The title of this blog is a metaphor for the ever-expanding kingdom of God. The passage in Ezekiel 47 from which it is taken describes a small stream flowing from the house of God toward the desert. The stream becomes gradually deeper--first to the ankles, then to the knees, then to the waist--until eventually it is deep enough to swim in. Everywhere it flows new vegetation sprouts up and the desert becomes a garden.
Jesus used the same idea of gradual fulfillment when He preached "the gospel of the kingdom." "Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?" He asked. "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it" (Mark 4: 30-32).
Elsewhere we read that the kingdom is a small stone that broke apart the ancient empires and will grow into a great mountain that fills the whole earth (Daniel 2). Or that the kingdom is like yeast that eventually permeates the whole loaf of bread (Matthew 13). Isaiah tells us that one day "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (11: 9).
These are not speculations or wishes. They are promises from God. The kingdom will gradually grow. The kingdom will be preeminent on earth. The whole world will be blessed by the kingdom.
We realize this is a different perspective than many well-meaning, Bible-believing churches are teaching today. But we hope we can do our part to encourage others to study the promises of Scripture, renew their optimism, and help advance the kingdom.
So what is the kingdom? Is it, as many teach, a literal earthly dicatorship? No. "My kingdom is not of this world," Jesus said (John 18: 36). "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17: 20, 21). The kingdom is spiritual.
Is it something in the distant future, or is it already here? "The time is fulfilled," Jesus announced, "and the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 1: 15). "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God," He explained, "then the kingdom of God is come unto you" (Matt. 12: 28). The kingdom is now.
Who is in the kingdom, and what are they supposed to do? "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized" (Acts 8: 12). "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 16: 18, 19). "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations" (Matt. 24: 14). "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28: 19). The kingdom is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Its citizens are the redeemed.
Jesus used the same idea of gradual fulfillment when He preached "the gospel of the kingdom." "Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?" He asked. "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it" (Mark 4: 30-32).
Elsewhere we read that the kingdom is a small stone that broke apart the ancient empires and will grow into a great mountain that fills the whole earth (Daniel 2). Or that the kingdom is like yeast that eventually permeates the whole loaf of bread (Matthew 13). Isaiah tells us that one day "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (11: 9).
These are not speculations or wishes. They are promises from God. The kingdom will gradually grow. The kingdom will be preeminent on earth. The whole world will be blessed by the kingdom.
We realize this is a different perspective than many well-meaning, Bible-believing churches are teaching today. But we hope we can do our part to encourage others to study the promises of Scripture, renew their optimism, and help advance the kingdom.
So what is the kingdom? Is it, as many teach, a literal earthly dicatorship? No. "My kingdom is not of this world," Jesus said (John 18: 36). "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17: 20, 21). The kingdom is spiritual.
Is it something in the distant future, or is it already here? "The time is fulfilled," Jesus announced, "and the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 1: 15). "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God," He explained, "then the kingdom of God is come unto you" (Matt. 12: 28). The kingdom is now.
Who is in the kingdom, and what are they supposed to do? "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized" (Acts 8: 12). "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 16: 18, 19). "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations" (Matt. 24: 14). "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28: 19). The kingdom is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Its citizens are the redeemed.
The kingdom is growing today. There are more citizens of the kingdom now than there were a hundred years ago, and more a hundred years ago than there were 1,000 years ago. It will continue to grow--with or without us. Sadly, many churches are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the world to deteriorate: waiting--like many of the Jews in Christ's day--for a physical kingdom; waiting for "the church" to fizzle out and fade away. They miss the promises. They miss the point. The desert sands don't bury God's house. The waters flowing from the house of God flood the desert and transform it.
If Christ said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth," and, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28: 18, 20), then Christians should boldly advance the kingdom in their lives, in their families, in their communities, and throughout the entire world.
3 comments:
Wow!!! Love the blog...except...I am a professional clown and I am deeply offended....it's not easy being cheesy!!! jkn...
thank you for speaking the truth...it is a real blessing to our dry and weary hearts going through the same struggle currently....may I quote Jon Foreman..." I feel like a fruit picker arriving here after the harvest is done..."
I am feeling like Thai food right now... weird name for beverages!!
I appreciate your interest in what Gods Kingdom is. If you would like to know more scriptures that describe exactly what it is and what it will do you can find an article here. I think that you will enjoy it and find it will give you a greater understand ing of Gods purpose http://www.watchtower.org/e/20060715/article_02.htm
Thanks for stopping by, D.
Remember, the Bible makes it clear that the kingdom already exists on earth and will gradually expand. Of course every kingdom has a king. The king is Jesus Christ and He reigns now from heaven. Peter made this clear in the book of Acts.
"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2: 29-36).
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