12. Receiving An Unshakable Kingdom

Sabbath Afternoon

Prayer Thought

The Saviour turned from them to entrust to others the privileges they had abused and the work they had slighted. God's glory must be revealed, His word established. Christ's kingdom must be set up in the world. The salvation of God must be made known in the cities of the wilderness; and the disciples were called to do the work that the Jewish leaders had failed to do. {AA 16.1}

Memory Text

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28, KJV).

This week's SS Lesson will dig deeper in the mine of truth - "Christ's kingdom will be established, in the days of these kings" {Dan. 2:44}, as prophecy had been laid in the Holy Writ, consequently, God's people will inherit and inhabit His kingdom on earth (as Christ had taught His disciple to pray for the coming of this as it is in heaven - Mat. 6:10) - where righteousness will reign and will save the world in the final call of the gospel of His kingdom - the unshakeable one, then the end will come {Mat. 24:14}.

Serving God with reverence and Godly fear is a power that is unshakable and this is His Kingdom established on earth as it is in heaven {Mat. 6:10}

Outline of the Study

Sunday: You Have Come to Mt. Zion

Heb. 1:2, 5-14; 7:11-22; 12:9, 22-24; Exo. 32:32; Ps. 2:6, 7; 56:8; 102:21-27; 110:1, 2; Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16; Lk 10:20; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8

Monday: You Have to Come to God, the Judge of All

Heb. 12:22-24, 28, 29; Dan. 7:9, 10, 13-22; Deut. 32:16; 1Chron. 16:33-35

Tuesday: Shake the Heavens and the Earth

Heb. 1:5-14; 2:6-9, 14-16; 20-22; 10:11-14; 12:26, 27; Ps. 68:7, 8; 60:2; 77:17, 18; 96:9, 10; 99:1; Isa. Jude 5:4, 5, 20; 1Cor. 15:23-25

Wednesday: Unshakeable Kingdom

Ps. 15:5; 16:8; 21:7; 46:5; 62:2; 112:6; Heb. 1:10-12; 7:1, 24; 10:34; 12:27, 28; Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:1-4; 1Thess. 4:13-17; Phil. 3:20; Dan. 2:44; 7:18; Rev. 20:4; 1Cor. 6:3; Eph. 4:14

Thursday: Let's Be Grateful

Heb. 3:1; 4:14; 6:10-12; 10:10-14, 19-23; 12:28; 13:1, 1, 15-16; Ps. 50:7-23; Isa. 1:11-17; Exo. 19:4-6; 1Pet. 2:9, 10; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; Isa. 1:11-17

Friday: Further study and Meditation

Sunday: You Have Come to Mt. Zion (A Joyful Gathering)

Heb. 1:2, 5-14; 7:11-22; 12:9, 22-24; Exo. 32:32; Ps. 2:6, 7; 56:8; 102:21-27; 110:1, 2; Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16; Lk 10:20; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,” (Hebrews 12:22)

The Lamb will Stand on Mt. Zion

Now concerning the time that the 144,000 stand on Mt. Zion, the Revelator says: "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from Heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." Rev. 14:1-3. {6SC1-6: 12.2.3}

Secured and Trained for the Master’s Service

To safeguard the souls of these little ones, to train them for the Master's service, and to fit them to stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion, now becomes the privilege and responsibility of each of us. {3SC8-10: 2.1.2}

That these events shall ultimate in the setting up of the Kingdom (Dan. 2:44; Isa. 2:1-4; Mic. 4; Ezek. 37), wherein the 144,000, those who follow the Lamb "withersoever He goeth" (Rev. 14:4), shall stand with Him on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1), and there "receive the forces of the GentiIes. " Isa. 60:5, 11. {FB: 13.4}

Restoration of the Holy Land in Jerusalem

"And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.... Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation." Zechariah 2:4, 5, 10-13.

Consider the following

— Mount Zion was the place on which Jerusalem and the ark of God stood. After some time, Zion became a synonym of God’s home (Psalm 9:11; 84:7; 134:3).

— God meets with His people—the Remnant—there (Isaiah 37:32; Revelation 14:1). They are the “assembly of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23a).

— We have been justified, therefore we are “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23b).

Please visit this site for a deeper understanding of the Kingdom of Christ to be established on earth. Click or copy-paste to a browser.

Sabbath School - Meat In Due Season Advanced Commentary - 3. From Mystery to Revelation (google.com)

Meat In Due Season - 5. Mighty Stone and the Great Image of Daniel 2 (google.com)

Meat In Due Season - 6. The Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory (google.com)

Monday: You Have to Come to God, the Judge of All

Heb. 12:22-24, 28, 29; Dan. 7:9, 10, 13-22; Deut. 32:16; 1Chron. 16:33-35

“to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,” (Hebrews 12:23)

The Book of Life Open for Investigative Judgment

From this bulwark of evidence in proof of the cleansing of the church on earth and of the books in heaven, towers forth the impregnable truth that the living who, continuing faithful to the end, retain their names in the Book of Life, shall, in this time of separation, receive God's mark, or seal, of deliverance, while those who do not shall be left without it, to perish in their sins. And, correspondingly, the dead whose names are retained after the judgment, in the book of the dead, shall come forth in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6), while those who were unfaithful in life wait until after the thousand years, to come forth with all the wicked in the second resurrection (Rev. 20:5). {TN3: 51.2}

Judgment unveils Deception

The church would have been endangered if, in the rapid increase of converts, men and women had been added who, while professing to serve God, were worshiping mammon. This judgment testified that men cannot deceive God, that He detects the hidden sin of the heart, and that He will not be mocked. It was designed as a warning to the church, to lead them to avoid pretense and hypocrisy, and to beware of robbing God. {AA 73.4}

Consider the following

— The judgement at Zion reminds us of the vision in Daniel 7:9-10. In that moment, the children of God “whose names are in the Book of Life” will be “made perfect” (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27; 20:15).

— Once the judgement ends, Jesus will receive the kingdom (Daniel 7:14). Then, He will come back to give the kingdom “to the people, the saints of the Most High.” (Daniel 7:27).

— The judgement is good news for us because the accusation against us will be rejected. A glorious future awaits.

""Hear the causes between your brethren," said Moses, "and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's." Deuteronomy 1:16, 17. {AA 94.1}

The time is near when He will say, "Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isaiah 26:20, 21.

Men who claim to be Christians may now defraud and oppress the poor; they may rob the widow and fatherless; they may indulge their Satanic hatred because they cannot control the consciences of God's people; but for all this God will bring them into judgment. They "shall have judgment without mercy" that have "showed no mercy." (James 2:13.) Not long hence they will stand before the Judge of all the earth, to render an account for the pain they have caused to the bodies to render an account for the pain they have caused to the bodies and souls of His heritage.

Tuesday: Shake the Heavens and the Earth (What is Shaken)

Heb. 1:5-14; 2:6-9, 14-16; 20-22; 10:11-14; 12:26, 27; Ps. 68:7, 8; 60:2; 77:17, 18; 96:9, 10; 99:1; Isa. Jude 5:4, 5, 20; 1Cor. 15:23-25

“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” (Hebrews 12:26)

The Greater Glory of the Latter House

"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:6-9.) {SR2: 280.1}

Destruction of the Heathen Kingdoms

"And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the Kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother." (Hag. 2:22.) {SR2: 280.2}

The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord

Again is seen that in the day the Lord shakes the heavens and the earth, He also destroys the kingdoms of the earth by allowing them to kill one another. No wonder then that the nations are now engaged in an armament race, and the whole world is on the verge of plunging into the bloodiest conflict ever known. It is difficult for anyone to come to any other conclusion than that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is at hand. {1TG13: 6.1}

In as much as Zerubbabel is a "signet," a symbol or a type of the builders in the day the Lord shakes the heavens and the earth, then Ezekiel's description of the mystic temple (chapters 40-47) which is yet to be built, could be the blueprint of Zerubbabel's antitypical temple. {1TG13: 6.2}

Overthrow the Throne of Kingdoms

As ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, "in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the 144,000," our work, especially at this most critical time, is not to collect money for God, but to lead the blind to Him through presenting the message of Present Truth, thus preparing a people to meet their Lord, Who shall soon appear with power and great glory," "shake the heavens and the earth," "overthrow the throne of kingdoms," and "destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen." (Luke 21:27; Haggai 2:21-22.) {2SC10: 3.1.2}

Hence, if we faithfully acquit ourselves of our charge, doing all in our power to bring souls to a saving knowledge of the truth, we need be concerned neither about God's getting poor nor our going hungry, for where the heart is, there the treasure is also, and if we seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto us. (Matt. 6:33.) {2SC10: 3.1.3}

"There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Daniel 12:1. {COL 179.2}

From garrets, from hovels, from dungeons, from scaffolds, from mountains and deserts, from the caves of the earth and the caverns of the sea, Christ will gather His children to Himself. On earth they have been destitute, afflicted, and tormented. Millions have gone down to the grave loaded with infamy because they refused to yield to the deceptive claims of Satan. be reversed.

