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What is the Kingdom of God?

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What is the Kingdom of God?

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Sunset over the ocean. Oscar Nilsson/Unsplash
The wonderful news of the coming Kingdom of God is the heart and core of Jesus Christ's message for humanity.

The word translated "kingdom" throughout the New Testament is the Greek word basileia, which denotes "sovereignty, royal power, [and] dominion" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, "Kingdom"). A careful examination of the Bible reveals that the next phase of the Kingdom of God is nothing short of a world-ruling monarchy that God will establish on this earth through Jesus Christ!

The focus of Jesus Christ's message was the announcement of a coming world government.

A vision explained in the book of Daniel covers prophecies from the time of Daniel to the time of Jesus Christ's second coming. Daniel understood that there would be four major world-ruling empires during that time. Daniel explains that in the days of the fourth empire God will replace these human kingdoms with the Kingdom of God.

"And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever" (Daniel 2:44 Daniel 2:44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
American King James Version×). We see that the fourth kingdom continues to rule until Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on earth.

God's Kingdom—foretold repeatedly in Daniel—is the same Kingdom Jesus Christ preached about. The nature of this Kingdom is clear. The four kingdoms described in Daniel 2, 7 and 8 ruled over people and lands. They were great world empires with dominion and power to rule, warring against and conquering other nations. They had kings, governments, laws and subjects. They were literal kingdoms, whose ruins are visible to this day.

So, too, will the Kingdom of God be a literal kingdom ruling over the whole earth. Daniel 7:27 Daniel 7:27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
American King James Version×, speaking of the establishment of this Kingdom, adds:

"Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him" (New International Version).

The wonderful news of the coming Kingdom of God is the heart and core of Jesus Christ's message for humanity. Jesus will return to earth and establish this Kingdom. He will be the Ruler of the Kingdom of God. Consider this prophecy of Jesus Christ's return: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15 Revelation 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
American King James Version×). Jesus Christ will rule over literal kingdoms on earth.

The governments of mankind, with their inherent inability to solve human problems that are rooted in humanity's inability to choose the right way to live (Proverbs 16:25 Proverbs 16:25There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
American King James Version×), will be replaced by a form of government that can at last solve those problems. Jesus Christ Himself will rule the nations of the earth!

This is the gospel—the good news—that Jesus Christ taught. The focus of Jesus Christ's message was the announcement of a coming world government (Luke 21:31 Luke 21:31So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is near at hand.
American King James Version×). This government will not be ruled by selfishly motivated humans but by Jesus Christ Himself, and it will continue forever!

Kingdom of God Jesus Christ basileia Doctrinal Beliefs

    Comments

  • rwp_47
    rwp_47
    God created the material universe - among other things, he created it to be inhabited. But prior to creating the universe he devised a great plan that would accomplish a great many things. One of the premier purposes of the plan was to create his own children (who would be God beings like himself) - to become a universe ruling family. Originally the earth was inhabited by angels. God evidently placed about one third of the angels on the earth and placed over them a ruler named Lucifer. Lucifer was given the responsibility to administer the God's government on the earth. But Lucifer rebelled and persuaded the angels under him to rebel too (they have become known as demons). This was in accordance with the original plan as it demonstrated that only God could be entrusted with such responsibility of rulership. Since the angelic rebellion God's government hasn't been administered on the earth. The world, since that time, has been invisibly ruled by Lucifer (Satan). He is identified in scripture as being the god of this world (2Cor:4:4). God hasn't yet removed Satan from earthly rulership. One of the reasons Jesus was born as a human was to qualify to replace Satan as the earth's ruler (Revelation 5:1-10 Revelation 5:1-10 [1] And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? [3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. [4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. [5] And one of the elders said to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. [6] And I beheld, and, see, in the middle of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the middle of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. [7] And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. [8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. [9] And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; [10] And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
    American King James Version×    ) and to afterward reestablish the Kingdom of God on the earth. Another reason for Jesus' appearing two thousand years ago was to bring "the message" that God's Kingdom would again be reestablished on earth (Satan's rule would be ended) and that humans could be born into (and become citizens of) this reestablished Kingdom of God. This "message" is called the "Gospel". In Mark 1:15 Mark 1:15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.
    American King James Version×    Jesus preaches this message - "... The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." For humans to be born as citizens of God's coming Kingdom, among other things, one must repent of not believing Jesus' message (of not believing the gospel) - and instead believe it. The earth will be the Kingdom of God once God's government (consisting of the saints - with the chief saint, Jesus, as the head of that government) has replaced Satan's government on earth. So actually, the earth is the future Kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15 Revelation 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
    American King James Version×    ). And it shall be an eternal, everlasting, unending kingdom.

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