Why the World Needs the Kingdom of God

God's kingdom needs God's kingdom. Now, it's not a secret we all can see it. Our world is in a terrible state of affairs. We've got problems out there. And it's a predicament largely of our own making, but with no small help from Satan the devil. As the fulfillment of the Bible's end-time prophecies reached their climax in the months ahead, it's clear that time is just about up for the present era. Things would have to change one way or another. And as Jesus Christ phrased it in Mark 1.15, he said, the time is fulfilled. It was his way of saying, we're going to reach the end of man's way of doing things. So the time was fulfilled. There's going to be that time of trouble. But he also offered a marvelous solution. He went on to say, the kingdom of God is at hand. Indeed, this world needs God's kingdom, and it needs it right now. Also, each of us, you and I, need God's kingdom in our lives. We need to become subjects of that kingdom in advance. Now allow me to pose some more important questions that we want to address. What lies immediately ahead for the United States as well as other nations? Why is the world in such great distress and peril? Why can't humanity solve its problems and bring peace to the world? And also, how will Christ intervene to prevent humanity from annihilating itself? As we saw earlier, Christ said the days would be shortened. How is that going to come about? And what's ahead when Jesus Christ, as King of Kings of the coming kingdom of God, rules the world? And how can you and I personally connect with the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ? Now, as we go into the second half of our kingdom of God seminar today, let's cover issues that provide answers to these and some other important questions. They all involve an understanding of what Jesus meant when He said the time was fulfilled. Just what did Jesus mean by that critical statement? Well, the answer is, in essence, the end of man's way of doing things is coming soon.

And He also meant that the time for ushering in a new and a wonderful age that will solve all of mankind's problems is about to appear. Now, He did also say that you and I can have a part in that awesome coming time. We can be a part of that and a part of His way of life that leads to eternal life in the kingdom of God. So let's take a look at several points that show us why the world and why you and I need the kingdom of God now. We'll start with what's lying ahead for America and other nations. And what was specifically prophesied in the Bible as America's role in modern history? Now, you might wonder, you don't find the word America or the United States in the Bible. But America did have a role prophesied in the Bible. And our country's founders expected that. They viewed America in biblical terms. If you read writings of our founding fathers and of those who lived in those eras, they used phrases such as, New Israel. They talked about America as the Promised Land. Referred to it as a city upon a hill, quoting from Jesus Christ. America's law system is based largely on the Bible and entirely on biblical values. I should say the law system has found it. It's been interpreted differently in recent years. And these values are summarized in the Ten Commandments. And even today, those commandments are still displayed prominently on many government buildings, even federal government buildings. Although there are some restrictions from the courts on speaking about those or displaying them publicly. For the last century, the United States has functioned as the foremost world power holding at bay the forces of tyranny, such as Nazism and Fascism, Marxism, religious extremism. Indeed, for many decades now, America has been a bastion of freedom. And freedom and opportunity for the whole world. It's interesting. Even though it has many faults, and of course our country has never been perfect, America has nevertheless done many good things. Abraham Lincoln in one of his speeches described the United States as, man's last best hope. Man's last best hope. But we want to note, although America may have been man's best hope, we'll see that it's not God's best hope. The best that America is or has ever been is going to fall short compared to what is coming when Jesus Christ rules in the kingdom of God on earth. But still, why is America of such particular note at this time in history? Well, we should note that at every critical juncture in history, in the Bible, God identified several nations that were involved. For example, at the time of Israel's exodus from Egypt, around 1,400 years before Christ, of course we focused on Israel and Egypt. Later on, the nations of Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, the House of Israel, and the House of Judah, which is what Israel, the Kingdom of Israel, divided into two separate kingdoms.

These were very important at certain times, especially when God punished the Israelites for not obeying Him and led them into captivity around 700 years before Christ and in the House of Judah about 500 years. During the time of Jesus' ministry, the Scriptures identified the Roman Empire, the Parthian Empire, Greece, Judea, Egypt, and others. And today, America is one of the key nations prophetically identified in the Bible.

To understand that, we need to review some biblical background. When you study the Bible, it has a great deal of teaching, but it is largely the story of the history of one man, Abraham. Now, Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael would go on to be the forefather of many of the peoples that are now known as the Arab nations today.

Isaac had a different fate. Now, Isaac himself had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob later had his name changed to Israel. And there's the account in the book of Genesis where he wrestled all night with a mysterious figure who we now know to have been the one who became Jesus Christ. And Jesus changed Jacob's name to Israel. Now, Jacob had 12 sons who represented or became the 12 tribes of Israel. Of those sons, one was Judah. Judah became the father, the forefather of most of those that we now know as Jews, those living in Israel or the Jewish people scattered around the world. And that tribe inherited the promise to King David. King David was of the tribe of Judah. And God in the scripture's promise that he and his descendants would always be in a rulership, a ruling role over the children of Israel. Another one of Jacob's sons was Joseph. Joseph was set aside and prophesied to enjoy great blessings. And Joseph had two sons, Ephraim, who we now know to be the ancestor of the modern British nations. Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Manasseh, another of Jacob's sons, is the forefather of most of those living in America today. Now, explaining how that came about is a long involved process that we're not going to go into today. That's another story for another time. But history and the Bible do show that it's so. And because of the blessings God gave to Jacob and then to Joseph and his sons, God gave the nations that descended from them great blessings. Tremendous blessings have been poured out. And of course, look at our nation. We've been the wealthiest, most powerful nation that has ever existed in all of human history. And even in economic trouble, such as we're having today, we enjoy comfort. We are not going short of food. We enjoy fabulous luxury. But when God gives tremendous blessings, he expects much of those who receive those blessings. In the book of Luke, Christ said this. Luke 12 and verse 48, He said, For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required. And to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. Now, the moral and spiritual expectations God had for our contemporary nations sadly have not been fulfilled. And what has been the result? The descendants of the modern day nations of Jacob, or Israel, are entering into a time of great trial, a time of suffering and disaster. The Bible calls this time that's coming the time of Jacob's trouble. Remember, of course, we showed that our modern peoples are descended from Jacob. Let's read in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah chapter 30, beginning in verse 4.

It says, Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. For thus says the Lord, We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now and see whether a man is ever in labor with a child. So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, like a woman in labor, and all faces turn pale? Men don't go into labor. He says, I see a vision of men holding their loins and their faces are pale. What's going on? And the answer is, Alas!

For that day is great so that none is like it. And it is the time of Jacob's trouble. The time of Jacob's trouble is a time so terrible that men will be acting as though they were in labor for their pain and their suffering. But I like the end part of that.

It says, But he will be saved out of it. God's mercy never fails. And of course, we should say, troubles love company. All the earth's nations, along with the descendants of Israel, face extreme and unprecedented, but prophesied, difficulties. Now let's take another look at another reason why the world and each of us needs God's kingdom now. Why do we need God's kingdom? Simply put, man cannot solve his own problems and bring world peace.

In man's world, warfare is chronic and pervasive. There always seems to be another war, and often a larger war, on the horizon. Humankind just doesn't know the way to peace. And this was prophesied in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah, chapter 59, God said, Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity.

Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways. They've made themselves crooked paths. Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore, justice is far from us. Nor does righteousness overtake us. We're not having justice. We're not having righteousness. Because our ways are quick to run to evil. We look for light, but there's darkness. For brightness, but we walk in blackness.

Mankind has a sinful nature. One that prevents any humanly designed utopian society from being properly constructed and maintained. And it's not that we haven't tried. Throughout the ages, and especially in the United States, various groups have tried to withdraw from society and set up a utopia. Utopia meaning a perfect government, a place where there's pure peace and happiness. But it seems that it always fails. But why have mankind's efforts failed when they tried to build peaceful societies?

Because of one simple, yet momentous problem. It's what's inside of us. An obstinate, selfish human heart, or our human attitude, our nature. Jeremiah 17, verses 9 and 10, explain this probably the most clearly of any place in the Bible. Where God explained, He said, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.

The heart is deceitful and wicked. Who can know it? The answer is, I, the Lord, search the heart. I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Now, besides our human nature, there is one other great problem affecting mankind. It is simply Satan the devil. There is a great adversary out there, and that's what Satan means.

It's a word that translates adversary. And he continually and constantly foments trouble in human lives. Satan is the great, hateful deceiver. He's the co-perpetrator in all the sins of humanity. Now, we're responsible for what we do, but Satan is there, always leading us, and trying to put those sinful thoughts in our mind, and leading us to do what we shouldn't do. In Revelation 12, he's described as the great dragon, who was cast out. That serpent of old called the devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast to earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

What kind of power must it take to deceive the whole world? His power is explained a little further in the second chapter of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul was dressing the Ephesians, and he says, "...in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now walks and the sun, or now works in the suns of disobedience." Satan is a spirit, and he has a power, apparently, to even transmit through the airways, his spirit, his attitude of evil, and leading people astray.