"The rebuke of His people shall He take away." Isaiah 25:8. White robes will be given to every one of them. (Revelation 6:11.) And "they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord." Isaiah 62:12. {COL 179.3}

Consider the following

— God’s intervention on Earth is usually described as an earthquake (Haggai 2:7; Judges 5:4; Psalm 68:8). The Second Coming and the final destruction of the wicked are also described like this (Isaiah 13:13; 24:19-23).

— “The host of exalted ones” and “the kings of the earth” are the ones who will be shaken (Isaiah 24:21). This is, Satan and his angels, along with all who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

— Once they’re shaken, the promise of the Father to Jesus will be fulfilled, since everything will be under His dominion (Hebrews 1:13; Philippians 2:10).

Consolidating the facts before us, we find that the millennium is ushered in by a six-fold series of events occurring in the order in which they are named:

(1) God's destroying the hypocrites in the church;

(2) calling His Own out of the nations, and then bringing them into the purified church -- the Kingdom;

(3) closing probation;

(4) destroying the wicked;

(5) resurrecting the righteous dead and translating the righteous living;

(6) and finally, making void the earth. {TN9: 18.1}

The Renewal of the Earth

With the culmination of these six end-events the time of which the Bible calls the end of the world, the curtain falls forever on the ages-long drama of sin and redemption. Aforetime, though, "this gospel of the kingdom [the signs of the end (Matt. 24)] shall," said Christ, "be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations [now existent]; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14), and it shall have come to pass, as written: "...the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." Rev. 6:14. "For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate;" adding though: "yet will not make a full end" (Jer. 4 :27) -- leaving a promise for The Renewal of the Earth. {TN9: 18.2}

Wednesday: Unshakeable Kingdom

Ps. 15:5; 16:8; 21:7; 46:5; 62:2; 112:6; Heb. 1:10-12; 7:1, 24; 10:34; 12:27, 28; Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:1-4; 1Thess. 4:13-17; Phil. 3:20; Dan. 2:44; 7:18; Rev. 20:4; 1Cor. 6:3; Eph. 4:14

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28)

Before the Kingdom Established

So before the Kingdom of God is established on this earth, it must indeed be spiritually established within us if we are ever to qualify for admission when it is physically established upon "earth, as it is in heaven." {ABN2: 90.1}

Accordingly, the spiritual kingdom of God within, is within those who embody the principles of its rule before the physical Kingdom is established. So the kingdom of God "within" is the regimen of the spiritual life; it is prerequisite to an inheritance in the external Kingdom of God. {ABN2: 90.2}

The people over whom the Lord is to take the reins in His Own hands, are, of course, only those who shall compose His kingdom. "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Therefore, the Lord's taking the reins in His Own hands is the beginning of the establishing of His everlasting kingdom, just prior to His visible coming in the clouds. Daniel also in vision witnessed this fact and declared to the king thus: "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 forever." (Dan. 2:44.) {4SC10-12: 6.1.4}

Consider the following

— Those who have been justified and forgiven by Jesus will not be shaken (Psalm 16:8; 112:6).

— On the other hand, Earth will be shaken and transformed (Revelation 21:1). It will become home for the citizens of an “unshakable kingdom.” This kingdom belongs to Jesus, but He will share it with us.

Note:

The kingdom is set up not after the "days of these kings," but in their days, and that those kingdoms are to be broken by it. Therefore, although at first, and before the resurrection, the kingdom will not be completed with all its subjects, it will have its beginning before the second coming of Christ. {4SC10-12: 6.2.1}

The taking of the reins in His Own hands is therefore in the time of the gathering of His people from among the nations, by the voice: "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev. 18:4.) {4SC10-12: 7.1.1}

When this voice shall be heard calling out God's people there shall be no sinners in His kingdom, neither shall the plagues fall there, for the saints are called out of Babylon because of the sins that are there and because the plagues are to fall upon all there. {4SC10-12: 7.1.2}

