenant unto you—as my Father hath covenanted unto me—a kingdom, 30 That ye may eat and drink, at my table, in my kingdom, and sit upon thrones, judging (ruling), the twelve tribes of Israel.
 
The kingdom comes when paradise comes!
Luke 23:42-43 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you today, you shall be with Me in Paradise."
 
The Paradise of God is the kingdom of God
 
The overcomers reward is the paradise of God
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."
 
The overcomer shall inherit
Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
The kingdom of God is the inheritance
1 Corinthians 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  
 
A mothers request for her sons reveals
the kingdom is future
Matthew 20:20-21 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
 
Jesus’ reply confirms future positions in His kingdom
Matthew 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it [these positions] shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
 
Certain things must take place before
the kingdom of God is near
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand [“is near,” NKJ; “is about to come” GNB]
 
The end-time events surrounding the coming of
the kingdom of God
Luke 21:20-30 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
 
The redemption of Israel was associated
with the coming kingdom
Luke 24:21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel…”
 
Luke 2:38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
 
Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea [“Jesus’ disciple,” Mt.27:57], a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
 
The parable of the pounds teaches that the kingdom of God
would not immediately appear
Luke 19:11-17 And as they heard these things, he [Jesus] added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come [“Do business till I come,” Nkj]. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
 
Is the kingdom of God within you?
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 
 
In your midst or among you but never within you!
(MKJV)  Nor shall they say, Lo here! or, behold, there! For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.
(NASB)  nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."
(BBE)  And men will not say, See, it is here! or, There! for the kingdom of God is among you.
 
The kingdom is used interchangeably with the King
Mark 11:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
 
Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
 
The millennial kingdom in Revelation 20:1-6 is most
consist in a future context
Revelation 20:1-6 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,  neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived (resurrection) and reigned (in the kingdom) with Christ a thousand years. 5 But [in contrast] the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign (in the kingdom) with him a thousand years.
  
Christ’s return in Revelation 19:11-21 heralds the kingdom
Revelation 19:11-21And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
 
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven