The Gospel of the Kingdom (not salvation)

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

Many papers have been written concerning Matthew chapter 24 because it is an important prophetic commentary given personally by Jesus.  Some of His disciples ask Him about when certain events will occur as well as the sign of His return (or second coming) and the sign of the end of the age.  The KJV uses the phrase “the end of the world” rather than “the end of the age” but Greek dictionaries assure me the correct translation should be a period of time or an age with a specific end.

Matthew 24:3 NET  As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age (KJV uses the word “world”)?

Rather than giving them any “when” answers, Jesus begins to tell them what events can be expected to happen prior to that ending time.  This article will only focus on the last event that Jesus told the disciples would occur.  The fourteenth verse states that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached” to all earthly inhabitants.

Matthew 24:14 NET  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end (termination, completion) will come.

Matthew 24:14 YLT  and this good news of the reign shall be proclaimed in all the world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end arrive.

Young’s Literal version translates “gospel of the kingdom” as “this good news of the reign” will be given as a testimony.  Mr. Young is more correct because the Kingdom of God (or Heaven) is the personal reign of Jesus Christ over the entire planet.  The concepts and particulars of the reign of Christ over the world is the Gospel of the Kingdom or the Kingdom of God.  It is not the Gospel of Salvation as many have concluded.

Although the salvation message is very important, that particular gospel or good news is necessarily a major part of the Kingdom of God proclamation but it is not the entire message that is to be delivered.

Up to the present time, only the gospel of salvation has been delivered to many (but not all) people around the world.  However, the gospel of salvation is only a part of the Kingdom message, thus it could be said that only a partial gospel has been preached to the nations.  Salvation has been proclaimed and churches have been built and organized as if the Church is the Kingdom, which it is not.

It can be said that most missionaries and church preachers do not actually understand the Gospel of the Kingdom and its huge ramifications.  It could also be possible that most church people do not fully understand the doctrines of the Bible.  Most only have a so-called “antichrist” and a tribulation in their future agenda, although neither one will occur.  If there is any type of tribulation, it appears to be happening now.

Churches continue to teach that at death a person’s spirit (or self) is either taken to heaven or a fiery hell.  At their so-called “rapture”, do they believe that people will be forced to leave their heavenly abode and be transported to meet Jesus in the air?  Also, if people are currently in heaven, what do they do?  Sing praise songs and bow down to the throne?  They certainly don’t need a mansion because there will be no need to eat, sleep, bathe, or use the bathroom.  Besides, the mistranslated mansion (which should be either “abode” or “dwelling place”) is the eternal glorified body each person will receive either immediately upon resurrection or after a certain period of correction and learning aka the lake of fire.

It is my belief there is no one in heaven except God.  Heaven is a dimension occupied only by God.  The angels may be (not certain) in another dimension with access to God and the universe, along with Earth, is in an entirely different created dimension (just my opinion, not doctrine).

Where is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is right here on planet Earth, which was created by God specifically for that purpose.  It is not in heaven, although it is proposed that glorified spirits (or people) will have access to the dimension of heaven and God.  The kingdom will be ruled by Jesus Christ and the elect overcomers who will participate in the first resurrection (or second if one counts the resurrection of Jesus as the first).  The overcomers of the first resurrection of saintly people will be the judges, rulers, and teachers.

The Kingdom will begin shortly after the first resurrection and will continue for 1000 years.  This thousand year age is called the Millennium.  All people not included in the first resurrection will live and die during this millennial age although new technologies will allow the people to live much longer lives.  Some of these technologies may already exist and currently only used by the elite or they may be introduced by the elect or by God through a living person.

What is the Kingdom of God?

As written in Daniel 2:35, 44-45 God will destroy by smashing all the preceding and current beast empires metaphorically like a large stone, not cut by human hands, leaving no trace remaining.  This stone i.e. the Kingdom of God, will become more and more prominent until it fills the entire earth.

Daniel 2:35 NET  Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth.

Isaiah prophesies this “stone to mountain”, which signifies the greatness and glory of God, will have people desiring to know the ways of God and His Law.  There will no longer be war or instruments and weapons of war.

Isaiah 2:2-4 NET  In the future the mountain of the LORD's temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it,  (3)  many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the LORD's mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards." For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the LORD will issue edicts from Jerusalem.  (4)  He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.

Although it will not happen immediately, within a certain period of time all wildlife will be harmless and eat vegetation, not meat.  It is not known how this will happen, although it could be a supernatural act.  The entire planet will be at peace with everything.  Some believe this will not occur until the second thousand years after the start of the kingdom.

Isaiah 11:6-9 NET  A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along.  (7)  A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw.  (8)  A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand.  (9)  They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the LORD's sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.

At the end of the Millennium the Gog and Magog faction will invade and be completely destroyed by fire.  It is not known if this is actual fire or the fire of God’s judgment for correction.

Revelation 20:7-9 NET  Now when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison  (8)  and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to bring them together for the battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea.  (9)  They went up on the broad plain of the earth and encircled the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and devoured them completely.

The Gog and Magog prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and 39 have already occurred when the horde of Khazarian wannabe Jews invaded Palestine as armed gangs and precipitated the creation of the current State of Israel.  The only part remaining to be fulfilled is the destruction of the current Jerusalem and the majority of the so-called Jews who are mostly Khazarians and Edomite half-breeds.  Recall that Israel is the name given to Jacob by God.  The name later went to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh and was employed by the ten northern tribes after Solomon’s kingdom split during the reign of Rohoboam.  The current state of Israel has no legal right to the name “Israel” by the law of God.

The next occurrence at the end of the first 1000 years will be the second resurrection which will include everyone who wasn’t in the first resurrection and everyone who died during the Millennium.  Some will receive minor correction and others will require a long sentence of correction which is called the “lake of fire” which is not a fiery hell of eternal punishment.  Luke 12:47-48 explains this process in terms of stripes aka the Old Covenant Law punishment.  Matthew 24:44-51 explains it in a different manner.  The elect overcomers are described in verses 46 and 47.  Verses 48-51 describes the others who will be part of the second resurrection.

Luke 12:47-48 NET  That servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.  (48)  But the one who did not know his master's will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

Matthew 24:44-51 NET  Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  (45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time?  (46)  Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes.  (47)  I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions.  (48)  But if that evil slave should say to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,'  (49)  and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards,  (50)  then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee,  (51)  and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Acts 1:6 & 8 NET  So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, "Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" ….. (8)  But my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth."