The Kingdom wasn’t just a minor part of His teaching. Jesus can personally be your King now. Obviously, John the Baptist and Jesus meant something more about this concept of the kingdom of God. Who were the Pharisees?  Together, he and his wife, Kathe, have served God and His people for over 25 years. Follow His teachings. The kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' preaching. The Greek phrase entos humon, translated “within you,” would be more accurately translated “in your midst” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “Within”). The Kingdom of God was plainly not in the hearts of the Pharisees who withstood Christ, many even wanting to kill Him! How did Jesus teach that he was the Messianic King? Steve is pastor of the United Church of God congregations in Cincinnati, Ohio. Just imagine it! The rest of His prophecy here, and also in the parallel accounts in Mark 13 and Luke 21, are like reading today’s headlines. After the Kingdom of God is established on earth, Jesus will bring a time of true world peace. You must receive the Kingdom and accept it right now to enter it later. What would you say is the central message Jesus taught? American King James Version×). But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved. Did Jesus simply preach about Himself? 2. Jesus lived during a time of great upheaval. The verse’s meaning is as direct as it sounds. Stop the sin in your life. (John 4:25, 26) He also showed that he was the King that the prophet Daniel had seen in vision. There will be no more crooked rule, no more fraudulent systems of men. Jesus emphasized it right from the very beginning of His ministry: “Now after John was put in prison, 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. Isaiah pictured a powerful Savior and Ruler who willl save and lead all nations from Jerusalem at His return. Right now you can have the laws of God’s Kingdom written in your heart and in your mind, and you can have the King of that Kingdom live in you to help you obey His laws. Your Savior will come. (John 6:14, 15) He told one politician: “My kingdom is no part of this world.” (John 18:36) To his followers, he said: “You are no part of the world.” (John 15:19) He would not allow them to use weapons of war, even to defend him personally.—Matthew 26:51, 52. “He went . . . God doesn’t want you to be unaware of the seriousness of the time in which we live. No wonder Christ constantly taught about it! Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. I’m sure you see there’s little doubt that Jesus taught with a forward-looking perspective. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15 Mark 1:14-15 [14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, This isn’t just good news, it’s great news—and the only hope for a world that’s rushing straightforward to destruction! But just in case you’re tempted to think that the Kingdom of God is something that is off in the future or only exists in eternity, Jesus told people that the Kingdom of God was already at hand in his time. Jesus was designated King. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Through stories and images, Jesus teaches that God's presence among us-his powerful reign-is both mighty and quiet, both welcoming and demanding. [51] Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, He taught that you won’t go to live in heaven when you die, but instead that you will be resurrected in the future and that heaven is coming to earth. Are you sick and tired of the evil world we live in? Mar 4:26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 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. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (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×). And the process towards this future begins today. When Jesus’ impending birth was revealed to Mary by the angel Gabriel, the unborn child was declared to be the King of a kingdom (Luke 1:30-33Luke 1:30-33And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. Jesus’ true message ties all of these things together in a theme that’s truly good news and that has great implications for you, for your future and for the entire world! His first public message was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The kingdom of God, then, is the good news that the right rule of God, and the right rule of man—a rule our ancestors Adam and Eve lost—have come together in the right rule of one right God-man: Jesus of Nazareth. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 9:6-7 [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Do you know what He was talking about? What a Ruler Jesus will be! For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. At the heart of this theme is the idea of God’s messianic kingdom. He also said there’s a requirement in order to enter that Kingdom of God—repentance. What Jesus was telling them was that as the King of the Kingdom of God, He was right there in their midst expounding His message and doing the work of the Kingdom. Remember: Spiritual strength comes from our Savior, the source of strength. Jesus wanted to stress to His followers that the Kingdom is coming to this earth. They were religious teachers of the day who generally opposed Jesus and were often portrayed as His enemies. It’s easy to think of the Kingdom of God as a physical … Mar 4:30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? You might be surprised to find that His gospel message wasn’t just “Invite Me into your heart and be saved.” It’s also startling to realize that He didn’t say you’ll go to live with Him in heaven when you die. How wonderful that time will be! Follow in His footsteps so that you will be part of that great Kingdom! © 1995–2020 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. As Graeme Goldsworthy teaches, Jesus embodies the kingdom motif of God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule. The concept of the kingdom looms large on the pages of Scripture. Christ was definitely not saying that the Kingdom of God was in them!  |  It should be everyone’s primary goal, the central focus of your life. Do you understand the biblical truth about the gospel? There was another very powerful way in which Jesus taught about God’s Kingdom. Instead, He taught that people must believe that He would come again and establish God’s government. In His shocking prophecy of Matthew 24, He tells us He will intervene at a time when this world is in crisis, “a time of great distress, such as there has never been before since the beginning of the world, and will never be again,” when conditions will be so terrible that “if the time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive” (verses 21-22, Revised English Bible). All of us need to be sensible and prepared for God’s kingdom. American King James Version×, emphasis added throughout). So is God! Paul wrote that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. God’s Kingdom would promote true justice. (Matthew 4:17). Would you like to read this article in %%? The big switcheroo…. Now let’s think about that for a moment. Now is the time to develop a much deeper relationship with God. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. In what ways did Jesus show that he would rule justly? It’s not good enough to just know these things. The prophet Daniel wrote: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.”, Shocking Teachings of Jesus: The Kingdom of God. He defeated sin and evil, and He established a way by which all of His followers could take part in the kingdom of God. When you begin to understand, you’ll find it jumps out at you throughout the Bible. They outright rejected Him and His return as King! Jesus promised to refresh people, to ease their burdens. Jesus makes it clear that this will be the most horrifying and deadly period of mankind’s history, with relatively few surviving. What is the meaning of the phrase: “Let your Kingdom come”? Yet, when people tried to get him involved in the political affairs of the day, he withdrew. Have you ever considered that fundamental theme? Jesus told his apostles that he would one day sit on a “glorious throne” and that they too would sit on thrones. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14 Daniel 7:13-14 [13] I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. Make Jesus Christ the King of your life right now! (Matthew 6:9, 10) Jesus also demonstrated impartiality daily by teaching men and women, rich and poor, without distinction. Jesus guarantees it. And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And 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. He was not implying that his reign had nothing to do with the world, but that his dominion came not from any earthly human, but from God. Go through the gospels and you will find over and over again this theme of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the kingdom. The heart and core of His teaching was the Kingdom of God, and the good news—the gospel—is that the Kingdom of God would be established right here on earth. That’s when the Kingdom will truly be in the midst of all mankind! . Numerous scriptures plainly record the clear message that "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying… the kingdom of God is at hand. Here’s another shocking thought that may surprise you: The major subject of Jesus’ preaching was not about going to heaven at death. Others have understood kingdom as referring to the church, equating the two. And 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. First, since the kingdom is nowhere defined in the Scriptures, people tend to pour in their own meaning. for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. That’s what the Bible foretells. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; an… He promised to be the Ruler of that godly realm and that the disciples will rule under Him. So what exactly is the gospel Jesus brought and taught? Let us see. When we understand the thrust of Jesus’ message about the Kingdom of God, we understand better why He made the statement in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” He tells us to seek first the Kingdom because the Kingdom of God was His primary message. Jesus will finally put an end to war and other violence, starvation, disease and every other form of suffering. The Bible—What Is Its Message? They will be “kings and priests to our God . Still others have seen the kingdom of God as simply ethics, Jesus’s announcement i… This world is in desperate need of God’s rule. But let’s read it carefully: “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!” For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you’” (Luke 17:20-21 Luke 17:20-21 [20] And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation: God says, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Corinthians 6:18And will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty.American King James Version×). So we see this isn’t something just in people’s hearts. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. It will also be a time of great spiritual awakening to God’s truth for all the nations—when, as Isaiah 11:9 Isaiah 11:9They 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.American King James Version×says, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea”! Who has ears to hear, let him hear.American King James Version×). So how will you endure? [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. The Pharisees and their many followers were looking forward to the arrival of an outward, earthly, visible kingdom, one in which the Jews would occupy a very prominent place. American King James Version×). God wants us to learn His laws and live His ways right now, in this life. Get spiritually ready. Since Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom was “at hand” (Mark 1:15), some think it is literally here on earth via the Church or figuratively in our hearts. He wanted all to look to a time of hope, beyond our personal problems, beyond the stressful condition that this world is in. (Matthew, chapters 5-7) Because he showed love, people from all walks of life found him approachable. And 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. from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God.”—Luke 8:1. If you’re to understand the point of Jesus’ teaching, His message and His mission, you need to be sure you understand the gospel—the good news—that Jesus Himself actually proclaimed. Jesus repeatedly referred to the Kingdom of God as “the kingdom of the heavens.”