The Kingdom

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14)

The kingdom of God has been preached since the days of John the Baptist, almost 2000 years ago. Also, at the very core of Jesus' teaching was the call to and the challenge of the kingdom of God. He spoke about this subject more than any other. Likewise, throughout her history, the true church has taught the principles of the kingdom and called men to both its blessings and its requirements.

Requirements? Yes, this term must be included in any definition of the gospel of the kingdom. A great majority of 'kingdom' preaching has focused on its spiritual blessings (righteousness, peace and joy) or on its physical and natural blessings (healings, miracles and material prosperity). But the challenge of this hour is to present a balanced teaching on the 'gospel of the kingdom' that will make men aware of both its blessings and its requirements.

Qualifying For the Kingdom
All who read Jesus' teaching on the kingdom with an honest heart will observe that He presented a high standard for quality of heart, spirit and character. This understanding comes to us mainly from the gospel of Matthew, often called the 'kingdom gospel'. Let us scan the various chapters of this book and summarize the kingdom requirements found therein.

From chapter 5, we observe that participation in the God's kingdom requires repentance, humility, meekness, righteousness, purity of heart and obedience. In His kingdom, there will be no anger, no lust, no hate and no retaliation.

In chapter 6, Jesus presented the revolutionary principle of making all of life's pursuits secondary and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

In chapter 7, he warned that workers of iniquity would not enter, emphasizing the requirement of intimate union with the Father's mind and will. Religious activity itself could be lawless and would disqualify one from the kingdom.

In Matthew 13, Jesus spoke of the removal of the tares, of purification, of 'selling all' (paying a price) and of separation.

When the mother of James and John asked for high positions in the kingdom for her sons (Matthew 20), Jesus spoke of a baptism of suffering. In the same chapter, he also referred to a servant spirit.

In the parable of the virgins (chapter 25) are presented the requirements of preparation, readiness and a sustained anointing (as opposed to a single experience in the Spirit). In the same chapter, the truths of faithfulness, spiritual increase (maturity) and sacrificial ministry are taught as further qualifications for the kingdom.

The Call to Dominion
God's intention for creating man is given in Genesis 1:26-28. Man was to be made in the image and likeness of God for the purpose of having dominion. As long as man maintained a relationship of obedience, he would be granted the privilege of governing planet earth. Although Adam rebelled and forfeited his high calling, God has continued to seek for such an instrument for His purposes.

God's selection of Israel as a special people unto Himself was mainly for the purpose of their becoming a 'governmental people'. He delivered them from Egypt's bondage so that He could establish His kingdom among them in the land of Canaan. He said of them, "...thou shalt reign over many nations..." and "...thou shalt be the head and not the tail..."

Although Israel became a dominant people during the reigns of David and Solomon and impacted the earth in a natural sense, they failed to maintain a relationship of obedience and soon lost their dominion. With the coming of their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel was given another opportunity to advance and fully establish God's kingdom purposes in the earth. Upon rejection of their King, the Lord Jesus, Israel disqualified themselves from kingdom participation. This verdict was rendered by Jesus himself when he declared, "...The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matthew 21:43)

The term 'nation' spoken about in Matthew 21:43 was not a reference to any earthly nation or government. It was a reference to the true church, the bride of Christ, and brings into view her calling to 'dominion'. This call to be a co-regent with Christ is alluded to in many passages of scripture under varying terms. Let us note several of them:

(1) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation..." (1 Peter 2:9)
(2) "...and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." (Daniel 7:22)
(3) "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom..." (Matthew 25:34)
(4) "...we (believers) must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
(5) "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him..." (2 Timothy 2:12)
(6) "And he that overcometh...to him will I give power (authority) over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron..." (Revelation 2:26,27)
(7) "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne..." (Revelation 3:21)
(8) "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10)

The Kingdom: Present, Progressive, Future
The kingdom of God is simply the rule of God. Thus, it can be said that wherever Christ reigns, there you have the kingdom of God. This can be true in an individual life or in a collection of people. Let us remember that Jesus spoke about the new birth within the context of the kingdom. Thus, the new birth can be described as a transfer of government from the individual to the Lord Jesus Christ. If an individual does not experience and begin to manifest the 'rule of God', how can it be said he has entered the kingdom of God? On the other hand, if he has genuinely surrendered the right to his life to Christ, then the kingdom or rule of God has begun. In this case, it can be said, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17)

Like a grain of mustard seed, the kingdom of God may have small beginnings but grows until it fully governs the individual or the church or the earth. Thus we can say that it is progressive. The prophet Isaiah saw this aspect of the kingdom when he declared, "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and His kingdom..." (Isaiah 9:7) Every true believer can attest to the experiential reality of this. Even as Israel of old gradually subdued their enemies in Canaan, so is the establishment of God's spiritual kingdom. A verse that describes this progressive work is 1 Corinthians 15:25, "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." (This applies mainly in a dispensational sense, but it can also apply in an individual sense.)

Although God's kingdom is now primarily an individual inward reality, the time will come when it will become manifest in both His true church and in the whole earth. When enough believers allow Christ to govern their lives, then the church will become a 'governmental instrument' and ready to impact the world. "THY KINGDOM COME" is now the great cry of the true church in the earth.

As we shall see in our section, "End-Time Truth", it is now a time of great preparation. God is calling a people out of religious bondage, confusion, infantilism, blindness and deafness. He is awakening a people to their high calling and destiny. All creation waits, not for the rapture of the church, but for the manifestation of a people called 'the sons of God'. (Romans 8:19) Such a people are now being prepared. Judgment will surely come to the corrupted unrighteous order man has produced on the earth and creation itself will be set free from 'the bondage of corruption'. (Romans 8:21)

To the blind and unbelieving, God's promises concerning a coming righteous kingdom may seem unattainable and unrealistic. But they are very much alive and real to a growing number of believing saints who expectantly await the fulfillment of Revelation 11:15:

"THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER." We ask everyone who reads this message to hold its contents in your heart before the Lord. May the prayer, "THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN" be made alive again in every kindred, tongue, people and nation.