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When Did The Kingdom Come?
June 05, 2016
Some try to pin down an exact date as to "when the kingdom of God came". It took place over time, as revealed by the prophets of old, and the son of God. First, the foundation was laid. Then, the spiritual building of God began to take shape. It continues under construction with each new child of God translated into that kingdom, for we are the living temple of God. - Bernie Parsons
When Did The Kingdom Come?
A sermon by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 06-05-2016
Presented to Load church of Christ on 06-12-2016
There are differing ideas on when the kingdom of God came upon this
earth. Let us examine the scriptures for the answer as to when the
kingdom came.
Both John, the baptizer, and Jesus taught that the kingdom was at hand.
Matthew 3:1 "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Jesus taught His followers to pray that the kingdom would come, showing
that it was future at that time that He gave those instructions.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Jesus gives a hint about the kingdom’s arrival in the following passage.
Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time
the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
If Jesus taught His disciples to pray that the kingdom would come in the
future, why did He say that men were pressing into the kingdom from the
time of John the Baptist’s preaching?
Ephesians 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through
the Spirit."
This sheds new light. Like any solid building, a good foundation must
first be laid. The foundation for the kingdom of God on earth began with
the prophets.
Luke 9:26 "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory,
and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall
not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God."
Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father
with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his
works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
Mark 9:1 "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be
some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they
have seen the kingdom of God come with power."
The
above passages indicate that the kingdom was established
over time. It began with
the foundation of the prophets, continued with the coming of Jesus and
the work of His apostles, but
would reach full power later, when Rome would demolish both Judah
and Jerusalem.
Acts 1:6 "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Luke 17:20 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom
of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh
not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the
kingdom of God is within you.
22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see
it.
23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after
them, nor follow them.
24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under
heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son
of man be in his day.
25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this
generation.
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of
the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood
came, and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank,
they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in
the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the
field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever
shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one
shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the
other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other
left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto
them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered
together."
Luke tied the coming of the kingdom with the destruction of Jerusalem
and Judah. Mark indicates that that is when that it would come
with power.
Luke 21:24 "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be
led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down
of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea
and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be
shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift
up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the
trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that
summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that
the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all
be fulfilled."
Yet, Apostle Paul indicated that
the righteous were in the kingdom already.
Colossians 1:12 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of
sins:"
John, who wrote Revelation, also indicated that he was presently in the
kingdom.
Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in
tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the
isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony
of Jesus Christ."
My conclusion is that the kingdom was a long time in the making, the foundation starting with the prophets, the kingdom in existence with the death of Christ, continuing with the apostles, and coming to full power with the destruction of Judah.