So we have a bad problem. We've got our own nature that tends to go to evil, and we've got this great adversary who's leading us. So what's the answer to these monumental problems? Well, that brings us to the next solution, the next item. The real solution is that the world needs God's kingdom.

We've been showing why do we need it? Because we can't solve our own problems. We have war. We have a great adversary who is made of spirit and more powerful than us. So we need God's kingdom.

And what tremendous event is going to occur that will initiate the establishment of God's kingdom on earth? What's going to bring it about? It will be the second coming of Jesus Christ.

And that is central to the message of the gospel of the kingdom of God, is that Jesus Christ foretold that He would come again. Let's read in Matthew 24. Remember, we were reading earlier in the Olivet prophecy. He's foretold of many things to happen in advance.

And when He shows some more great cataclysmic events, and then what will happen afterwards? In Matthew 24, beginning in verse 29, Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened. The moon will not give its light. Stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth will mourn, because they've been deceived and don't realize the good that's happening. And they'll see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.

They're going to see Him coming with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet. And they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jesus Christ Himself foretold this, that He would literally return to earth at the sound of the seventh trumpet. Now, in the book of Revelation is where you see a description of seven trumpets. The seventh is the last, and it signals the return of Jesus Christ. Now, we saw the word the elect. The elect are those that are gathered to Christ at His return. Those who have already been committed to Jesus Christ, who are striving to enter His kingdom now. Let's see more about what happens then in the book of Corinthians.

The book of Corinthians, the fifteenth chapter, we commonly call the resurrection chapter, because that's a subject it deals with. Now, the Apostle Paul wrote beginning in verse 50, Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised. Incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible, that is, this human flesh that decays, it must put on incorruption. This mortal, meaning one that can die, must put on immortality.

Remember, I mentioned earlier that what we need to be part of the kingdom of God, or what's a vital part of it, is eternal life. Here is the solution of how you gain that. Now, we read the term sleep in that scripture. In biblical phraseology, that refers to being physically dead. Now, we all sleep. Some of us, not as much as we'd like at times, but we know we all do. But Paul, when he said, we will not all sleep, he was referring to those who might still be physically alive in the flesh and blood when Christ returns.

When the resurrection occurs, God awakens someone to live again. So, the resurrection of the dead, the elect, still physically living at that time, these both take place at the sound of the seventh trumpet. We saw the trumpet referred to in both of these scriptures, and that occurs at the time of Christ's return to this earth. Now, it's critical to realize a person must be changed into spirit to enter or to inherit the kingdom of God.

The resurrected saints, now changed to spirit composition, will rise to meet Christ in the air. We'll see that described in the book of 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 13. Here Paul is again addressing the same subject, and he says, I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, meaning those who have died, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, which means Paul believed that he would come during his lifetime. But we who are alive, whoever that may be, even if it occurs here in our lifetime, will by no means proceed those who are asleep.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

So those who are resurrected and those who are changed will rise up into the air, but it says to meet the Lord. And thus will always be with the Lord. When it says thus, it means because we've changed the spirit, we'll always be with the Lord. Not that we'll remain in the air. Note again, though, the reference to the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which proceeds or signals the resurrection of the dead. The faithful saints rise in the clouds to meet Christ, but then they'll return to earth. Now we're going to turn to a scripture in Zechariah. Zechariah chapter 14 shows what Christ will do when he comes, and those who have met him in the air will be coming with him. And beginning in the first verse of Zechariah 14 says, Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst, for I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be taken. The houses rifled and the women ravished, half the city will go into captivity, but the remnant of the people should not be cut off from the city. Then, after all this, then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as he fights in the day of battle. And in that day, remember, in that day is one of those phrases that often refers to the end time. In that day, his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. So Jesus Christ's feet will literally come down and stand on that mountain. And it says that the mountain will be split in half, making a large valley, half of the mountain moving off to the north and half to the south. That's something only the power of God could do. So let's be clear, Christ does not stay in the air at his return, nor do the resurrected saints at the time of his coming. He's going to go to the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem, and there he's going to fight a great final battle with the human armies that are arrayed against him.

Now, there will be that battle. Men will fight against him because they're deceived. And Christ proclaims victory over man's forces of evil, and he claims the nations as part of the kingdom of God. We see that proclamation in the book of Revelation, Revelation 11. And once again, we'll see a reference to that seventh trumpet. Revelation 11 and verse 15. Then the seventh angel sounded, and in earlier it explains that he's sounding a trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. That phrase might sound familiar if you've heard the famous musical piece, Handel's Messiah. It's put to music, and of course it says, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord. They might still be kingdoms, but they're under his control now, and his reign is going to last forever and ever. And in the next passage, we're going to read of the Apostle John's vision. Much of the book of Revelation involved a vision given to the Apostle John that was part of God's kingdom that's coming to govern the earth.

