Timing of the Kingdom of God

7/27/2019 Timing of the Kingdom of God

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THE TIMING OF THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

After trying to exhaust the Bibles teachings on the KINGDOM OF

GOD (or KINGDOM OF HEAVEN in Matthew), I have concluded that

the Kingdom of God as a reality comes in 5 stages. 4 of these have

already taken place. Even while awaiting the final stage, we who are in

subjection to Jesus are already a part of the Kingdom, which is very

much a reality on this earth, even though many still reject the Kingship

of Jesus. As we learn from Jesuss prayer to the Father in Matt. 6:10,

the Kingdom of Heaven exists where the will of God is done. And His

prayer is for that will to be done and that Kingdom to be present onearth as it is in heaven. Jesuss main focus in His ministry was talking

about THE KINGDOM, so the concept must be pretty important. Just

saying KINGDOM=CHURCH is an over-simplification and waters down

the power of the proclamation of Jesuss Reign over all creation. Plus,

try plugging in CHURCH every time you see KINGDOM in the New

Testament, and you will see that they are not completely synonymous.We try to equate them based on Matthew 16, but the two terms are

used differently elsewhere in the New Testament. The church is the

body of believers in the reign of Jesus, so it is the subjects of the

Kingdom, but not the Kingdom itself. The Kingdom is the Reign of

Christ and the territory (which hearts, which families, which

communities) in which He reigns (in heaven or earth).

Here are what I see as the 5 stages of the coming of the

Kingdom. Each phase marks an announcement to a particular group of

the reality of the Kingdom of Heavens presence on Earth. And I think

all these stages were part of the pre-determined plan of God. He did


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not need to change course. Please examine these Scriptures to see if

these things are true, and I welcome dialogue on this issue.

1)The Ministry of Jesusa.Luke 11:20If I by the finger of God cast out demons, then

you know that the Kingdom of God has come upon you

b.Luke 16:16Since John, the gospel of the Kingdom of Godhas been preached (John declares its near in Matt. 3:2)

c.Luke 17:20-21Either the Kingdom is in your midst orinside you (depending on translation)

d.Mark 1:15The Kingdom of God is at hande.Matt. 11:11-13From the days of John the Baptist until

NOW the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN suffers

violenceSounds like a present Kingdom

f. Matt. 21:31Greek tense is are getting in the Kingdomg.Matt. 23:13 Pharisees are already shutting off the

Kingdom from people and not entering themselvesSounds

like a present Kingdom

2)The Ascension (3 events wrapped into one stage)a.The Crucifixion (sin conquered New Covenant

inaugurated)

b.The Resurrection (death conqueredJesus declared theSon of God with POWER Rom. 1:4)

c.The Ascensioni. Dan. 7:9-22 Picture #1 of the Ascension


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1.The scene is in the throne room of God, lookingDOWN at the Son of Man coming UP.

2.Jesus is pictured as the conquering Kingreturning home after victory. He has defeated sin.He has defeated death. He has defeated Satan.

So He receives His throne as conquering King

(THRONES were set up probably one for the

ANCIENT OF DAYS and one for the SON OF

MAN).

3.He receives a KINGDOM, DOMINION, GLORY,etc.

4.7:18 The saints receive the KINGDOM as wellto possess it forever(Christians stewardship of

the reality of Jesus reign)

5.7:19-22 Conflict between the Roman Empireand the established KINGDOM OF GOD

ii. Rev. 12:1-12 Picture #2 of the Ascension (in myview)

1.12:5Caught up appears to be Jesusascension back to heaven

2.12:7-9War in heaven seems to be a battle inthe heavenly realm around the mission of Jesus.

Jesus completes His mission, so Satan isdefeated (Luke 10:18I was watching Satan fall

from heaven like lightning).

3.12:10-12 Now the KINGDOM truly belongs toJesus.


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4.12:10Now the SALVATION, and the POWER,and the KINGDOM OF OUR GOD AND THE

AUTHORITY OF HIS CHRIST HAVE COME

iii. The Ascension marks the announcement in heavenand the entire spiritual realm that Jesus has conquered

and is now reigning as King. So the Kingdom has

come. Jesus is on the throne.

