Recently a Jehovah’s Witness came to my door, telling me
that the kingdom of God was established on earth in the year 1914 AD. Two
things amaze about these folks. First, I am amazed at their zeal. Secondly, I
am amazed at the distortions and deceptions they have accepted and are now
propagating. This study is about time, specifically the time of the
establishment of the kingdom on earth.
What is the kingdom on earth?
The kingdom is the establishment of the rule of God and
the reign of His Christ in the hearts and minds of the people of this earth as
it is in heaven. (Matthew 6: 10)
When was the kingdom to be established according to
prophecy and in general terms?
There are several prophecies and statements in the
Scripture concerning the time of establishment of the kingdom on earth.
Isaiah 2: 1- 4 This passage tells us at least two
things. The kingdom of God will be established in the last days
and that the law and the word of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem.
This gives us a time, although not very specific, and the place, Jerusalem.
The first Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension is spoken of as the last days.
Daniel 2: 31 45 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream; the
interpretation by God through Daniels reveals that within the time of four
great kingdoms, the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Greek and the Romans,
the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Now the
Babylonian, the Medo-Persian and the Greek kingdom preceded the Romans which
lasted until 476 AD according to Edward Gibbons. Accordingly we would say that
the kingdom of God was established before 476 AD.
Daniel 7: 9- 14 According to this passage one like a
Son of Man came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before. And to
Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom. We conclude that
Jesus received the kingdom upon ascending to heaven.
Luke 19: 17-27 A certain nobleman went to a distant
country to receive a kingdom for Himself, and then return. At His return He
called His slaves into judgment. The nobleman (Jesus) went to a distant
country (heaven) to receive a kingdom. We conclude that Jesus received the
kingdom upon ascending to heaven
What are the four time periods relative to the kingdom?
The time periods are:
From John the Baptist to Pentecost, the kingdom is at
hand.
From Pentecost to the second coming, Jesus is reigning.
The Inheritance of the eternal kingdom, occurs at the
resurrection and second coming.
The End of the Reign of Christ, Jesus returns the
kingdom to the Father.
From John the Baptist to Pentecost- the kingdom was at hand
Matthew 3: 3 John the Baptist testified that the
kingdom is at hand. Within three to four years, not thousands of years as is
commonly postulated, the kingdom would be a reality on earth.
Matthew 4: 17 Jesus instructed the people at that time
to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.. This would make no sense if
the kingdom were thousands of years away.
Matthew 6: 10, 33 Jesus taught his disciples to pray
for the coming of the kingdom on earth and to seek the kingdom.
Matthew 10: 17 the kingdom is near
Matthew 12: 28 the kingdom of God has come to those
people if Jesus cast out demons by the Spirit of God
Matthew 16: 19 the apostles were to be given the keys
of the kingdom
Matthew 26: 29 Jesus will drink with then in the
kingdom
Mark 1: 15 the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is
at hand
Mark 9: 1 the kingdom of God would come in power within
the life time of those listening to Christ. The coming of the kingdom is a
first century event!
Mark 11: 10 the coming kingdom is the kingdom of David
Mark 15: 43 Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the
kingdom. The time is after the crucifixion, within 50 days the kingdom came.
Luke 1: 33 at His conception it was proclaimed that
Jesus would reign over the house of Jacob and there would be no end to his
kingdom
Luke 10: 9 the kingdom of God has come near to you
Luke 16: 15 the kingdom of God began to be proclaimed
with John the Baptist.
Luke 17: 20, 21 the kingdom of God comes within man
without observation
Luke 19: 11 they supposed the kingdom would come
immediately
Luke 21: 31, 32 kingdom would come within there
generation
Luke 22: 20 conferred a kingdom on Jesus
Luke 24: 46, 47 the word went forth from Jerusalem
John 18: 36 the kingdom not of this world
Acts 1: 6, 7 kingdom had not been restored but now
within 10 days
Conclusion:
The kingdom was only three to four years away from the
time John and Jesus began their ministries. That is why it was said to be at
hand.
The kingdom came in the life time of those to whom Jesus
spoke. Most of those people were still alive at Pentecost. (Mark 9: 1)
The word went forth from Jerusalem at Pentecost. (Luke
24: 36, 47)
The door of the kingdom was opened at Pentecost. The
Apostles had the keys. About 3, 000 souls were added that day. (Matthew 16:
19; Acts 2: 41)
After Pentecost- the kingdom is an established fact, Jesus is reigning
Matthew 28: 18 All authority in heaven and in earth has
been given to Jesus. This is ten days before Pentecost and the establishment
of the kingdom.
