About six millenniums (1000 yrs.) ago, before the stars twinkled in the heavens. Before the sun glowed in the sky or the moon walked to her midnight throne. Before animals crept upon the earth, and before man was composed from the dust of the ground. Before eternity opened its door to the annals of time and history. And even before God wound the clock of time with his almighty hand. There was a particular thought in the mind of God. This thought was conceived in the magnificent and wonderful mind of a righteous and holy God. A thought that would become a reality. This thought was of a “Saviour” who would come to a world not yet created. This shows the omniscience of God! “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20).
Some four thousand years after the earth began to turn on its axis. The “Saviour” came to this world incarnated in flesh and blood, in the form of a man. He came for a purpose: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10). The Saviour was Jesus, the prince of Peace. He would change the world forever
Jesus choose 12 men to be his constant companions. They would be known as Apostles (messengers). Their purpose was to assist Christ in his mission to save the lost. You can read their names in “Matthew 10:1-4.” Jesus and the Apostles would work miracles, wonders and signs in order to prove the divinity of Christ (John 6:2; Acts 2:22). They would preach to the house of Israel first, warning them that the “Kingdom” was at hand (Matt. 10:6-7).
What is this “Kingdom” they preached of? Well, It is unlike any kingdom the world has ever seen. All the kingdoms of antiquity have fallen, and even today they will all fall. Christ’s kingdom however, shall never, ever fall “...for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Rev. 15:4). The kingdom is the church. Jesus said, “...That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). “ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 16:19). The keys represent the preaching of the “gospel” that created the church (the called out). The apostles were inspired preachers of an Eternal Kingdom. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26). This kingdom would be born out of the gospel (good news). The apostles would preach the word of God, not their own thoughts.
The Bible speaks of the church and the kingdom as being the same. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28). Those in the church (Kingdom) are servants of God, are you? “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb. 12:23).
Paul says, “ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13). The word “translated” means to move people from one place to another. Here we are moved out of the darkness of sin into the marvelous light of
redemption. This verse also shows us that the “kingdom” has already come. Yet! Some are still waiting on a kingdom to come. Christ said, “ my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matt. 16:28). If the kingdom has not come, then there are some 2000 year old people walking around today, according to this verse. The kingdom would come in their life time. Are you in the kingdom (church) that Jesus built? If not, why not? Have a good Day!
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