The Kingdom Part 1
Is there a literal kingdom that is still to come?
Jesus Christ talked about the kingdom many times, but was he talking about a literal kingdom or a spiritual kingdom or both? Before we get into that I think it is important to show that there is a literal kingdom to come. In Daniel 2 we have a promise of a future literal kingdom.
Remember Daniel prayed to God to get an understand of the dream, that Nebuchadnezzar had. Daniel got the interpretation and relay that to the King of the time Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 2 (Nebuchadnezzar's dream) there is a literal kingdom that is to come which is predicted by Daniel:
Daniel 2.44 In their days, that is, of these kings, the Eloah of the heavens will set up a kingdom that for the eons shall not come to harm. His kingdom shall not be left to another people. It will pulverize and terminate all these kingdoms, and it shall be confirmed for the eons." {CLV}
This is a literal promise of God, and so it will be literally realized!
When the kingdom comes is “will pulverize and terminate all these kingdoms,” that where in the statue dream. However three of them have long gone, so what is the meaning of that? Those empires also represent the empires and governments that the world will have when the kingdom comes. That is all the governments and empires that are in the world at the time it comes will be pulverized and terminated. Since I believe the kingdom is coming soon, that means the ones that exist today.
However God is not literal promising the thousand-year reign here in Daniel. He is literal promising a Kingdom. God did NOT literal promise the thousand-year reign in Daniel 2, God literal promised a Kingdom. People wrongly assume and believe that the coming kingdom is the millennium reign in Revelation 20, but that is not true. Nowhere in Daniel 2 is a thousand year reign promised. As will be pointed out further on in the article this world will be totally destroyed, when Christ returns.
What Kingdom did Jesus Christ talk about?
Many Believe the Kingdom is just Spiritual and there is no coming kingdom at all, but that is wrong, because there is the promise of one to come, and it is not talking about one that is just spiritual.
There is no need to think that Christ was talking about just one or the other. I have no doubt that he was talking about both, a spiritual kingdom and a physical kingdom. There is now already a spiritual kingdom, but that does not rule out a literal physical kingdom that is still to come.
Talking about a Kingdom that is still to come
Matthew 26:29 Now I am saying to you that under no circumstances may I be drinking henceforth of this, the product of the grapevine, till that day whenever I may be drinking it new with you in the kingdom of My Father." {CLV}
Here in Matthew in this one verse it is clear that he is talking about a future kingdom. Jesus states that he will not be drinking wine again, until that day, when he can be drinking with them in the kingdom. If He was just talking about the kingdom inside of them, then it had already come, and He would have been incorrect. Jesus is not incorrect, which means there is a kingdom to come. As I cover other verses you should be able to clear see that he was talking about a literal kingdom that is still to come.
Spiritual kingdom & Coming Kingdom
Luke 17:20-21 Now, being inquired of by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God is coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with scrutiny." Neither shall they be declaring 'Lo! here!' or 'Lo! there!' for lo! the kingdom of God is inside of you." {CLV}
Many take this wrongly to mean that there is no coming kingdom at all, and it is just spiritually inside of you. While the kingdom is spiritually inside of the chosen, this does not rule out a coming kingdom. Jesus did not say the kingdom was not coming, He said it was not coming with “scrutiny.” That is it is not coming by thorough examination or observation. First of all you can not obtain the kingdom that way, no amount of thorough examination or observation, will get you spiritually in the kingdom, or get the kingdom inside of you. Secondly, there will be no obvious sign beforehand that the kingdom is coming.