Acts 2: 33 Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God,
received the promised Holy Spirit
Acts 2: 34- 36 JESUS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN
SITING AT THE RIGHT HAND
UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR THY FEET
HAS BEEN MADE BOTH LORD AND CHRIST
Acts 8: 12 proclaiming the good news about the kingdom
Acts 14: 22 it is through many persecutions that we
must enter the kingdom of God
Acts 19: 6 and argued persuasively about the kingdom
of God
Acts 20: 25 proclaiming the kingdom
Act 28: 23, 31 proclaiming the kingdom
1 Corinthians 15: 25 He must reign until
He has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished
is death. He was reigning when this letter was written.
Colossians 1: 13 Paul and the Colossians had been
delivered from the domain of darkness, and translated us to the kingdom of His
beloved Son
Colossians 4: 11 fellow workers for the kingdom of God
1 Thessalonians 2: 12 who calls you into His own
kingdom and glory
2 Timothy 4: 1 His appearing and His kingdom. The
kingdom is then the kingdom of our Lord
Hebrews 1: 6 but of the Son He says, Your throne, O
God, is for ever and ever
Hebrews 12: 28 since we are receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken
James 2: 12 heirs of the kingdom that He has promised
to those who love Him
2 Peter 1: 11 entrance into the eternal kingdom will be
richly provided
Revelation 2: 6 made us to be a kingdom, priests
serving His God and Father
Revelation 1: 8 John, their brother, share with them in
Christ the persecution and the kingdom
Revelation 5: 10 and made them to be a kingdom and
priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth
Conclusion:
At Pentecost Jesus was both Lord and Christ having
received all authority on heaven and earth.
His enemies were to be made a footstool for His feet.
Jesus was reigning when 1 Corinthians was written.
The saints were citizens of the kingdom of God in the
first century.
The Inheritance
Matthew 25: 34 inherit the kingdom
1 Corinthians 6: 9, 10 wrongdoers will not inherit the
kingdom
1 Corinthians 15: 50 flesh and blood shall not enter
the kingdom of God
Galatians 5: 21 wrongdoers with not inherit the kingdom
Conclusion: At the resurrection our bodies of flesh and
blood will be changed to a spiritual body. The perishable will put on the
imperishable. Death is swallowed up in victory. The entrance into the eternal
kingdom will be abundantly supplied. (2 Peter 1: 11)
The End of the Reign of Christ
1 Corinthians 15: 24 then comes the end when Christ
delivers up the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and
authority
1 Corinthians 15: 25 He must reign until He has put all
the enemies under His feet
1 Corinthians 15: 26 the last enemy is death
Conclusion: God will be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:
28)
Objection:
Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first
resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests
of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Revelations
20: 6)
Some having taken this passage from a highly figurative
book and have come to some fanciful ideas, ignoring scores of plain teaching
about the kingdom. Their ideas can be shown false by several considerations,
What is the first resurrection? The first resurrection is
a figurative resurrection of those who had been martyred for Christ and the
souls of those who had not worshipped the beast and his image and had not
received his mark upon their forehead or hand. In other words, those who have
died in the Lord now find their souls alive in heaven as priests and reigning
with Christ. This is the first resurrection.
But when did the saints become priests unto God? Peter
called those to whom he was writing in the first century, a chose race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation and a people for God’s own possession. All who are in
the Lord are priests. (1 Peter 2: 9, 10)
But when did Jesus begin to reign? Jesus was declared to
be both Lord and Christ at Pentecost and was said to be reigning when 1
Corinthians was written. Christ has been reigning on earth for almost 2, 000
years already. (1 Corinthians 15: 25, 26)
But doesn’t the passage say Christ will reign a thousand
years? Yes, but don’t let this highly figurative book deceive you. The
thousand years number is not any more a literal number than the cattle on a
thousand hills (Psalm 50: 10) means a literal thousand hills. It means the
totality of cattle belong to the Lord. Similarly the thousand year reign of
Christ refers to the totality of Christ’s reign.
Christ is reigning now and will continue to reign until
death is vanquished when He comes again. He must reign until the last enemy,
death, is made to serve Him as His footstool.