John wrote in chapter 19, Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire. On his head were many crowns, because he's a king over many nations. He had a name written that no one knew except himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations. And he himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. He has on his robe and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This, of course, is describing Jesus Christ. He's not one that wants to crush and rule people, but those who fight against him who refuse to submit will be forced into submission for their own good. And then he'll be the king over other kings. He'll be the supreme ruler in this kingdom. Christ will return as a conquering king to rule the nations. After resurrecting his saints, Christ will strongly discipline the remaining human powers that oppose him in his governing authority. And he'll then begin to actively rule all nations. And part of his rule will be to bring true, lasting peace. The battle that we just read of will be the last one. Then there will be peace. Now, what's going to happen when that happens? What astounding event occurs next after Christ has come down and established himself? Well, in the book of Revelation, it continues into the next chapter. In chapter 20, John saw this. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up, set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. Now, after these things, he must be released a little while. So we'll see, Satan will have another role after the thousand years, but it will be only a little while. But just think, we said, why can't man solve his problems? One of the main reasons is because there is a Satan the devil who's causing such trouble. But when Christ returns, he'll be bound. And I think it's interesting, Christ doesn't even do it himself. He delegates that to another angel, to an angel, who has given power even greater than Satan's to bind him and put him where he can interfere with people no more. At his return, Jesus will have Satan incarcerated. That deceitful, sinful, hateful fallen angel will have no impact on man. Can't influence individuals, no influence over governments. Just imagine the monumental, societal, and cultural changes that are going to occur on earth during this millennial rule of Jesus Christ. Let's look at some of them. Revelation 20, we talked about government. Revelation 20, beginning in verse 4, John, still in a vision, says, And I saw thrones, and they sat on them. Judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus, and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. That's the kingdom of God, living and reigning. We're called to prepare to be a part of that.

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection, blessed and holy as he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but there will be priests of God, and shall reign with him for a thousand years. So we see the faithful, or as it's called the elect, the chosen of God, will rule with Christ as resurrected spirit beings for a thousand years. Reigning with Christ means, though, that there will still be people to reign over, as they repopulate the earth. So during that thousand years there will be people not influenced by Satan, who will enjoy all the good things that God always wanted for mankind. And then there's the phrase, the rest of the dead. The rest of the dead. That refers to numerous generations of humanity who have never had an opportunity to understand God's truth. And we know there are many. There may be some in this country who know little or nothing about the Bible. Certainly in other nations throughout history there have been millions and millions who have never even heard of Jesus Christ or of his plan. They must physically live again. They'll be resurrected to another spirit life, at which time they must choose God's way or reject it. Now we'll cover that important subject in the next seminar that's coming up in a few months.

So what we've covered so far is the launch of the kingdom of God on earth for the first thousand years and on the way to forever. Now let's take a look at the wonderful time of peace and prosperity and good will that will transpire when God's government rules on the earth. So what about peace? Well, let's make a point first.

Peace must come peace with God. We'll worry about the peace between the nations, but people must be at peace with God. People must be at one with Him and be obedient. We'll consider a scripture in the book of Ephesians, chapter 1.

It says, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He has made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times...

We want to note that phrase. In the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, in Him. And the elect, as I said, means those God is calling now, and they seek peace with God and with their fellow men.

It says, The mystery of His will. That shows us that humanity does not yet know God's plan. It's a mystery to them. We also read that phrase in the fullness of times. What this means is that when this present age comes to an end, then the new age, the millennial rule of Christ, begins. That will be what we often call the wonderful world tomorrow. Also, it says, we have the phrase, Things that are in heaven, which describes what's in heaven now, God and His angels.

When heaven and earth are simultaneously ruled by Christ, then mankind can be at peace with God. And that's something this upset and confused world has never known. Man has never been at peace with God, but that time is coming. Now, let's look at the millennial picture of peace that's described in the Bible.

Try to take another sip of water. Imagine the time when even the very nature of animals will be changed. That's a wonderful, stunning time that's coming, and the Scriptures make it clear. We'll look in the book of Isaiah, chapter 11. This is another Scripture that's famous even beyond many church-going people. Because it's such an astounding picture, many people think it's only symbolic. But in truth, it is reality. It will happen. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb. The leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together.

