The Kingdom of God ‘What on earth is it?’

What is the Kingdom about? It’s the power of God in Jesus, through His people, to ensure the destruction of the works of Satan and to frustrate the Kingdom of Darkness. 1John 3:8. The Cross was the basis of the final victory as well as the advance of the Kingdom of God in the world today The Holy Spirit is the great agency, so only Spirit filled people can engage successfully in this battle. In times of church Revival and Awakening we have seen this working, but its soon reversed afterwards. When Jesus said that he would build His church and the gates of hell would be unable to prevail against it, Matt 16:18, He was talking about the Universal Church, not local ones!

What’s the difference? … between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven? The Kingdom of Heaven is the same as the Kingdom of God, but is a Jewish setting, only in Matthew’s gospel. The Kingdom of God started the moment Adam stepped out of Eden, would he accept the rule of God, or not? It will end with the close of the Millennial Kingdom.

What is the kingdom of God? Firstly - it is God’s rule over people on the earth at any given time … Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, Matt 6:10 In history, or today Or the future up until the end of the Millennial Kingdom In the Eternal State it is God living with man, one family, one language, no nations or kingdoms, ‘righteousness lives’; no thought of rule.

What is the Final setting The final setting of the Kingdom of God will be the Millennial reign of Christ. This is a period of 1,000 years when Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s; His rule there, will be in 3 ways, all in relation to the 3 dispensations of God’s administration over the earth

The 3 ‘Administrations’ or Dispensations Jesus will be Federal Head over the Gentile nations in a curse free, perfect earth – corresponding to the Age of Conscience, pre-flood. He will be the King of the Jews and rule over a Holy Spirit filled Israel who will serve faithfully – corresponding to the Age of Law He will be Head of His Body the Church, in the Holy City coming down out of Heaven; corresponding to the church age.

What on earth will the Millennial Kingdom be like? It will be perfection as the King rules in equity and peace, with a rod of iron as sin becomes the rare occurrence in a beautiful setting of - A sin free earth giving of its bounty Among an emancipated animal kingdom; all set free from the curse of Gen 3. Only man will retain the sinful nature, it will very rarely will be seen, and judged immediately.

Isaiah chapter 11 1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

Isaiah chapter 11 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

Isaiah c11 6 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. 10 ¶ "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious."

Will the Kingdom of God end? In one sense – yes In the New Earth - Righteousness ‘dwells’, not ‘rules’ no sin, no death. God is - with man – this is different to a ‘ruling over man’, the Kingdom term. In another sense – no – for God’s principles never change; they will be the ‘modus operandi’ in eternity – only kept naturally! So the Millennial Kingdom is total fulfilment of everything God planned for time and a preparation for the Eternal State; Eden completed and developed over all eternity.

Is the sphere of profession I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever. "His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, his kingdom never declines and falls” … Nebuchadnezzar, Dan 4:35 Heaven – where God is Christendom – Is the area of all who profess to be believers whether or not they are true believers. Pre flood – it was the Godly line of Seth at least. Age of Law – it was true Israel and any true Proselytes Age of Grace – all who profess to believe in Christ and God; so would include many monotheistic religions The heavens rule Over the earth Matt 6:10 … 1st area of rule Is the sphere of profession - Christendom earth

Christendom, usually very large! We must remember that we live either by the New Nature or the sinful nature; there is no sitting on the fence! Heaven This is a complete Rule and does not include backsliders – it is only those in any dispensation of time who are – Filled by the Holy Spirit In the Will of God Operating on the New Nature, the sons of God. Sphere of Reality very small, the Profession great, during normal times Christendom, usually very large! earth

It is the life of heaven on earth So it is Christians Living the Christian Life, accepting completely the Word of God. It is the life of heaven on earth The Abundant Life that Jesus the Son of Man demonstrated to us & came to bring us; John 10;10 It is His Life in us; the hope of glory; Col 1;27 Heaven The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals Christendom, reduces as Revival grows. earth

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit - Gal 5:25 the Christian Life is - If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit - Gal 5:25 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20 Heaven The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals The Christian Life Christendom earth

the Christian Life is - And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Rom 8;10 Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1;27 To reveal His Son in me, Gal 1;16 He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. John 6;56 Heaven The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals The Christian Life Christendom earth

the Christian Life is - If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 14;23 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing; John 15;4-5 Heaven The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals The Christian Life Christendom earth

the Christian Life is - And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. John 17;22,23,26. Heaven The Christian life is one completely characterised by the love of God, the fruit of the Spirit and the Holy Boldness seen in the book of Acts. The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals The Christian Life Christendom earth

Heaven So the Christian Life is a little bit of heaven on earth! Or – As the worshippers that the Father is seeking - we are sat with Christ in heavenly places, Eph 1;4. Wow – we are already in heaven! The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals The Christian Life Christendom earth

Heaven the Challenge for us is - Where are we? Are we here? Love one another as I have loved you! By this the community will know that you are my disciples, because you love one another - John 13;34,35. The Rule of God in the hearts of individuals The Christian Life Or are we here? Christendom If we are here then we will be in the enjoyment of all those verses we have just considered – if you love Me, keep my commandments John 14;15 earth The end