Well, it's happened again. The Middle East has exploded as anti-American anger sweeps the Muslim world. At this 11th anniversary of 9/11, an obscure movie produced in the United States portraying the prophet Muhammad in a negative light has been used ostensibly to inflame a wave of furious protests in many Muslim nations. Some in the Middle East have turned into violent assaults against U.S. embassies—with the attack in Libya killing four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.

At the same time tension remains high in the region and the world over the possibility of war between Israel and Iran. The Iranians have repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel from the map. The United States and other Western powers have not succeeded in halting Iran's nuclear program. And tiny Israel may decide to launch a preemptive strike to ensure its own survival. This could happen at any moment.

Meanwhile the American people are heading into a major election to decide who the president and many other leaders around the nation will be over the next several years. This will have significant impact on the world scene and, of course, in the United States as well. Yet it seems clear that whoever holds these positions will not be able to solve the intractable global problems we face—including the animosity in the Middle East. And interests and views within the country are too divided to make much progress in undoing our domestic problems.
The only thing that will truly solve national and international problems is the same as it's always been— the subject of the current issue of The Good News, the Kingdom of God.

Zooming in on an overarching theme

In point of fact, the Kingdom of God is the subject of every issue of The Good News. Our very name is taken from the message Jesus Christ came preaching—the message He also sent His disciples to preach. And what message was that? Mark 1:14-15 tells us: "Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'" The word gospel means—as other translations render it here—"good news." So Christ's message was the good news of the Kingdom of God. And His message is our message.

Those who've read The Good News for any length of time will recognize that we frequently mention God's Kingdom in many articles of varied subjects. That's because it is relevant to all these topics—again being the solution to humanity's problems, the hope of a bright tomorrow for people everywhere of every situation.

Yet in the current issue, we've decided to give special focus to the Kingdom itself—defining it, explaining how to become part of it, and showing how capturing the vision of it will impact your life for the better right now. Some think the Kingdom of God is something we enter right now. Yet, as I explain in the current magazine's cover story and "Questions and Answers," that's not case. The faithful will enter the Kingdom of God at Christ's return. Yet embracing the Kingdom of God right now will indeed change your life today.

Seeing beyond today

One way it will greatly help you is in surveying the worsening news around us of the world today. While we are right to be concerned about all that is happening, we need not cower in fear—no matter how bad things may get. For in trusting God's promises through Christ, we know that Jesus is going to come back and set this world right. And if we continue to trust Him, we are assured that we will be there with Him then to share in that great task—a task that will be achieved.

Be sure to study carefully into the matter of God's Kingdom. As Jesus made clear, there is nothing more important (Matthew 13:44-45). It is to be the top priority of every Christian (Matthew 6:33). Embrace God's Kingdom today with the great hope and assurance of entering it when Christ returns—when you will have a role in establishing His rule over all nations and leading the world into the way of peace.