Kingdom Truth Time of the Kingdom
MAT 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
MAR 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Q. According to the scriptures, what gospel did Jesus Christ preach?
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Q. What was Jesus Christ saying as he preached this gospel?
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The Lord Jesus Christ went throughout his
region preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. According to him, the time was fulfilled
and the kingdom of God was at hand. According to the most popular doctrine
today, we still await a time that Jesus said was fulfilled. Jesus said that
nearly two thousand years ago. Was the Lord confessed? Would he consider two thousand
years as at hand? Where did the Lord come up with his figures for the date of the kingdom
of God? Our lesson today should answer these questions.
A. The Time of The Kingdom
Interestingly enough, we are actually told the
time the kingdom of God would begin. Some would say, “The Bible says that no man
knows the day or hour” (referring to Mat 24:36). Most of us have been taught or heard
that someplace. That is not what Matthew 24:36 teaches. That verse is teaching about the
day and hour of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem which took place in A.D. 70
(see Mat 24:1-2).
Don’t you think that we would be told of
the time of the coming of something as important as the kingdom of God? Doesn’t it
seem that someplace in the scriptures we should be able to see when this would happen? If
you do, then you are correct. In this lesson we will learn exactly when the kingdom of God
was to come.
1. The dream of Nebuchadnezzar
We will begin our study in the Book of Daniel.
The book of Daniel is of tremendous help in answering the question of the time of the
kingdom. Daniel was given several prophecies concerning the kingdom of God. These
prophecies help us determine exactly when the kingdom of God was to come.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Chaldeans, had a dream.
Daniel interpreted that dream and that interpretation tells us the time the kingdom of God
would come.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is given in Daniel
2:31-35.
DAN 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose
brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This
image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs
of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till
that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of
iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the
silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer
threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the
stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
The interpretation was given in Daniel 2:36-45.
DAN 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the
king. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a
kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the
beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath
made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39 And after thee shall arise
another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear
rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as
iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these,
shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of
potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of
the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And
as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be
partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay,
they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to
another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings shall
the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall
not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out
of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay,
the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to
pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
History proves that Daniel’s
interpretation was accurate. For the sake of time, we do not want to overly involve
ourselves in an exegesis of this passage. The facts are:
a. The first kingdom
was the head of fine gold (v32, 37-38). This was Nebuchadnezzar king of Chaldean
empire.
b. The second kingdom
was the breast and his arms of silver (v32, 39). This was the Medes and Persian
empire which replaced Babylon in 539 B.C.
c. The third kingdom
was the belly and his thighs of brass (v32, 39). This was the Greek (Macedonian)
empire of Alexander and his successors. This kingdom replaced the Medes and Persians
beginning in 334 B.C.
d. The fourth and last
world empire would be the legs of iron and feet of iron mixed with miry clay. This
was the Roman kingdom which replaced the Greek (Macedonian) kingdom in 63 B.C. Of the four
metals, this was the strongest, but progressively became weak until its feet were as miry
clay. In its last days the Roman empire was set up into 10 different provinces (toes)
and had 89 different emperors (kings).
These kingdoms were consecutive (one after
another). There was never any period of time, or parenthesis, between them. We learn the
time that the kingdom of God would begin. It was in the days of the last world
empire which was in fact the Roman empire. Daniel said,
DAN 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom....
The God of heaven would set up a kingdom
in the days of the Roman empire. Once the kingdom began, it would stand forever. There
would never again be a time when this kingdom was not. It would never be destroyed. It
would never allow another kingdom to rule. It would never be left to other people
(antichrist). It would stand for ever! Daniel said,
DAN 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people,
but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for
ever.
Q. According to Daniel, in what days would God set up a kingdom?
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Q. Specifically what world empire was functioning in those days and what was the years of
its existence? _____________________________
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The beginning element of the kingdom would be
the the stone cut out of the mountain without hands (v34, 45). We would know we had
the correct time because the stone was cut out of the mountain. Who or what is the stone?