* (Matthew 4:17; 5:3, 10, 19, 20) God’s Kingdom… Today, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of God's kingdom that He brought down, is ours to deliver. 4. The best news is the gospel message of Christ’s coming world-ruling Kingdom! Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God constantly. Can you catch the vision of what God has in store? Most realize that Jesus preached the gospel. Jesus did not go around asking people to "give their hearts to the Lord" and say a short prayer so they could be saved. We desperately need good news. To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. “My kingdom is no part of this world,” Jesus said to the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate. 3. “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” – Acts 28:31 This verse is used as popular objection to mid-Acts right division, but it is not a very good one. In the future the whole world will be utterly shocked when Jesus Christ returns to the earth. Now that’s a promise! If you truly want the future that Jesus proclaimed, you must begin living by its terms today! Some have reasoned that since we’re to have Jesus in our hearts, then the Kingdom of God also exists only in people’s hearts as well. Jesus preached that same message from the very beginning of his own ministry (Matt. Can you imagine it? [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. Jesus said in John 18:36, "My kingship is not of this world." reign[ing] on the earth” to help teach and bring others into this eternal Kingdom (Revelation 5:10 Revelation 5:10And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.American King James Version×). We need to be telling others about the kingdom of God, and that requires commitment, obedience and preparation. Who has ears to hear, let him hear. The kingdom is reserved for those who hear and prepare and commit. Publication download options Terror, earthquakes, killings, persecution, war, hunger, disaster. Humanity will at last see a world of peace, a world with happiness, a world with clear purpose. His homeland was under the domination of a foreign power. It seems like a simple enough question, but most don’t give it much thought. As followers of Jesus, however, we don’t just proclaim the message of the Gospel. Did His primary message center only on Him being the prophesied Savior? What was He saying, then? The Kingdom of God (and its related form the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew) is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Some have equated it with heaven, saying the kingdom is the place where we go when we die. . Answer: Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33). Jesus VS today’s gospel of the kingdom “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 (NCPB) When Jesus says “this gospel of the kingdom”, he means the one he preached and not the one the Pharisees preached. For example: John the Baptist preached that people should repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand (Matt. You see here that right from the very start He wasn’t talking about a heavenly existence after death. Beyond Today Magazine: September–October 2018. A confrontation Jesus had with some of the Pharisees has been used to promote this misguided idea. In death, Jesus went from the messenger bringing the good news of God's kingdom to the king who would reign over it. Mankind’s corrupt governments will all be destroyed (see 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×). As the prophet Daniel had written: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. The big misunderstanding of those around Jesus was that the Kingdom of God is a future kingdom and that it is entirely an earthly visible kingdom. The gospel of that Kingdom holds the key to understanding our world’s troubles and to their true solution. Even the most downtrodden flocked to him, confident that he would treat them with kindness and dignity. TERMS OF USE 4:17) Apparently it was prett… "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases among the people. And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. It is the means by which we come into the Kingdom of God. God gives eternal life to those who will live and reign with Christ in the coming Kingdom. Jesus will return and change all of that! The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Did you know that Jesus did something powerful after the crucifixion and resurrection that emphasized the importance of His teaching about the Kingdom of God? United Church of God is a 501(c)3 organization.  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use. But what did they do? It was no accident that Jesus spoke about the Kingdom more than any other subject. Now the best part is that you can get a head start. He himself said: “I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth.” (Luke 4:43) Consider four things that Jesus taught about that Kingdom, the central theme of his preaching. The verse’s meaning is as direct as it sounds. If you fail to understand Jesus’ central message, you will fail to grasp the whole point of His teachings, the reason for His coming and why He promises to come again. 1. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 [50] Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Jesus put it well when he said, in our Gospel reading, this about his followers (the people on God’s right hand in the story) 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of … (Matthew 19:28) He referred to this group of rulers as his “little flock,” and he also noted that he had “other sheep,” who were not a part of that group.—Luke 12:32; John 10:16. In 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×we read that this Kingdom will be established at the prophesied seventh and last trumpet: “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever’” (English Standard Version). Then, when ultimately transformed in the future, “the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43 Matthew 13:43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. , killings, persecution, war, hunger, disaster the biblical truth about the gospel under God’s.... 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