Its character is described in the 12 "Kingdom of Heaven Parables" given in Matt. The "Kingdom of Heaven'," is a New Testament term, and is found in Matthew's Gospel only, where it is mentioned 32 times. It is entered by the "New Birth," ( John 3:5) and is not "meat" and " drink," but "Righteousness and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost." Rom. It is spiritual and "cometh not with observation." Luke 17:20, 21. Here we must distinguish between the "Kingdom of God" and the "Kingdom of Heaven." The "Kingdom of God" is the "Reign of God" in the Universe over all His created creatures, and includes time and eternity, heaven and earth.
Luke 10:1-9.īut the King was rejected and crucified, and the setting up of the Kingdom postponed, and the Kingdom took on its "Mystery Form" under the name of the "Kingdom of Heaven." 10:7), and the "Seventy" to proclaim the same thing. 4:17-23), and later He sent out the "Twelve," ( Matt. 3:1, 2) and when the King manifested Himself to Israel He Himself made the same announcement, ( Matt. Thirty years later the King's forerunner, John the Baptist, announced that the Kingdom was "at hand," ( Matt. 606, and the "Times of the Gentiles" began.īut when 600 years of the "Times of the Gentiles" had run their course, God again made the attempt to set up His Kingdom on the earth, and the angel Gabriel announced to Mary the birth of the King. But the misrule of his successors, and the idolatry of the people, caused the cessation of the Theocratic reign in B.C. This was followed by God's selection of David.
Under the Judgeship of Samuel there was a revolt against the "Theocracy," and Saul was chosen by the people as King. In the "Call" of Abraham God took the first step toward the setting up of a "visible" Kingdom on this earth, which assumed an outward form in the "Jewish Commonwealth," under Moses, and during the administration of Moses, Joshua, the Elders that outlived Joshua, the Judges, David, Solomon, the kings of Israel and Judah down to the Babylonish Captivity, God reigned through these men under the form of a "Theocracy." But that dominion was lost by the "Fall," and Satan set himself up as the "Prince of this world." Matt. It is clear from the Scriptures that God has been trying to set up a "visible" Kingdom on this earth ever since the creation of man, to whom He gave dominion.
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