In Matthew 13:49 is recorded the separation of the sinners from among God's people, for at that time, says Christ, the wicked are taken out from among the just, whereas, by the voice recorded in the Revelation, the righteous are taken out from among the wicked--the manner of the one separation being the opposite of the other--which fact proves that the Lord takes the reins in His Own hands before the commencement of the Loud Cry of Revelation 18:4. {4SC10-12: 7.1.3}

Thursday: Let's Be Grateful

Heb. 3:1; 4:14; 6:10-12; 10:10-14, 19-23; 12:28; 13:1, 1, 15-16; Ps. 50:7-23; Isa. 1:11-17; Exo. 19:4-6; 1Pet. 2:9, 10; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; Isa. 1:11-17

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Great a Cloud of Witnesses

"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." {ST, April 27, 1904 par. 9}

Father’s Love- Sweet Melodies of Salvation

Though they originated many centuries ago, their sweet melodies of salvation from the Father's love, onward through the avenue by the human race, have reached our own time without the loss of a single sounding note. These divinely appointed symbols were to reveal the Author of love to the human family in all ages. {SR1: 225.1}

Organized and Led by the Author of Scriptures

In both the Old and the New Testaments, there is brought to view a religious movement organized and led by the Author of the Scriptures, the first of which is an "ensample," or type, of the second. Both of these movements called God's people out of a state of bondage, with specific instruction as to how those comprising the organization might free themselves from slavery, and inherit a land of freedom, peace, and plenty. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." I Cor. 10:11. {6SC1-6: 10.1.11}

Consider the following

Paul encouraged us “to be thankful” (Hebrews 12:28).

Wanting to do God’s will by living a righteous life is our response to everything God has done and will do for us (Psalm 15).

Good works are a response to God’s love, so they are driven by love (Romans 13:8).

They are not just words, but specific acts (Hebrews 13:2-5, 16).

Friday: Further study and Meditation

Jesus came down to our world that He might give us a living example, that we might know how to live and how to keep the way of the Lord. He was the image of the Father. His beautiful and spotless character is before us as an example for us to imitate. We must study and copy and follow Jesus Christ, then we shall bring His loveliness and beauty into our character. In doing this we are standing before God through faith, winning back by conflict with the powers of darkness the power of self-control, the love of God that Adam lost.—Manuscript 6a, 1886 (Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, pp. 31-34). {CTr 43.6}

Questions to Ponder

1. Does the statement in Dan. 7:9-14, 18 talk about the second coming of Christ or the establishment of His Kingdom before He comes in the clouds of heaven? For answers, refer to Sunday lesson.

2. Is Mt. Zion in heaven or in the Holy land, Jerusalem? Where does the Lamb stand on? Compare Rev. 14:1 with Dan. 12:1 (Michael stands on Mt. Zion signals the trouble such as never was since there was a nation.)

3. Where will be God’s people when the earth is in the seven plagues? Would God’s people be delivered as what happened to the Israelites when the plagues fell to Egypt?

4. What is the impact of God’s investigative judgment for the SDA church in 1 Pet. 4:17?

5. What’s the purpose of God’s shaking the earth and heaven? Through whom it will be done?

6. His kingdom will be established on earth, how do we take this truth as SDAs?

7. How will this eternal kingdom be established on earth and where will it start?

According to Luke 17:21, "the kingdom of God is within" us, how, then, can it be in a certain land?

Answer: Before the kingdom of God is established on this earth, it must be formed within us, to qualify us to dwell in it. Accordingly, "the kingdom of God...within," is within all who embody the principles of its rule while they are subjects of the kingdoms of the earth. In fine, then, "the kingdom of God...within" is a moral and spiritual regimen of life--the indispensable condition of admission to the literal kingdom. {7SC1-6: 13.1.3}

From the Inspiration

“A transformation has taken place, and you are a different man. You are not the same passionate man that you used to be. You are not the same worldly man that you were. You are not the man that was giving way to the lust and evil passions, evil surmisings, and evil speakings. You are not this man at all because a transformation has taken place. What is it?—the image of Christ reflected in you. Then you are bearing in view that there is a company to stand by and by on Mount Zion, and you want to be one of that company, and you are determined that you will form a part of that company.” E.G.W. (“Letters and Manuscripts – Volume 5 (1887-1888)”, Manuscript 13, 1888)

SSL-Q1-12-Recieving an Unshakeable Kingdom (fliphtml5.com)