The Kingdom

In mainstream "Judeo-Christianity" the Kingdom is, to most, in the future, and is a utopic place called "Heaven." Some believe it's a place "in their hearts." Many, if not most, have not given it much thought.

How can this be? Jesus preached the Kingdom from the beginning of His earthly ministry. He spoke plainly to His disciples concerning the Kingdom, and spoke a great many parables concerning it.

The Church of Christ maintains the Kingdom began at the Cross (in spite of the biblical evidence otherwise, such as Mark 15:43) and belongs to the Church, but it will end at the "end of the world" (in spite of the numerous passages affirming the Kingdom's perpetuity.)

The arrival of the Kingdom was tied to the fulfillment of the "last days" prophecies and the events leading up to the fulfillment.

How is it that the Body of Christ are all over the road concerning something as important as His Kingdom? Why are our leaders in such disagreement? Let's look at the Who, What, When and Where of the Kingdom, concluding with a biblical definition.

 Who

WHO: The Kingdom is Israel's kingdom; the temple and the government. The Kingdom is the inheritance of Israel (Isaiah 65:9); it was not promised to all peoples.

Israel - the "peculiar" people of chiefs and priests - were charged with establishing the Kingdom on earth. Being the Bride (Jer 16:9, Jer 33:11, Rev 21:2, Jer 31:32, etc) the Kingdom was uniquely theirs. They were to co-rule with Yahweh [Ish-Ra-El]. This is the established "heavens and earth" - the Government (Rev 21:1) and the new Holy City (Micah 4:2, Rev 21:2, Rev 21:24.)

Israel never did, and cannot now, rule without a Kingdom. There cannot be a Perfect Kingdom without Perfect Law. The perfected Kingdom (Isaiah 65:17) - with Jesus as its head (Isa 9:6-7, Isaiah 22:21) - was promised to Israel. The servant people of the new Kingdom are characterized by:

1. RESTORATION: All the nations of Israel - wherever they are scattered - would be restored with Judah (Micah 4:3) After that restoration, not all peoples will worship Yahweh, but remnant of Israel will (Micah 4:4, Micah 4:7)

2. GIVING OF THE LAW: The writing of the Law on the hearts and minds of Israel (Jer 31:31F, Heb 8:8F, Jude 1:5) as opposed to the commandments written in stone (2 Cor 3:3).

The northern house had lost their Kingdom centuries before (Hosea 3:4) but - even after having been divorced by Yahweh - a united, restored kingdom under David was promised (Hosea 3:5). Jesus was that King (John 1:49, John 12:13) As preterists, we understand what happened to the treacherous sister Judah; their (Old Covenant) temple and its cultus was destroyed at the hands of Titus' army (Jer 7:34, etc.) In those last days - the last days of Old Covenant Israel - there was to be a restoration of the covenant people and their kingdom (Isaiah 1:26, Isaiah 49:6, Rev 21:12). Saul's concerns about Israel having a physical kingdom with a physical king were real - and Israel would no more have a physical kingdom of God (Jer 25:27, Amos 5:2) in the New Covenant wherein the Temple dwelt (1 Cor 3:16, etc.)

 What

The Kingdom is the application of Yahweh's eternal Commandments, Statutes and Judgements here on earth - it is from heaven (it is not heaven).

The Kingdom is not the utopic solution as being taught by televangelists and dispensational authors. Nor is it the popular view of "heaven." At the time of the establishment of the New Kingdom, there will still be evil and death here on earth (Isaiah 65:20, Rev 22:15).

If His eternal Commandments, Statutes and Judgements are not readily seen here on earth, then the covenant people are not administering them. Where there is a kingdom, there must be government. Where there is a government, there must be subjects.

Identify the subjects administering the laws - the people - and you've identified Israel, who are to "rule with El" (Ish-Ra-El).