And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze. Their young one shall lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox. Amazing. The lion's nature will be changed, so instead of meat, it'll eat straw. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the ween child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. Remember, a mountain is a symbol of government. That will include the whole earth. And he says, no one's going to hurt. No one's going to destroy in God's kingdom. For the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

And that's very full. So the nature of animals will be changed, and that illustrates a vastly more important change. There will be a change in the nature of human beings. Now, the prophet Ezekiel described that in a prophecy that he wrote in Ezekiel 11. And this is God speaking of how he will change human beings. He says, then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh. That they may walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. And they'll be my people, and I will be their God.

Only our Creator can renovate people's unyielding and self-centered way of thinking and acting. We have a certain nature within us. God has the power to change that. And he symbolizes it, saying it's like you've got a heart of stone. I'll take out the heart of stone, and give you one of flesh, so that I can teach you my ways. In fact, God is going to transform nature, transform man's nature, and replace it with his very own.

He'll give us his way of doing things. And that coming, wonderful time, the whole world is going to know and follow the God of the Bible. Warfare will be non-existent. The beauty of divine law will bring worldwide disarmament. Let's look again. We read this earlier. Let's focus again on Isaiah 2. Many people will come and say, Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of God, the God of Jacob. And he'll teach us his ways, and we'll walk in his path.

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he'll judge between nations and rebuke many people. And they'll beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war anymore. That's the kingdom of God that we're looking forward to.

But what about the personal inner peace that we want to enjoy right now? We know God's rule is coming, that Christ will return, but we're here now. Our soon-coming King Jesus Christ desires that we change our hearts and minds and our lives today, so that we live as subjects of that kingdom right now.

The Bible calls on us all to repent and believe. Remember, we started with Mark 1, verse 15. It says, The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel. We desperately need this inner peace. This troubled and upset world doesn't provide it. So how can it come about?

How can we have that? Well, we can have it by personally connecting to the kingdom of God now. Let's read in Colossians, chapter 1. Paul wrote this. He said, He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of His Son, of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

So we touch on a couple of things there. Christ's blood, His sacrifice, makes it possible for us to be forgiven. And then it says, God will convey us into His kingdom because of that. The kingdom of God is coming, and Jesus Christ is going to rule the whole world in righteousness and compassion. But if we choose, if we let Him, He'll rule in our lives right now, today.

Now, how that comes about is a subject for further discussion. And of course, we continually strive to examine that in our church services and in our own personal study. And as we conclude our seminar series, we have seen that the end of this world, this age of man, is coming to an end. The time is just about up. The time of Jesus Christ's return to bring the world of the kingdom of God on earth is coming. God the Father and Jesus Christ want each of us to inherit a great part in that spiritual kingdom.

They want us to partake in that new world. They desire us to be a part of the kingdom of God. So I want to thank you all for attending this Kingdom of God seminar. And I'll let you know that there will be announcements coming in the Good News magazine and on the Beyond Today program.

About our next seminar. And we recently did set the date. January 21st is the next date we have scheduled where we'll have a public seminar. But I invite any of you who are visiting, if you'd like to come back here, we do normally have church services in this room. Most often, most weeks at 11 o'clock, sometimes at 2.30. And the format is a little different. We normally don't have the slides. And we begin with songs of praise to worship God and pray together. And then we have instruction from various of our ministers.

If you have any questions or if you'd like to know more, please be sure to ask. And we have a couple copies of our booklets. And I'll mention on the Internet site, www.ucg.org. You can download all types of literature and lots more information. So we'll look forward to seeing you all at the next Kingdom of God seminar. And we're going to be discussing in greater detail. And we'll analyze Jesus' statement, the kingdom of God is at hand. Now, before we break, I'm going to lead us all in a closing prayer. And I'll mention for our church members, I have just an announcement or two I want to make afterwards.

So if you will, just join me. Bow your heads and I'll ask God's dismissal and blessing. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the Father's right hand, we thank you so much for the message of your kingdom, for the understanding that you are bringing a better age and that you intended good things for mankind from the beginning of creation.

You're letting us learn hard lessons and inviting us to prepare for them. So, Father, please work in our lives. We pray that you'll guide us by your spirit. Please give us greater understanding. And as we end this session today, we ask that you'll dismiss us. But please continue to guide us by your spirit and bless our fellowship and our conversation and keep us safe. Please bless all of your people wherever they are. And we thank you very much for this and pray in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. Now, I mentioned I had some announcements. We've had some...