We know the stone cut of the mountain was Jesus. What scriptures prove this? There
are a multitude of them.
PSA 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
ISA 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a
stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall
not make haste.
MAT 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes?
MAT 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it
shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
MAR 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is
become the head of the corner:
LUK 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which
the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
LUK 20:18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall
fall, it will grind him to powder.
ACT 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him
doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of
you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.
EPH 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone
1PE 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and
precious to him (NIV)
1PE 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief
corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the
stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a
stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
As we see, the thought of the
stone cut out of the mountain is a stone cut out to be used for the foundation in the
house of God. These stones were huge squared stones. In the temple that Solomon built,
these stones measured 10 cubits square, or about 15 feet square (1Ki 7:10). We can imagine
how it would be if one of these fell upon a person. These stones were cut out of a
mountain and placed on Mount Moriah. Upon them the temple was built. The first stone laid
was the chief corner stone and all other stones alighted to it.
However, the stone of Daniel was cut
without hands. The stone was not formed by human devises and measurements or
doctrine. He was formed by the Holy Ghost of God! He would be rejected by the builders
(religious system). That means the builders found, what they considered, a serious flaw in
the stone. No mater what they thought. The stone become the chief corner stone to
which all others aligned. If this stone fell upon anything or anyone, that thing (empire,
religious system, etc) or person would be ground to powder (Mat 21:44).
As the previous scriptures teach, the stone
was indeed Jesus Christ. He was born in the days of the fourth and last
kingdom--Roman. According to the Bible, the kingdom began.
No one will argue the point that the kingdom
began then, or at least that Jesus came then. What they do not realize they are saying is
that if the kingdom then began, we are now, today, in the time of the kingdom. Do we await
the kingdom to begin? That is not what the scriptures teach. Remember, Daniel said,
DAN 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom,
which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other
people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall
stand for ever.
Q. Daniel said the kingdom would be set up in the days of those kings. When would that
kingdom end or experience a parenthesis?
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From Daniel we learn that the kingdom of God
began during the days of the Roman empire. That empire existed in 63 BC.-410 A.D.
Christ, the stone, was cut out of the mountain during the days of these kings.
He was anointed with the Holy Ghost at his water baptism (Mat 3:13; Mar 1:9; Luk 3:21)
becoming the chief corner stone. If the Bible is true, we are today living in the
age of the kingdom of God.
2. The Vision of the Ascension
We are given another passage concerning the
time of the coming of the kingdom of God in Daniel 7. Daniel had a vision about the
Ascension of Christ. He says,
DAN 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with
the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near
before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all
people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Q. According to the scriptures, when did Jesus, the Son of man, receive his kingdom?
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Q. When will this kingdom experience an end or parenthesis?
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Without argument, this is the Ascension of Jesus Christ. We know that it historically took
place 33 A.D. Christ Ascended in the clouds. The scriptures make certain this is written
in Act 1:9-11. After his arrival, Christ was taken before the Father, the Ancient of
days. Verse 14 says, there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.
Notice that Jesus, the Son of man, was not only given glory and dominion.
He was given a kingdom! Now notice that the kingdom he was given shall
not be destroyed or end. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not
pass away.
Jesus, the Son of man, will not receive a
kingdom one day in the future. He received his kingdom at his Ascension. His kingdom will
never pass away. That means it is a present reality today. It has been in existence since
his Ascension and will continue. The event of the Ascension is given to us in great detail
in Revelation 5:1-14.
We learn from Daniel 7:13-14 that the kingdom
of God was given to the Son of man who is non other than Jesus Christ (Mat 16:13).
The time the kingdom was given to Christ was his Ascension in the cloud. The kingdom of
God came during the days of the Roman empire. The kingdom came when the stone was cut
out of the mountain. The kingdom came at the Ascension of Christ. Again, people will
not argue that Jesus Ascended and is seated at the right hand of God today. Popular
doctrine teaches that Christ Jesus is king, but has not yet received his kingdom. That is
an inaccurate teaching.
