Wednesday, June 03, 2005

Other Names for the Kingdom of God

While the Lord Jesus Christ is the preeminent Person of the Bible, the Kingdom of God is the grand theme of Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the theme of God asserting His sovereignty over the world is consistently set forth as the hope of man. The one hope of mankind is that of God’s Rule instead of man’s misrule.

It must be asserted that the revelation of the Mystery is not disconnected from the Kingdom. In fact five times in the Prison Epistles, the Kingdom is mentioned (Eph. 5:5; Col.1:13; Col. 4:11; 2 Tim 4:1, 18).

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Eph. 5:5).

In Ephesians 5:5, this is not a reference to two Kingdoms, but one. The one Kingdom of God, yes, even of Christ, is the grand expectation I have as being a member of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head.

The Holy Spirit saw fit to use a number of appellatives, or descriptive titles, in order to set forth the many aspects of truth which relates to the Kingdom of God. Many of the appellative titles refer to the time when:

“For the kingdom is the LORD's: and He is [i.e., will be] the Governor among the nations” (Ps.22:28).

Presently, the kingdoms of this world are under the direction and control of Satan. This will not always be so.

Listed below are some of the descriptive titles of the Kingdom of God.

Latter Days: The proper name of the Kingdom of God is not found in the Old Testament. “Latter days” is a common name used instead of the proper name—the Kingdom of God. It is used eleven times in the OT and is descriptive of the time in Israel’s future.

“And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days” (Num. 24:14) RSV.

Numbers 24:15-19 declares and sets the time of the “latter days.” It is the time Jacob (Israel) has dominance over the nations mentioned. It is during the Kingdom of God.

“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these” (Dan. 2:28).

Also see Deut. 4:30; 31:29; Jer. 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; 49:39; Ezek. 38:16; Dan. 10:14; Hos. 3:5.

Last Days: This title is found in Genesis 49:1. Isaiah 2:2. Micah 4:1, and Acts 2:17. This term sets forth the idea that the Kingdom of God will be the result of all that the Lord has done preceding His assumption of all authority. The “last days” of 2 Timothy 3:1 should be understood as the “last days” of the Dispensation of Grace.

Hereafter: Is an appellative referring to “the hereafter” (i.e. the time of resurrection). Resurrections occur during the Kingdom of God. See Isaiah 41:23; Ezekiel 20:39; and Daniel 2:29 & 45.

The Time of the End: Is an OT term for the Kingdom of God (see Daniel 8:17, 19; 11: 27, 35, 40, 45; & 12:4, 9).

The Kingdom of God: This is the proper name of the coming dispensation and all of its’ multifaceted accomplishments. There is a broad interpretation of this term, and a more narrow interpretation. The former is an overall world view in which God rules and reigns over the nations independent of Israel. The latter is the view of God establishing His rule over Israel and her subsequent ascension as the most favored and blest nation of all. “And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33).

The Kingdom comes to Israel in stages and over time (Mark 4:26-28). The Kingdom comes to Israel as if it was just an orderly progression of events. It comes without observation or outward show (Luke 17:20).
 
The Kingdom of Heaven: This is an identical or synonymous term with the                                    Kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus uses the two terms interchangeably in Matthew 19:23-24.

The Regeneration: This appellative is found in Matthew 19:28. The Greek word is palingenesia which means to generate again, and it has reference to the restoration of a thing to its’ pristine state.

The Times of Refreshing: This appellative for the Kingdom of God is found in Peter’s message in Acts 3:19. This is the respite from the “hot winds” of sin and death which have blown since the fall of man. From the Face of the Lord comes a refreshing cool breeze.

The Times of Restitution: This, too, is found in Peter’s Acts 3 address. Verse 21 speaks about the times restoration. All of the Holy prophets spoke, from Samuel onward, about the times of restoration.

The Day of Christ: The Kingdom of God is the day when Christ will have His way in the earth, with the nations, and with Israel. It will be the time of His exaltation “from the earth.” Notice the references to the Day of Christ:

“Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8)

“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor. 5:5)

“As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus” (2 Cor. 1:14).

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10).

“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Phil. 2:16).

The Kingdom of God’s Dear Son: This is another descriptive title of the Kingdom of God. It is found in Colossians 1:13. My late brother-in-law, Sam Huddleston, used to tell me how he wished there were no references to the “kingdom” in Paul’s Prison Epistles. He could not reconcile these references to the Kingdom unless he threw out a lot he believed about the Acts 28 position. He didn’t live long enough to come to grips with this issue and settle it in his heart.

My Day: Here is a most overlooked appellative to the Kingdom of God. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).

We don’t need to look in the OT to determine when Abraham saw “Christ’s Day.” No less an authority than the Lord Jesus Christ said Abraham saw “His Day, and was glad.” If Jesus Christ said it; I believe it, and that settles it. Abraham saw it by faith, because the LORD (Yahweh/Jesus) must have told about it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known about it, and he couldn’t have been glad!

LIFE: This is a luminously expressive word, an appellative title of the Kingdom of God. The Lord told the rich young ruler; “If you will enter into LIFE, keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17). Jesus spoke about the narrow way that leads to LIFE (Matt. 7:14). In John 3:36, there is a warning; “he that believeth not the Son shall not see LIFE.” Again, it is noted that the Kingdom of God is called by an appellative which is characteristic of it. We are now living in a time in which death reigns supreme, and its’ influence is felt by every creature. When the Kingdom becomes a reality, the world will be dominated by the LIFE principle.

The Last Day: This descriptive title is used six times in John. (See John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24, and 12:48).

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39-40).

“The last day” speaks of the fact that the Kingdom of God will be Israel’s final day; there being no night following it once this day comes.

Fourteen appellatives have been listed. More could be added to this list. But, for the sake of space, we’ll conclude for now.