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10.1
Has God ever had a kingdom on earth before?
ANSWER:
Yes. The kingdom of Israel was called the kingdom of the Lord.
When the Lord Jesus comes back he will set up this Israelitish
kingdom again, but the coming Kingdom of God will be a far,
far better kingdom than the ancient kingdom of Israel.
See 1 Chronicles 28:5; 2 Chronicles 13:8; Ezekiel 21:25-27;
Luke 1:32-33
10.2 Who will live in God's Kingdom?
ANSWER:
If we believe God's promises and obey Him, the Lord Jesus
will make us immortal when he comes again. Then we shall help
Jesus to rule his Kingdom. Many ordinary flesh-and-blood human
beings will survive the troubles on earth in the last days,
and they will also live in God's Kingdom. The immortal rulers
will teach them God's ways.
See Matthew 19:27-29; Luke 19:15-19; Revelation 5:10; Revelation
20:6; Isaiah 65:20-22; Zechariah 14: 16-18.
10.3 What will life be like in the Kingdom of God?
ANSWER:
The flesh-and blood people on the earth will cultivate the
land and their work will be enjoyable and prosperous. They
will worship the true God and keep His commandments. God will
give them happiness and heal their illnesses. War and hatred
will be forbidden. After a long time there will be a final
resurrection and judgement. The faithful will be made immortal.
See Isaiah 2:34; Isaiah 11:18; Isaiah 35; Psalm 72; 1 Corinthians
15:24, 28; Revelation 20:12-18; 21:4
10.4
Is God's Kingdom being formed now?
ANSWER:
The kingdoms of this world will not become the Kingdom of
God until Jesus returns to earth (Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:27;
Revelation 11:15-18). But God still rules over Creation and
the affairs of the nations (Psalm 104: 1 and Daniel 4:17).
Moreover, throughout the ages he has been calling out men
and women to belong to the Royal House of the coming Kingdom
(Acts 15:14; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). Such people must
accept, believe and obey the Gospel of the Kingdom of God
and by baptism submit to God and to Christ Jesus as Lord.
Thereafter they must sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts
(1 Peter 3:15 R.V.). In this way the nucleus of the Kingdom
of God is being formed in readiness for the day of Christ's
coming.
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