It
comes as a surprise to many who suddenly take an interest in the Bible,
to discover that there was a Kingdom of God on the earth in former years
and that Kingdom was ruled over by mortal rulers.
When
the Children of Israel were led out of Egypt by Moses, the Father promised
them that, if they obeyed His will..."The Lord thy God will set
thee above all nations of the earth.......the Lord shall establish thee
an holy people unto himself." (Deut. 28:1,9). That the Father
kept His promise is well borne out by Scripture and history, and Israel
became the Kingdom of God, as the following passages of Scripture clearly
show.....
1
Chronicles 29:23...."Then Solomon sat on the THRONE OF THE LORD
AS KING instead of David his father......."
2
Chronicles 9:8........."Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighteth
in thee (Solomon) TO SET THEE ON HIS THRONE, TO BE KING FOR THE LORD."
That
Kingdom came to an end in BC588, because of wickedness, when Nebuchadnezzar,
King of Babylon, took it's last King captive, killed his sons in front
of him and plucked out his eyes.
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THE
KINGDOM IS TO BE RE-ESTABLISHED:
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Because
there has already been a Kingdom of God on the earth, men of faith in
our days are convinced from such prophetic words as those of Jeremiah
3:17..."At that time they shall call JERUSALEM THE THRONE OF THE LORD",
that the Father will re-establish His Kingdom on the earth, just as
He promised to Daniel...."In the days of these kings (the latter days)
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed......it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand for ever." (Dan 2:44). The Lord Jesus was very particular
to confirm the promise to the Prophet Daniel, for He instructed the
Apostle John to prophetically write.."The kingdoms of THIS WORLD are
become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ". (Rev 11:15). That the
Jews of Israel, in the days of the Lord Jesus knew that the Kingdom
was to be re-established, there can be no doubt, for the disciples questioned
the Lord Jesus on that point , by asking...." Lord, wilt thou at this
time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6).
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A
KINGDOM ON EARTH OR IN HEAVEN?
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No
where in the Bible is there any promise of the re-established kingdom
of God being in heaven. Instead, the Lord Jesus Christ is emphatic in
declaring that the Kingdom will be on the earth. On one occasion He
instructed the Apostle John to write a word picture of the 'redeemed'
in Revelation 5:10..."And (thou) hast made us unto our God kings
and priests and we shall reign on the earth." The "we" are the same
people the Prophet Daniel spoke of in Dan 7:27 in which he also speaks
of the redeemed...."And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness
of the kingdom, UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, shall be given unto the people
of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Not only so, Jesus
was careful to teach .."Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
the earth" (Matt 5:5). Scripture leaves us in no doubt that the future
kingdom is on earth.
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WHICH
CITY SHALL BE ITS CAPITAL?
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Mankind's
famous cities have been Babylon, Rome, London, New York and Moscow,
but the Bible does not mention these as being the important cities of
the future. Instead, the only significant city mentioned as the future
source of all ruling power and might, is Jerusalem.. The Prophet Micah
wrote by Divine inspiration..."The kingdom shall come to the daughter
of Zion." (Mic. 4:8) and in the same chapter Micah writes of
the future saying...."In the last days ........Many nations shall
come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord....for
the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from JERUSALEM".
(Mic. 4:1-2). The Prophet Ezekiel confirms the words of Micah
for he wrote on instruction from the Lord..." Son of man, the place
of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell
in the midst of the Children of Israel for ever." When Ezekiel wrote
those words he was speaking of the House of prayer for all nations,
to be built in Jerusalem.
The
Prophet Isaiah, writing 700 years before the days of the Lord Jesus,
foresaw a time when the iniquity of Israel was at an end and he writes...."The
Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem........"(Is.24:23).
With such overwhelming evidence as the foregoing, there can be no doubt
that the coming re-established Kingdom of God on the earth, will be
centred in Israel, with the returned Lord Jesus reigning from the world's
future and new capital, Jerusalem. Jeremiah writes of Jerusalem..."All
nations shall be gathered unto it", and King David wrote..."This
is the hill (Mount Zion) God desireth to dwell in". (Psalm 68:16),
whilst the Prophet Joel writes...."For in Mount Zion and Jerusalem
shall be deliverance". (Joel 2:32). The Prophet Zechariah adds
..."Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the
Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem." (Zech.8:22).
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WHEN
WILL THIS ALL HAPPEN?
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When
the Disciples asked this question of the Lord Jesus, His answer was..."It
is not for you to know the times or the seasons , which the Father hath
put in his own power." (Acts 1:7). In another place the Lord Jesus assures
us that not even He knows the date and time of the re-establishment
of the Kingdom (Matt 24:36)...BUT, the Prophet Amos assures his readers
that the Lord would DO NOTHING without revealing "His secret unto his
servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)
We
are assured therefore that there are certain indications in the Bible,
of the times of the fulfilment of all the Father's promises. One thing
we have to remember is that there can be NO Kingdom of God on the earth
until the Lord Jesus returns to establish it and it is no co-incidence
that King David, the Psalmist wrote...."When the Lord shall build
up Zion, he shall appear in his glory". (Ps.102:16). We are
seeing this happen before our eyes as God's people, the Jews, return
to their land to rebuild and replant the Land. The first step has started
and soon the Lord (Jesus) will " descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel" (1 Thess 4:16)
The
'building up of Zion' has necessitated the return of Israel from the
four corners of the world, and in the last 100 years, over four million
Jews have been led to return to their ancient land, in preparation for
the re-establishment of the Kingdom of God on the earth.
All
men and women are invited to be a part of the future Kingdom, which
will 'break in pieces and consume all kingdoms'..................The
promise of the Bible is eternal life in a world renewed. How foolish
we would be to ignore it when it's offered freely.
