The Coming of the Kingdom...

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John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus declared that the Kingdom of God is at hand. That was two thousand years ago. The Jews knew about the Kingdom that is to come to the earth, for it was revealed by the Prophets. Notice their question to the resurrected Jesus:

Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Acts 1:6)

(February 13, 2011). What has happened since? How did the Christian hope change to the idea that if we are saved we will go to Heaven to live forever? Was it the influence of Gnosticism or of other religions? What has happened to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?

The advent of Dispensational theology did not help, because it cut off the Prophets from the Christian believers. The truth is, the destiny of the Christian Church is found in the Prophets. When the Prophets spoke of Israel, they spoke concerning the one Olive Tree. That Olive Tree is the Spirit of Christ, and once we Gentiles receive Christ we become part of the one Olive Tree.

So today we have another gospel, the gospel of Gentiles going to Heaven to live forever in mansions while the Jews inherit the earth. Such confusion! It is completely opposed to the teaching of the Apostle Paul about the one new Man.

It may be true that the Prophet, Isaiah, was foremost in declaring the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)

The "you" above is Christ, Head and Body. During the last days, which we are entering now, the disciples of the Lord are in a travail to bring forth Christ in His followers. The maturing of Christ in His followers will them into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

When the Church (or a remnant of the Church) has been brought to maturity, the world will believe that God is the One who has sent Christ to the earth. That which has been the goal of missionary endeavours for the past two thousand years will be accomplished in a short time.

We of today are at the very beginning of the work of bringing the disciples to maturity. Much remains to be done. But all that God has declared in His Word shall come to pass, and there is no power than prevent any part of it. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. (Isaiah 60:2)

The spiritual darkness is increasing today. Would you agree to that? It is to grow much worse. Perhaps the Muslim religion will prevail in many countries of the world. At the height of the darkness the Lord Jesus will clothe His true people with Divine glory. All the nations shall see this light and be drawn to it. It is the same Glory that God has given to the Lord Jesus. Then the people of the nations will understand that God loves the saints as He loves the Lord Jesus.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3)

Here is the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth, announced by John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus. In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. (Isaiah 2:2)

Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. (Isaiah 60:4)

The Father promised the Lord Jesus that He would inherit the nations and the farthest reaches of the earth. The Apostle Paul informed us that we are co-heirs with Christ. Here we see it happening as families of people come from all over the earth bringing to us our sons and daughters. People are the best inheritance of all.

Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (Isaiah 60:5)

I believe the "seas" symbolize nations of people. Perhaps the "riches" are children. The nations will bring material wealth also; but the true wealth always is people. I do not believe that the heart of a true saint would "throb and swell with joy" because he or she received material riches. But children? Yes indeed!

Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD. All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple. (Isaiah 60:6,7)

In the present hour "money" and other forms of material wealth reign as gods. They are worshiped. The true disciples of the Lord seek the Kingdom of God first, trusting all such things will be added to them. They place their treasures in Heaven, and sometimes are among the poor of the earth.

It will not be so when the Kingdom comes to the earth. The people of the nations will turn from their worship of material wealth and will bring their treasures to the Lord's saints. Please keep in mind that God's "glorious temple" is Christ, Head and Body. They are God's Throne. They have come from Heaven to the earth to receive their inheritance.

Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? (Isaiah 60:8)

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Jesus is coming with clouds. No doubt these are clouds of saints; for the Scripture declares that we will appear with Him. A dove returning to its nest is coming home. It has been preached for so long that Heaven is our home that this concept is commonly accepted. But it is not Scriptural. It is true that our citizenship is in Heaven, but it is the earth that is our home. The meek shall inherit the earth.

After we die we will be busily occupied in the spirit world. But the spirit world, while it is the home of the angels and other creatures of God, will never be the home of human beings. Even though our life may be joyous while we are waiting, in the spirit world, for the time when we are to appear with the Lord Jesus, we still will have a longing in our heart to return to man's home, which is the earth.

Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honour of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendour. (Isaiah 60:9)

We may notice how America is becoming increasingly secular. Little by little the Christian people, who in time past were at least accepted if not honoured, are being regarded as some kind of fanatics who do not want to "get along" with ordinary people. The idea is that we must not offend anyone. Yet the wicked have no problem with offending us! But in the future the saints will be governing, with the Lord Jesus, from Jerusalem, The Light of the Glory of God will be on them. This light will be seen all over the earth, and people will come from every part of the globe to honour the saints, realizing that by doing so they are honouring God.

Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favour I will show you compassion. (Isaiah 60:10)

If we think back about the history of God's anointed people, Jews and Gentiles alike, we become aware of the amount of suffering and deprivation that the holy people have endured. Even today, while we in America are asleep in our beds of ease. Christian people are being imprisoned and killed by Muslim activists. The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews describes the suffering of the saints. God's people have left bloody footprints in the snow.

But when the Kingdom of God comes to the earth. the people of the nations will make haste to serve God's elect. The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. (Revelation 21:26)

Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations—their kings led in triumphal procession. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined. (Isaiah 60:11,12)

It may seem impossible that those who live by the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ will one day be the center of government of the earth, and that all other nations and kingdom will be forced to bring their wealth to Jerusalem, to serve God's holy people.

In the present hour it appears that the Muslim warriors have established a perimeter around Israel, with Lebanon on the north; Jordan on the east; Gaza on the west, and Egypt on the south. It may be true that they are gloating as they see the possibility of completely destroying Israel.

They do not understand that Israel is unique. While the Israelis appear to be at this time a largely secular nation, depending on the United States to help them, the truth is, God has called the Israelis by name and will help them in their darkest hour. God has said the Israeli s belong to Him. He will not desert them in their hour of need. God's honour is at stake here.

Every nation that does not help the Jews will be punished, and every nation that assists the Jews will be blessed. We can count on this immutable fact!

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendour. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly. (Isaiah 60:20-22)

Go out at night and look up to the heavens. The Lord Jesus Christ stretched out these bodies. Their number and size cannot be comprehended. The distances between them are beyond our ability to imagine.

He who spoke all this into existence, and who one day will remove them as one would throw dirty clothes into a hamper. and who after that will breathe out a new and incredibly larger sky and earth, has said: "In its time I will do this swiftly."

I do not know if I will see the sun tomorrow. But after serving Christ for sixty-five years, I am certain of one thing: All that Christ has spoken in the sixtieth chapter of the Book of Isaiah the Prophet, shall come to pass in detail. Let God be true and every man a liar. Amen.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)

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