The Kingdom Program of God–A summary

Emphasis:

Sphere, scope and timelessness – the entire universe is within God’s sovereign will and control

Aspect

His sovereignty

Practical

God is always in control meaning nothing happens outside of God’s directive or permissive will.

Bible references

1 Chronicles 29:11–12; Psalms 10:16, 29:10, 74:12, 90:1–6, 93:1–5, 103:19–22, 145:1–21, 148:8; Proverbs 21:11; Jeremiah 10:10; Lamentations 5:19; Daniel 4:17, 25, 32; 6:27; and Acts 17:24).

Emphasis

The abode of the believer after death (1 Corinthians 15:50; 2 Timothy 4:18), existing from the time of Adam, and will continue after the rapture of the church

Aspect

God’s rule in the heart of the believer

Practical

The company of people who have experienced new birth by the Holy Spirit.

Spoken of by Jesus in his conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:3. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

Bible references

Matthew 6:33; 19:16, 23–24; John 3:3–5; Acts 8;12; 14:22; 19:8; 28:23; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 6:9–10; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 1:13–14; 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; and 2 Thessalonians 1:5.

Emphasis

God’s rule by means of and through a theocracy over Israel (not the Church)

Aspect

Established by Moses when the Law was given, the Theocratic Kingdom was God’s rule over Israel. There has been two aspects:

1. during which God ruled through mediators (mediatorial), and

2. When God ruled through monarchs of the House of David (monarchical). Samuel, the last judge, and the one who anointed David marked the transition between the two forms. David commenced a dynasty, which continued to occupy the throne until Zedekiah.

Practical

During the latter stages of the monarchial form the Theocratic Kingdom declined as kings turned away from God to idols. With the decline, the prophets announced a future, and better aspect of the kingdom program - the Messianic Kingdom.

Theocratic Kingdom came to an end in 586 B. C. with the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, and at this point the Times of the Gentiles commenced, continuing until today.

Bible references

Exodus 19; 2 Chronicles 36

Emphasis

Messiah Himself will rule directly over this kingdom which will last 1000 years hence the name ‘millennial’.

Relation to God

God’s “better” rule on earth

Aspect:

An earthly literal kingdom on earth where Jesus (Yeshua) will rule from the Throne of David situated in Jerusalem over the saved nation of Israel and the Gentile Nations.

The Messianic Kingdom forms the outcome of the Davidic Covenant, a convent God with David where He promised that David an eternal house, an eternal kingdom, an eternal throne, and an eternal descendant, which will be fulfilled by Jesus.

Practical

This kingdom was offered by Jesus, outline in Matthew 1-12, but was rejected by Jewish leaders resulting in the offer being rescinded “from that generation”. Since the kingdom was rejected, it was not set up and was essentially postponed. The rejection, being part of God’s plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles, including Jesus dying to provide the atonement with the gospel extended to all Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1–13).

The Messianic Kingdom will be re–offered to the Jewish generation of the Tribulation, when it will be accepted.

Bible references

The Messianic Kingdom was a major area of Old Testament prophecy.: Psalms 2 and 72; Isaiah 9:6

–7; 11:1–16; Jeremiah 23:5–6; 32:14–17; Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24; Hosea 3:4–5; Micah 4:6–8; 5:2; and Malachi 3:1–4.

This was the kingdom John the Baptist proclaimed to be at hand (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). It was the kingdom Jesus offered to the Jewish people (Matthew 10:7; Mark 1:14).

Emphasis

Aspects of this Kingdom was reveal during and after Jesus, thus the use of the term ‘mystery’, meaning hidden. Jesus introduced this facet of God’s Kingdom Program by means of the mysteries of the kingdom (Matthew 13:11a).

Aspect

The period where God provokes the Jews to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah by extending the offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. This commenced with the rejection of Jesus’ Messiahship (outlined in Matthew 12) and will continue until Israel accepts His Messiahship just before the Second Coming (Matthew 23:37–39).

Practical

The relationship between God and those who are either believers (sealed with the Holy Spirit) or think they are believers, and is best described by the term “Christendom.” Thus this kingdom program includes the Church.

Bible references

A New Testament mystery is a divine truth that was not revealed in the Old Testament but is revealed in the New Testament (Ephesians 3:3–5, 9; Colossians 1:26–27). Fruchtenbaum summaries these two passages: “In the Old Testament, this divine mystery was not made known to the sons of men because it has been hid in God for ages and generations. In the New Testament, it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in order to make all men see the mystery that has now been manifested to his saints.”

A description of the mystery aspect of the Kingdom Program can be found in the parables of Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8 which that covers the age between the First and Second Comings of the Messiah.