Luke 17:22-24 Yet He said to His disciples, "Coming will be days when you will be yearning to perceive one of the days of the Son of Mankind, and you shall not see it." And they shall be declaring to you, 'Lo! there!' or 'Lo! here!' You may not come away, nor yet should you be pursuing." For even as the lightning, flashing out from here under heaven to there under heaven, is shining, thus will be the Son of Mankind in His day." {CLV}
“Yet He said to His disciples,” Jesus said to His disciples something about the kingdom that He did not tell the Pharisees. He seems to be talking about His return, not the coming kingdom, yet He is talking about both. For when He comes and lights up the whole sky, the kingdom will come as well. It is inside of you, yet it is come also. This is confirmed in the two verses below:
Matthew 16:26-27 For the Son of Mankind is about to be coming in the glory of His Father, with His messengers, and then He will be paying each in accord with his practice." Verily I am saying to you that there are some of those standing here who under no circumstances should be tasting death till they should be perceiving the Son of Mankind coming in His kingdom." {CLV}
Mark 9:1 And He said to them, "Verily, I am saying to you that there are some of those standing here who under no circumstances should be tasting death till they should be perceiving the kingdom of God having come in power." {CLV}
“The Son of Mankind is about to be coming in glory with His messengers.” That is Christ is about to be coming with His angels. This has clearly not happened yet. When Christ returns He will be coming in His Kingdom which is also the kingdom of God. The Kingdom that will destroy all the empires and governments of man.
Briefly paying each in accord with His practice, does not mean those who are not the chosen, will be paying for their sins, or punished for their sins, for Christ pay the price for all the sins of mankind, not just the chosen. For more refer to my Judgement series.
What did He mean that some would not taste death until till they should be perceiving the Son of Mankind coming in His kingdom? For they have all died long ago, and the kingdom has not come, nor has the Son of mankind, Christ returned. Some believe it was the transfiguration {Matthew 17:1-3}, however others believe it was Pentecost {Acts 2}. In either case some of the people standing there would shortly be “perceiving the kingdom of God having come in power.” However there is also a literal future fulfillment, because Christ has not yet come with His angels. After both of these events John saw Christ and the kingdom coming in a vision in the book of Revelation.
The kingdom is taken away & given to another nation:
It is believed in that in the future millennium that Israel will be the most favourable nation, as Jesus Christ will rule from there, Israel having been restored, them having the kingdom. However all of this is very wrong. Physical Israel is not going to be placed in the most favourable nation status. The people of Israel will be resurrected, and the nation of Israel will be restored on the new earth, however they will not have the kingdom. I will get to who has the kingdom in a bit.
Israel had the kingdom to start with, but it was taken away from them as I will explain. The Vineyard of Yahweh in Isaiah 5:1-7 is the house of Israel.
Isaiah 5:1-4 Singing, pray, to My darling am I, a song of My affection for My vineyard: A vineyard becomes My darling's on a horn-like fertile hill, a stone dike am I placing around it, and a rampart I make, and it is being cultivated and its stones thrown out. And it is being planted with a yellow muscat. And I am building a tower in its midst, and, moreover, a wine vat I hew in it, and I am expecting it to yield grapes, yet it is yielding stinking fruit? And now, dweller of Jerusalem, and man of Judah, judge, pray, between Me and My vineyard, what is there to do further for My vineyard, that I have not done for it? For what reason, when I expect it to yield grapes, yet it is yielding stinking fruit? {CLV}
Here there is reference to a stone dike and a tower, which Jesus refers to in the parable below. The vineyard was expect to yield gapes, the fruit of righteousness, but it yielded stinking fruit, evil fruit. Because of this judgement was brought against them.
Isaiah 5:5-7 And now, pray, I shall make known to you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it comes to be consumed. I breach its stone dike, and it comes to be tramped." And I am making My vineyard into a chaos, and it is not being pruned. And not being hoed, and up come buckthorn and spines. And I am instructing the thick clouds over it to keep from raining rain on it." For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts is the house of Israel, and each man of Judah His plant delectable. And He is expecting judgment, and behold! Transgression {Bloodshed}! Righteousness, and behold! A cry!" {CLV}
The Hebrew word “Yahweh” is the name of the Supreme God. Some translations use the word “Lord” and the word “God.” However both of these are incorrect for they are not his name, they are titles. Yahweh is his name, not his title.