Q. According to the scriptures, when did the kingdom
begin?_____________________________________________________________
3. The Teaching of Jesus Christ
MAR 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of
God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
MAR 1:15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is
near. Repent and believe the good news!" (NIV)
MAR 1:15 "At last the time has come!" he announced. "God's
Kingdom is near! Turn from your sins and act on this glorious news!" (TLB)
Obviously Jesus thought and taught that the time
was fulfilled. This would be the time Daniel had spoken about in Daniel
2 and Daniel 7. It was the days of the fourth empire. Jesus Christ was the stone
cut out of the mountain. The Ascension of Jesus Christ was at hand.
Jesus tells his disciples a most interesting
fact about the time of the kingdom of God. We will read the passage and then comment.
MAT 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste
of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
MAT 16:28 And some of you standing right here now will certainly live to see me coming
in my Kingdom." (TLB)
MAR 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that
stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come
with power.
LUK 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste
of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Q. What did Jesus tell his disciples concerning the coming of his kingdom and their
deaths?_______________________________________
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Jesus told his disciples that some of them
would live to see the kingdom of God come with power! The only way this could be is
if the time was fulfilled that Daniel spoke about. We have three options
concerning this verse: (1) Jesus was incorrect about the time; (2) some of the disciples
are alive today; or (3)The kingdom of God came in the days of the ancient
Roman empire when Christ Ascended.
B. The Wrong Concept of the Kingdom of God
Why do we see the kingdom as future?
Dispensational theology has given us an inaccurate image of the kingdom of God. It has
painted a picture of bliss, ecstasy, paradise and heaven. They tell us it is the time when
the devil is bound in the bottomless pit. They teach it is a time of peace and
contentment. This is completely inaccurate. The time of the kingdom of Christ is a
time of tremendous war.
1CO 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they
that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down
all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put
all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For
he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it
is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all
things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that
put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (emphasis added)
1CO 15:23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those
who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God
the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last
enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he "has put everything under his feet."
Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this
does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done
this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him,
so that God may be all in all. (NIV) (emphasis added)
In 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul gave the
order of the resurrection and the events of the end. Paul teaches that when Jesus
comes again it will be at the resurrection (v23). Biblically the resurrection is the
last day (Joh 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24). At that time the end will come (v24).
There will be no seven years or three and a half years. Paul says, Then cometh the end.
At that time, the Lord hands over the kingdom to God the Father (v24). The kingdom
of Christ does not begin at the resurrection. It ends in this present dimension.
Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the
Father. This is after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power (v24).
The kingdom that Christ is King of is a kingdom of war! Christ must reign until he has
put all his enemies under his feet. That is what the kingdom of God is about. It is
not a kingdom of bliss, ecstasy, paradise and heaven. Jesus himself said, “Don’t
think I came to send peace. I came to send a sword and variance” (Mat 10:34). We have
been given a completely erroneous picture of the kingdom of Christ. Christ now reigns in
his kingdom and will reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. His reign
is a reign of destroying dominions and powers. The last to be destroyed is death.
Q. What erroneous concept are we given about the kingdom of
God?________________________________________________________
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We are given accurate dating of the time of the
coming of the kingdom of God. It came in the days of the ancient Roman empire. It began
when Christ the stone was cut out of the mountain and became the chief corner stone.
Christ received his kingdom at the Ascension. Jesus himself said the time of the kingdom
was fulfilled and the kingdom was at hand. Jesus himself said that some of the disciples
would live to see the kingdom of God come. Jesus will reign in his kingdom until the
resurrection. His kingdom is a kingdom of the sword and destruction of powers that refuse
to submit to him. It is a kingdom of binding the devil. It is not a kingdom of bliss and
heaven. If we wait for Jesus to return to experience the kingdom, we will miss the kingdom
of which we await.
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