3)Pentecosta.Matt. 16:19 Peter will have the keys of the kingdomb.

Mark 9:1Some of those standing here who will not tastedeath until they see the kingdom of God come with power

(granted, this could be Pentecost or Jerusalems

Destruction)

c.Acts 1:3-8 In answer to the question about when theKingdom will be restored to Israel (1:6), Jesus responds

with, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come

upon you (1:7).d.Acts 2:29-36A major part of Peters Pentecost Sermon is

Jesus inheriting the throne of David.

i. 2:36God has made Him both Lord and Christ(Anointed One)

ii. Peter is announcing (declaring) on earth the results ofthe crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension: JESUS ISKING AND THE KINGDOM IS HERE. The coronation

has already taken place in heaven, and the

announcement has already been made there. Now the

same announcement is made on earth just days later.


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4)Destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70)a.Luke 21:20, 29-32b.About 40 years after Jesus ministry and the establishment

of the church. So the Kingdom has already been here andactive.

c.But the Jews are still holding onto the idea of a kingdom ofIsrael being restored. Jerusalems destruction shatters that

dream. Its an announcement to the world that physical

Israel will never again possess THE THRONE.

5)

Jesus Final Coming (This is not the same as millennialism)a.The Kingdom has been active and present all along but onlyin the end will EVERY KNEE BOW and EVERY TONGUE

CONFESS Jesus as Lord

b.Matt. 7:21-23On THAT DAY (Day ofJudgment)speaking of entrance into the final stage of the

kingdom

c.Matt. 8:11 could be the final stage of the kingdomd.Matt. 25:31-34 Day of Judgment the sheep will inherit

the kingdom

e.Matt. 13:36-43 Wheat and tares grow together in whatappears to be THE KINGDOM. But the tares will not

participate in the final stage of the kingdom at the

resurrection of the deadf. 1 Cor. 15:20-28 All rival kingdoms will be abolished,

including any reign that death still has. Then He willingly

hands the Kingdom back to the Father when all have been

subjected to the reign of Christ.


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g.Rev. 11:15-19 Those who are part of the Kingdom onearth becoming one with the heavenly Kingdom

h.2 Pet. 1:5-11Entrance into the eternal kingdomWILLBE supplied to you (if the virtues are yours andincreasingwhich comes after becoming a Christian)

i. 2 Tim. 4:1To judge the living and the dead, and by Hisappearing and HIS KINGDOM (judgment context)

j. 2 Tim. 4:18The LordWILL BRING me safely to HISHEAVENLY KINGDOM

k.Acts 14:22Strengthening the souls of the disciples(Christians who are already part of the Kingdom)saying

Through many tribulations we must ENTER THE KINGDOM

OF GOD. He appears to be talking of a future entrance.

l. Jesus Final Coming marks the final stage of the KINGDOMassociated with judgment of those who have already

rejected the Kingdom on earth. Now Jesuss Reign is

announced to all creation (Phil. 2:9-11).

Conclusion:

1)Jesuss Ministry: The message of the Kingdom arriving on earthis declared and witnessed through miracles, demons being

defeated, and Jesuss teachings

2)The Ascension: Jesus returns home as conqueror of sin anddeath and has a throne prepared for Him to reign at the right hand

of the Father. The Kingdom is given to Him. Satan knows hes

defeated, and the reality of the Kingdom is proclaimed to the

entire heavenly realm.


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3)Pentecost: Peters message proclaims the reality of Jesuss reignon Gods Throne. What has already been proclaimed in heaven is

now known on earth. With the keys of the Kingdom, Peters

message opens up the Kingdom to every tribe and tongue.4)The Destruction of Jerusalem: The Jews who held onto a hope

of an earthly throne with a Jewish Messiah reigning from

Jerusalem have their hope crushed with another message that

Gods Kingdom has already come and theyre missing it.

5)Jesuss Final Coming: The final stage of the Kingdom, which willlast eternally, begins. The announcement is made to all creationso that every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus

is Lord. What has been the Kingdom of heaven in heaven and the

Kingdom of heaven on earth will become one for all eternity with

all in subjection to Christ. Jesus then hands the Kingdom back to

the Father so that God may be all in all.

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Timing of the Kingdom of God