Here the vineyard, the House of Israel is turned into chaos and the spiritual rain was stopped from falling on the vineyard, Israel. Yahweh was expecting judgement, but behold there was bloodshed, for the actual literal translation is bloodshed. And Yahweh was expecting righteousness, literally justice, but behold a cry, that is meaning a cry of distress. Now Israel had the kingdom, and they were the vineyard, every person a plant in the vineyard, that was meant to produce the fruit of the kingdom. Now before the vineyard turned into chaos there was a separation. The kingdom was taken from the House of Israel, but not the vineyard. For the nation of Israel, was the vineyard, that was turned into chaos. The kingdom was given to another nation, to another vineyard to produce the fruit of the kingdom.
Jesus tells a parable in the temple courts about a householder who has a vineyard, leased to farmers Matthew 21:33-45. The householder in the parable is God and the vineyard is the House of Israel, that has the kingdom as in Isaiah 5.
Matthew 21:33-36 Another parable hear: A man who was a householder plants a vineyard and places a stone dike about it, and excavates a trough in it, and builds a tower, and leased it to farmers, and travels." Now when the season of the fruits draws near, he dispatches his slaves to the farmers to be getting his fruits." And the farmers, taking his slaves, indeed, lash one, yet kill one, yet pelt one with stones." Again he dispatches other slaves, more than the first. And they do to them similarly." {CLV}
Jesus is talking about the same vineyard, with the stone dike and the tower. That is he is talking about the House of Israel. The farmers are the leaders of Israel. God dispatches his slaves, the prophets and wise men to the farmers to be getting the fruits. When the slaves/servants are sent they are lashed, killed and pelt with stones by the leaders of Israel. The householder, God sent more and the same thing happen to them.
Matthew 21:37-39 Yet subsequently he dispatches to them his son, saying, 'They will be respecting my son.'" Yet the farmers, perceiving the son, said among themselves, 'This is the enjoyer of the allotment. Hither! We should be killing him and have the enjoyment of his allotment.'" And taking him they cast him out of the vineyard and kill him. {CLV}
Then he dispatches his son, who the farmers kill. As I said the householder is God, which means his son is Jesus. That is Jesus was prophesising in this parable his death on the cross. Then Jesus asked:
Matthew 21:40 Whenever, then, the lord of the vineyard may be coming, what will he be doing to those farmers? {CLV}
The chief priests and the elders answered:
Matthew 21:41 They are saying to Him, "Evil men! Evilly will he be destroying them, and the vineyard will he be leasing to other farmers, who will be rendering the fruits to him in their seasons." {CLV}
They did not realize or know that they were actually pronouncing God’s future Judgement on them, fulfilled in the war in 66-70 AD. However they were wrong about the vineyard. For God did not take the vineyard from them, he took the kingdom from them. The vineyard, the house of Israel was turned into chaos as it prophesies in Isaiah 5. God had no need of that vineyard, for he had another vineyard, another nation. I will get to who that nation is in a bit.
Then Jesus said:
Matthew 21:42-43 Jesus is saying to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures, 'The stone which is rejected by the builders, This came to be for the head of the corner. From the Lord came this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore am I saying to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and shall be given to a nation producing its fruits. {CLV}
Jesus here is referring to Psalm 118:22 when he mentions the stone rejected by the builders. The builders of the kingdom are the people and their leaders would reject the stone which is the head of the corner. Even thou Jesus was rejected, he became the head of the corner. The building of the kingdom was taken away from Israel, and the kingdom itself was taken away from Israel and given to another nation, another vineyard.
Matthew 21:44-45 And he who is falling on this stone shall be shattered, yet on whomever it should be falling, it will be scattering him like chaff." And the chief priests and the Pharisees, hearing His parables, know that He is saying this concerning them." {CLV}
The one falling on the stone becomes his follower, having been humbled, yet the one the stone falls on is scattered like chaff in the judgement, not literally, figuratively.