 When

The Saints were asleep (1 Thess 4) waiting to be avenged from their persecutors (Acts 9:13, Rev 6:10, Rev 17:6, Rev 18:24) and were to take the Kingdom (Dan 7:18-27) forever. The Saints were to judge the Old Covenant world (1 Cor 6:2). The target of His wrath is the the House of Judah, who played the harlot, and the Holy City, Jerusalem, whose sanctuary had become desolate (Dan 9:17). According to the prophet Daniel, the following events were to occur at the time of the destruction of the Holy City:

- Finish the transgression
- To make an end of sin
- Make reconciliation for iniquity
- Bring in everlasting righteousness
- Seal up the vision and prophecy
- Anoint the Most Holy

If we are in the New Covenant, then the transgression of Old Covenant Judah, and the Old Covenant temple, must have been put away (Matthew 5:18.) There could be no Kingdom for Israel in the New Covenant while the old system, with rebellious, bloody bride and her corrupting of the Law (Isaiah 30:1, Isaiah 30:9, Isaiah 65:2, Romans 11:25, etc) There could be no restoration of the two houses, no (re)marriage of Yahweh to His bride, Israel. There could be no everlasting righteousness, or victory over sin. That which was perfect had not yet come, and the less-than-perfect was to be done away (1 Cor 13:10, Hebrews 8:6).

The first century Israelite believers were looking for the new Kingdom:

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)

Jesus said that the Kingdom would come in that generation (Matthew 24:34) - before the last disciple died (Matthew 16:28) - and was confirmed by every Inspired New Testament writer that these events were imminent from their perspective.

If we are in the New Covenant, and there is victory over sin, then the Kingdom is here! The old system has been done away; the new everlasting Government has been established!\

 Where

In contrast with the Old Kingdom, which was visible, the New Kingdom is not to be observed or built by human hands (Luke 17:20, Heb 9:11, etc.)

So here we have the WHO, WHAT, WHEN and WHERE of the Kingdom question answered. Amazinly, some preterists, maintain that there was no kingdom proir to 70AD. Indeed there WAS a kingdom in the first century prior to the fall of Jerusalem:

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)

It had a worldly (physical) temple:

Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:1)

Jesus said there WAS a kingdom at the time He walked the earth, with a temple (heaven) - but "violent men" had taken it by "force." Who were the temple people in power at the time? The very same Jews (specifically, the Pharisaical priesthood) which had "set themselves on the seat of Moses) and murdered/persecuted the saints and the early Church. The Law had been replaced or augmented with the laws of man, and the system was being usurped. This situation in the early church is understated in mainstream Christianity (perhaps to avoid be persecuted by Jews today.)

Having not yet emerged from the Holy of Holies (Rev 11:9) Jesus was not yet the King of Israel and ruling the Kingdom. As long as the old temple stood, there could not be a new one. There was a Kingdom, but it was to end soon from their perspective (Hebrews 8:13), and was to be replaced with a new King and Covenant (Hebrews 12:24).

Thus, the prophecy from the prophet Zechariah is now fulfilled with the fall of Jersusalem in 70AD:

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)

There is ONE King and One Lawgiver. The two houses of Israel are reunited, and a remnant of the sons of Jacob are characterized by their God and the Law. They number as the sands in the sea, are kings over nations, and have spread the gospel over the world. They have a new name (Isaiah 62:2, Rev 3:12) and their old name a curse (Isaiah 65:15.)

Something should be really apparent here in this interpretation: Yahweh kept His promises to a literal, physical people today who must be characterized (among other things) as a restored remnant, with Yahweh as their God, and His Laws written on their hearts. The covenant people are never described in the Bible as being a cohesive, multi-ethnic people who compositely have "accepted Jesus into their hearts" (note that this would make our God a bigomist!) Nor is there any biblical support for the idea that the chief/priest role of a literal people has been somehow transformed into a "spiritual" equivalent. Without acceptance of a literal, physical Israel today by mainstream Christianity, there will never be an understanding of the Kingdom. Nor, will mainstream Christianity ever be effective in their servant role.

 The Kingdom Defined - A Question Answered

The Kingdom is Israel's inheritance. It is the implementation of Yahweh's goverment here on earth - administered by the Covenant People. It is not utopia, and it isn't "heaven." It will increase, and have no end.