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 Kingdom
fallacies generally fall into three categories: Nationalistic,
Materialistic, and Futuristic error. It is not unusual to find
two, or all three of these errors combined into a single concept
— in fact the first and second are kissin' cousins.
The
Jews were chosen for a specific purpose, i.e., to be the fleshly
ancestry of Christ (Rom. 9:4-11, Heb. 2:16). The promise to
Abraham, basis for the Hebrew race, contained also: "In thy
seed shall all nations be blessed" (Gen. 12:1-3, Gal.
3:8,16) The "breaking off" of unbelieving Jews, and
the grafting in of believing Gentiles (in the two-trees
illustration of Rom. 11:16-24) shows the loss of nationalistic
or racial significance to "Abraham's seed." If today's
Jews succeed or fail in their national aspirations, it is upon
the same basis as all other nations.
Jesus
said (Jn. 18:36-f), "My kingdom is not of this world."
When Pilate asked, "Art thou a King?" Jesus replied,
"Thou sayest that I am a King" — which is an
affirmative. He continues: "I for this have been born and
for this I have come into the world." Remember, he is
answering Pilate's question! He further describes the nature of
His kingdom by then saying, "that (in order that) I might
witness to the truth; everyone that is of the truth heareth my
voice." He rules in the hearts of those who will heed and
trust Him.
We
must do God's will in order to enter the kingdom (Matt.
7:21-23). The better we understand His teaching the closer we
are to the kingdom (Mk. 12: 28-34) — a fact that must point to
the nature of the kingdom
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rather than to the "day" of
establishment. Only the humble (Lu. 18:17), those born of water
and Spirit (Jn. 3:3-5), can see (appreciate) and enter into it.
The kingdom "cometh not with observation" but was
"within" or "among" those to whom Jesus
revealed himself, as he prepared them for his "rule"
(Lu. 17: 20-21). It is a spiritual relation!!
And
the whole argument of Acts 2: points to its establishment. The
law of the Lord, signaled by the coming of the Holy Spirit, went
forth from Jerusalem in "the last days" (Isa. 2:13,
Joel 2:28-32), and Peter declared, "this is that..."
(Acts 2:16-f.)
Christ's
kingdom was to be in the lifetime of a 1st. century generation
(Mk. 9:1, Matt. 16:28). It was to "come with power"
and that came with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:1-f). First
Century Christians were in it, as Paul clearly teaches (Col.
1:12-13).
Zechariah
6:12-13 prophesied that Christ would be "priest upon his
throne." But Jewish priests were of Levi, while kings were
of Judah. The problem is resolved when we remember Christ would
be High Priest "after the order of Melchisedec" who
was both priest and king (Heb. 7:1-f.). We are lost without
Christ as our High Priest (7:23-25), but it is most inconsistent
to claim Him as our Priest and not recognize Him as our King. In
truth, He is NOW, both our Priest and our King; His kingdom is
NOW established and is operative; it is a spiritual and not a
materialistic kingdom; and it is for who-so-ever-will. Amen!
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