Difference between revisions of "Kingdom Of Heaven"

<p> &nbsp;Kingdom of God, of Christ, of Heaven. These terms describe: 1, a life of righteous allegiance to Christ, entered by faith, lived by love, and crowned with glory, &nbsp;Matthew 6:33, etc.; 2, the condition of things Christ came to explain, &nbsp;Luke 1:33; &nbsp;Acts 1:3, and to bring on earth, &nbsp;Matthew 4:17; &nbsp;Matthew 3:1-17, Christ's rule over Israel, &nbsp;Matthew 21:13; &nbsp;Matthew 4:1-25, the rule that God offered or committed to Israel, &nbsp;Matthew 21:43; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 17:14; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:1-26, the state of things in the history of the church during the conflict on earth of the so-called kingdom of grace, preparatory to the kingdom of glory, &nbsp;Matthew 13:1-58; &nbsp;Matthew 6:1-34, Christ's rule in spiritual and eternal righteousness over the redeemed earth, &nbsp;Revelation 12:10, in contrast with the world-powers, &nbsp;Daniel 7:18; then the kingdom will destroy and take the place of the four monarchies, &nbsp;Daniel 7:1-28, and have its glorious manifestation; 7, the visible glory of Christ, &nbsp;Matthew 16:28; &nbsp;Matthew 8:1-34, the rule of God the Father over earth and heaven, &nbsp;Matthew 6:10; &nbsp;Matthew 9:1-38, the heavenly state. &nbsp;Matthew 8:11. The kingdom of God is perfectly established in the heavens. &nbsp;Matthew 6:10. The power and glory of the divine kingdom are shown in a measure in creation and providence. From the moral kingdom the earth has revolted. God reestablished it in Israel, taking the kingship himself. &nbsp;Exodus 19:6; &nbsp;Hosea 13:10. He made the kingship visible in David, &nbsp;1 Samuel 16:1-23, and permanent in bis family. &nbsp;Psalms 89:20; &nbsp;Psalms 89:28; &nbsp;Psalms 89:36. The kingdom ceased as a visible power, with the loss of its inner spirit, when the nation lapsed and persisted in idolatry. The prophets foretold its restoration, &nbsp;Daniel 12:7-13; &nbsp;Psalms 2:1-12; &nbsp;Isaiah 2:1-22; &nbsp;Micah 4:1-13; &nbsp;Jeremiah 23:5; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:23; John the [[Baptist]] came to announce it. &nbsp;Matthew 3:2. Jesus Christ preached it, &nbsp;Matthew 4:17; explained its character and demands, as, for instance, that its citizens must be holy, meek, Christlike, etc., that when established it will be a condition of peace, purity, and glory, &nbsp;Matthew 25:34; &nbsp;Mark 9:47; &nbsp;Acts 14:22; Christ came as the King to Jerusalem. &nbsp;Luke 19:38; comp. &nbsp;Luke 1:32, but was rejected, and took the kingdom from Israel. &nbsp;Matthew 21:43. He taught its mysteries to the disciples, especially after his resurrection, &nbsp;Acts 1:3; and sent them forth to preach it. He declared that the time of its manifestation was known only to the Father. &nbsp;Acts 1:7. He laid the foundations of it on the day of [[Pentecost]] by the outpouring of the [[Holy]] Spirit, and rules it from his throne in heaven. The disciples went everywhere preaching the word of grace, &nbsp;1 Thessalonians 2:12, and persuading men to enter the kingdom by faith and holiness. &nbsp;Acts 8:12; &nbsp;Acts 20:25; &nbsp;Acts 28:23. The kingdom is to be fully manifested at the coming of Christ, the Son of man. &nbsp;2 Timothy 4:1; &nbsp;Daniel 7:13; &nbsp;Matthew 13:43; &nbsp;Luke 22:29. At "the end" Christ is to deliver up to the Father the mediatorial kingdom that he received at his ascension, &nbsp;Ephesians 1:20, after having reigned and put down all rule, authority, and power, and all enemies under his feet, &nbsp;1 Corinthians 15:24; and the kingdom of God, without distinction of persons, shall be complete and forever. &nbsp;Hebrews 1:8. The members of the "invisible church" are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. </p>