Page 359 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

KINGDOM OF GOD

Isaiah 60. (1) The kingdom will be established this period was revealed to be seven years, according to
following worldwide darkness (vv. 1, 2). (2) It will be Da. 9:27. (9) Great Tribulation (Da. 12:1; Is. 24-31).
universal (v. 3). (3) Israel will be restored and will be at Often called “the day of the Lord,” this is the period
the center of the kingdom (vv. 4-12). (4) The wealth of during which God will purge the rebels from Israel and
the world will be brought to Israel (vv. 6-9). (5) The prepare her for the New Covenant (Eze. 20:33-44). He
temple will be rebuilt and offerings reinstated (v. 7). (6) will also judge the world for sin, pride, and idolatry (Is.
The nations of the world will serve Israel (vv. 10-12). 24; Joel 2-3). This period of judgment will be of
(7) The land of Israel will be beautified (vv. 13-17). (8) unprecedented severity (Da. 12:1) and will be
Righteousness shall reign (v. 17). (9) Israel shall dwell worldwide (Is. 24:1-6,19; 13:9-13). (10) Israel will turn
in safety (v. 18). (10) The glory of God will lighten to the Lord (Ho. 3:4- 5; 5:15; Je. 3:12-19; Ze. 12:9-10).
Israel (vv. 19, 20). (11) The kingdom will be populated (11) The King will come to the Mount of Olives and
by the righteous (v. 21). destroy Israel’s enemies (Ze. 14:1-4). (12) O.T. saints
Isaiah 35. (1) The creation will be renewed (vv. 1, 2, will be resurrected (Da. 12:1-3). (13) Israel will be
7). (2) The kingdom will be established following God’s regathered from among the nations and established in
judgment of the world (v. 4). (3) There will be her land forever under the glorious reign of the Messiah
miraculous healing (vv. 5-6). (4) A highway will be (Ze. 14:8-21; Is. 11:10-12; 60:9; Je. 23:3-8; 30:7-11;
created for the redeemed (vv. 8-10). (5) All will dwell in 31:8-11; 32:37-44; 33:6-26). [See Allegorical,
safety (v. 9). (6) The kingdom shall be joyful (v. 10). (7) Antichrist, Covenants, Great Tribulation, Millennium,
No sorrow shall be there (v. 10). Prophecy, Star.]
This kingdom shall be the fulfillment of God’s covenant The Kingdom of God in the New Testament. Following
promises to Abraham and David: (1) Possession of the is a summary of N.T. usage of the term kingdom of God:
land forever (compare Ge. 12:7; 13:14-17; Am. 9:15). (1) In the N.T. the term “kingdom of God” is normally
(2) Seed as the stars for multitude (compare Ge. 15:1-5; used of the future, earthly Davidic kingdom promised in
Je. 33:22). (3) Eternal earthly kingdom with God as the O.T. (Mk. 14:25; Lk. 9:27-36; 13:28-30; 14:15-24;
Ruler (compare Ge. 17:7-8; Joel 3:17-20; Is. 9:6-7). (4) 21:31; 22:28-30). (2) The kingdom of God and the
Ultimate victory over enemies (compare Ge. 22:17; Joel kingdom of heaven are normally used to describe the
3:1-16). (5) Throne of David established forever same kingdom; they are often used interchangeably
(compare 2 Sa. 7:14-15; Is. 9:6-7). (6) House and (Mt. 19:23-24). Compare Mt. 4:17 with Mk. 1:14-15;
kingdom of David established forever (compare 2 Sa. Mt. 5:3 with Lk. 6:20; Mt. 8:11 with Lk. 13:28-29; Mt.
7:16; Ze. 12:7-10; Am. 9:11). 13:11 with Mk. 4:11; Mt. 18:3 and 19:14 with Mk.
Events preceding the fulfillment of this kingdom: O.T. 10:14-15; Mt. 19:23 with Mk. 10:23. The two terms
prophecy does not foresee the church age. This period possibly emphasize the source of the same kingdom in
was then an unrevealed mystery (Ep. 3:1-10). A major two ways: The kingdom that is from God, and the
theme of O.T. prophecy was the kingdom of God kingdom that is from heaven. (3) The kingdom of God
promised to Israel. This kingdom is yet future to the will not come until after the Great Tribulation and the
church age, and O.T. prophecy describes the events second coming of Christ (Mt. 25:31; Lk. 19:11-27;
leading up to its establishment. Through the following 21:31). (4) N.T. believers are not yet entered into the
outline we can understand what events the O.T. saints kingdom of God (Ac. 14:22; 2 Th. 1:5; 2 Ti. 4:2,18; 2
were expecting for the future, though the exact order of Pe. 1:11). (5) Jesus, in Jn. 3:3-5 and Mt. 18:3, did not
these events was not necessarily understood. We pick up teach that the kingdom of God is the spiritual state one
our outline following the 70 year captivity: (1) Release enters upon conversion. Rather, He taught exactly the
of Jews by Cyrus (Is. 44:28; Je. 29:10). (2) Rebuilding same truth as that taught in the O.T. No one will enter
of the walls and city of Jerusalem (Da. 9:25). (3) the kingdom of God who has not first been cleansed and
Judgment upon Babylon (Je. 25:12-14). (4) Messiah regenerated. The New Covenant, involving
would come 483 years after the commandment to regeneration, precedes establishment of the Davidic
restore and build Jerusalem (Da. 9:25). (5) Messiah cut kingdom. In Jn. 3:3-5, Jesus uses the very same terms as
off (Da. 9:26; Is. 53; Ps. 22). (6) Messiah resurrected those used in Eze. 36:24-27 to describe the New
(Ps. 16:8-11). Some O.T. saints understood this truth. Covenant. (6) Mt. 21:42-44 does not say the kingdom of
David did (Ac. 2:30-31), and Jesus rebuked the disciples God has been taken from Israel and given to the church
for not understanding these things (Lk. 24:25-27). (7) (speaking of the church in a general, institutional
Partial regathering of Israel from the nations and sense). Note the following reasons why this
restoration to the land, yet still in a condition of interpretation of this passage is impossible: First, Jesus
spiritual death (Eze. 37). (8) Day of the little horn (Da. did not say the kingdom of God would be taken from
7:8-14; 8:9-14, 23-25; 9:27; 11:21-45). The length of Israel, but from the people He was addressing. He was

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 359