The building of the kingdom has now been taken away from Israel. This happened at the time of the death and resurrection of Christ.
There is a view that Jewish believers are separate from the believers of the nations. It is view that these ones will get the kingdom, thus they would be the nation. As I will prove from the scriptures the nation that gets the kingdom is all believers in Christ, not just Jewish believers. There are not two groups of believers, there is only one body, which includes all believers in Christ, for there is no distinction between Jews and non-Jews, Romans 10:12-13. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is availing anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith, operating through love,” Galatians 5:6. Thus there is no advantage in being Jew or being from the nations.
Ephesians 2:19-22 Consequently, then, no longer are you guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the capstone of the corner being Christ Jesus Himself, in Whom the entire building, being connected together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord:" in Whom you, also, are being built together for God's dwelling place, in spirit." {CLV}
No longer are the nations, guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God's family. This is not some future fulfillment that we are still waiting on. Those who believe of the nations are now part of God's family.
Jesus is the capstone of the corner and in him is the “entire building, being connected together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.”
1 Peter 2:4-8 Whom approaching, a living Stone, having been rejected indeed by men, yet chosen by God, held in honor, you, also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, into a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, most acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. " Because of this it is included in the scripture: Lo! I am laying in Zion a corner capstone, chosen, held in honor, and he who is believing on it may by no means be disgraced." To you, then, who are believing, is the honor, yet to the unbelieving: "A Stone which is rejected by the builders, this came to be for the head of the corner, and a stumbling stone and a snare rock; who are stumbling also at the word, being stubborn, to which they were appointed also." {CLV}
This living Stone is Jesus and it is the same one mentioned in Ephesians 2:19-22, that is the capstone. The living stones are being built into a spiritual house, this is the same as the entire building, being connected together, that is growing into a holy temple in Ephesians 2:19-22. That is both are the same thing that is being up built with the living stones, that is being built up with fellow-citizens, that are the nations. Can we not see that these living stones, include the fellow-citizens. Thus both believing Jews and those believing of the nations are living stones that are being built into a spiritual house, a holy temple.
Now the kingdom is no longer being built by the leaders or the people of Israel. The building of the kingdom is now being done by the Holy Spirit of God. This entire building is built with living stones. The living stones are the faithful in Christ, the body and the bride of Christ. The faithful being God’s dwelling place in spirit. This is the spiritual kingdom, that is in place now and being built now, however there is an actual physical coming kingdom that the faithful will enter at the Throne Judgement, as already explained. There is also an actual dwelling place. More on the dwelling place later.
While the chosen are the living stones and God’s dwelling place in spirit, the rest of mankind do not miss out. It is the chosen, the bride, the body who are first, but they are not the only ones. For in the next eon the Jews and the people of the nations will become living stones and God’s dwelling place in spirit as well. They will be added to the spiritual kingdom, becoming part of the building, the kingdom.
The kingdom was taken away from Israel and given to a nation producing its fruits. That is it was taken away from physical Israel and given to another nation, however not another physical nation. The nation that is producing the fruits of the kingdom is spiritual.
1 Peter 2:9-10 Yet you are a chosen race, a "royal priesthood, a "holy nation, a procured people, so that you should be recounting the virtues of Him Who calls you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were "not a people yet now are the people of God, who "have not enjoyed mercy, yet now are "being shown mercy." {CLV}
Peter then calls these ones that are the living stones a "royal priesthood, a "holy nation.” That is they are the nation that has got the kingdom. Who got the kingdom, believers in Christ, that is all believers in Christ, not just Jewish believers, for there is no difference. We should stop call them Jewish believers, for then being Jewish makes no difference in the body of Christ.
The chosen race, is the members of the body of Christ, the faithful in Christ. These people are a "royal priesthood, a "holy nation.” That is the chosen, the brethren, the faithful are a holy nation. This holy nation made up of the faithful, is the nation that produces the fruit of the kingdom, they are the vineyard that produces the fruit. The true believers are spiritual Israel, they come from many nations, and form one nation, one people, one body. There is no earthly physical nation that can do this. This holy nation is another nation, another vineyard, it is not the same vineyard, it is not the old house of Israel.
Revelation 1:5-7 and from Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Suzerain of the kings of the earth. To Him Who is loving us and looses us from our sins by His blood" and makes us a kingdom and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and might for the eons of the eons! Amen!" Lo! He is coming with clouds, and every eye shall be seeing Him-those, also, who stab Him-and all the tribes of the land shall be grieving over Him. Yea! Amen!" {CLV}
The chosen, the saints have been loosed from their sins, by the blood of Christ on the cross. They are made a kingdom and priests to His God. In Revelation 5, the elders that are in heaven sing a new song:
Revelation 5:8-9 And when It took the scroll, the four animals and the twenty-four elders fall before the Lambkin, each having a lyre, and golden bowls brimming with incenses, which are the prayers of the saints." And they are singing a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to be taking the scroll and to open its seals, For Thou wast slain and dost buy us for God by Thy blood. Out of every tribe and language and people and nation." {CLV}
The elders were brought by the blood of Christ who is the lambkin. These elders were out of every tribe and language and people and nation. Here the twenty-four elders represent the saints, but it is important to realize that this is in the book of Revelation, which is a vision that John received, all is not to be taken literally. If taken literally that the elders are actually saying this in heaven then they would have to have been raised from the dead before Jesus Christ returns, however that is not the case for no one expect Christ has been raised from the dead and no one will be raised from the dead until Christ Jesus returns. For more on the resurrections refer to my article: "How Many Resurrections"
Revelation 5:10 Thou dost also make them a kingdom and a priesthood for our God, And they shall be reigning on the earth."
These ones out of every tribe and language and people and nation are made into a kingdom and a priesthood for our God. Thus it was not just out of Israel, but out of every nation that these ones are made into a kingdom.
Thus there is no separate kingdom calling for the Jewish believers, for the kingdom is made up of believers from all nations, who are made into a new nation, that is given the kingdom and is the kingdom.
Luke 17:20-21 Now, being inquired of by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God is coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with scrutiny." Neither shall they be declaring 'Lo! here!' or 'Lo! there!' for lo! the kingdom of God is inside of you." {CLV}
Spiritually as explained before the kingdom is inside of the chosen. This was not the case before, when the house of Israel had the kingdom, it was not inside of them. This is the case with the “holy nation,” the kingdom is inside of them.
All of this does not mean that Israel will not be restored as a nation, it will be restored as a nation later on the new earth, they will not be the ruling nation. Christ will not rule from there. Over time during the people of Israel will move into the kingdom, but at the start they will be outside, along with the rest of the restored nations.
Judging of the twelve tribes of Israel
Those in the kingdom will be judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:28-30 Now you are those who have continued with Me in My trials." And I am covenanting a covenant with you, according as My Father covenanted a kingdom to Me, that you may be eating and drinking at My table in My kingdom. And you will be seated on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." {CLV}
Justice & Righteousness
Isaiah 9:6-7 For a Boy is born to us; a Son is given to us, and the chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and His name is called "Marvelous. Counsel to the master shall He bring, to the chief of the future, welfare." To the increase of the chieftainship, and to the welfare shall be no end. On the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to prepare it, and to brace it with judgment and with justice, henceforth and in the future eon. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this." {CLV}
For a Boy is born, a Son, that Boy, that Son is Jesus Christ. There will be judgement and Justice.
Matthew 6:31-33 You, then, should not be worrying, saying, 'What may we be eating?' or 'What may we be drinking?' or 'With what may we be clothed?'" For all these the nations are seeking. For aware is your heavenly Father that you need all of these. Yet seek first the kingdom and its righteousness, and these all shall be added to you." {CLV}
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2017