Tuesday, June 3

MORE ON GOD’S KINGDOM


In our last post we left Jesus reigning as a King in a Spiritual kingdom.  Some will rebel at that idea.  Many will say that when Jesus came and was rejected by the kingdom of Israel, that He postponed the kingdom which He will set up when He returns.  I maintain a different view.  In my last post I referred to the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus both preaching the same gospel, “repent ye:  for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  We should notice also that Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom Come”  If He already had a kingdom why pray for it to come?  It is because He will manifest His kingdom in a physical, material way when He returns.  Matt. 6:33 He taught His disciples to seek first the kingdom of God.  Did He mean for them to seek something that was at least 2000 years away?  I think not.  
In Matt. 11:12 Jesus said, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,”  If there was no kingdom, how could it suffer violence.  In Luke_16:16  Jesus said, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. “  If there is no kingdom, what are men pressing into?  Again in Luke_17:20, 21  Jesus said, “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:  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”  When the Pharisees ask our Lord when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them that it was within them.  Now He certainly did not mean that the kingdom of God was in those Christ rejecting Pharisees.  So what did He mean?  Instead of saying within them, if it be understood with in their midst, it is understandable.   
Also in John_18:36  “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”  He did not mean that His kingdom was not in this world, but that its source was not from this world.  As Daniel had prophesied, the God of Heaven had set up a kingdom.  In the end of this statement of Jesus, you will see His meaning when He says “my kingdom is not from hence.”  It is also important to note that He was called the King of the Jews in Mat_27:11  And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, “Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.”  When Jesus said, “Thou sayest” He was confirming the statement to be true. Thus He was claiming not only to be a king but the king of the Jews.   
These verses and thoughts seem to be enough to show that Jesus was and is the King of the Jews, a human king on earth though at the time He might be said to be in exile here while He reigns from Heaven.  This is not all.  At the proper time, He will return to this earth.  When He does, He shall reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem.  Let it be seen that a man, the God-Man has set up His kingdom on earth, and He reigns from Heaven until He returns to reign in the flesh.  What do you think of these thoughts?  Do you agree or disagree?  Why not leave me a comment?

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