What is the Kingdom of God? What are the happenings that will lead up to the Millennium? These are great questions. Let’s see what God word tells us about the different forms of the Kingdom leading to the Eternal Reign of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.
Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth…
“His (God’s) kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:1,3
Different Forms of the Kingdom
Note: Matthew uses the phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven” to refer to “The Kingdom of God” to respectfully avoid using the name of God.
Jesus the Eternal King of the Universe
As Nebuchadnezzar wrote, the everlasting Kingdom of God is, and always has been, the rule of God as the King of the Universe. He always was and is Sovereign over everything and always will be.
The Kingdom of David
Jesus, Son of David
In a narrower but more common sense, the Kingdom of God is the Kingdom God promised through King David and to the ultimate King (Jesus) in David’s line:
“He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33).”
Jesus Offered the Kingdom to Israel
The promised Davidic Kingdom is what Jesus announced to His people Israel at the beginning of His ministry:
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).”
Israel Rejected the Kingdom
But Israel rejected Jesus and His offer to establish His earthly, Davidic Kingdom at His first advent:
“He came to His own (the Jews), and those who were His own did not receive Him (John 1:11).”
Jesus will Bring the Kingdom to Israel
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I (Jesus) wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” (Matthew 23:37-39).”
The Church is the Mystery Form of the Kingdom
Not the Davidic Kingdom
The Church is a part of God’s Kingdom but separate from the future Davidic Kingdom. The Church is a “mystery” form of the Kingdom, not a fulfillment of it. Jesus offered the Kingdom to Israel, but when they rejected it, Jesus built His Church:
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matthew 16:18).”
Bringing Salvation to the Gentiles and Believing Jews
The focus during the Church age is no longer on Israel but on bringing salvation to the Gentiles and believing Jews:
“You can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known…it has now been revealed…to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Ephesians 3:4-6).”
The Church was Previously Unrevealed
The Church is a mystery form of the Kingdom. A mystery in the New Testament is not something difficult to understand but something previously unrevealed.
Jesus Will Establish the Davidic Kingdom When He Returns
When Jesus returns to earth, at His Second Advent, He (the son of David) will establish the promised earthly Davidic Kingdom. During that time, Christ will rule the earth on David’s throne. That time is called the Millennium because He will judge the world for one thousand years:
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a 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 (Revelation 20:6).”
“When the thousand years are completed, Satan will…come out to deceive the nations…to gather them together for the war…. And they…surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them (Revelation 20:7-10).”
Jesus Will Reign Forever
When the thousand-year reign ends, the Kingdom will continue into the eternal state, with Jesus reigning over the New Heavens and New Earth forever (Revelation 21 and 22 describe the eternal state).
The Kingdom of God is:
- The eternal rule of God over the universe
- The earthly Kingdom promised David that one of his descendants will rule the earth forever
- The current mystery form of the Kingdom, which is the Church
Outro
Serve the Lord with fear; tremble with trepidation!
Kiss the son (Jesus), lest He become angry, and you perish in the way,
for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.
Psalm 2:11-12
