Kingdom Confusion (PART 1) The confusion of the terms Church, Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of God, Kingdom and Gospel of the Kingdom leads to false teaching and historically has been one of the building blocks of persecution laid at the doorstep of our Baptist brethren. What is a Kingdom? The term kingdom leads us to think of certain basic elements such as a king over this kingdom, subjects over which to rule and a territory or country upon which this kingdom operates. Webster s 1828 dictionary gives the following: 1. The territory or country subject to a king; an undivided territory under the dominion of a king or monarch. The foreign possessions of a king are not usually included in the term kingdom Thus we speak of the kingdom of England, of France or of Spain, without including the East or West Indies. 2. The inhabitants or population subject to a king. The whole kingdom was alarmed. 3. In natural history, a division; as the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms. 4. A region; a tract; the place where any thing prevails and holds sway; as the watery kingdom 5. In Scripture, the government or universal dominion of God 6. The power of supreme administration Rightly dividing the Word of God on this subject leads to a clearer understanding of scripture that is not possible when these terms are confused. Understanding the proper differences between these terms is absolutely essential to understanding the timeline of Biblical history not only in the past and present, but also prophetically in the future. General Use of Kingdom in the Old Testament First Mention Genesis 10 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Clearly in this first mention of the term kingdom, what is being referred to fits well with the definitions above relating to an earthly physical kingdom ruled by a particular monarch, in this case the monarch or king was Nimrod. Genesis 11 details the building of the infamous Tower of 1 P a g e
Babel under the rule of Nimrod whose purpose in building was to worship the sun, moon and stars. Abraham Lies about Sarah to Abimelech (Genesis 20) Abraham journeyed south in Genesis 20 and encounters the King of Gerar, Abimelech. Abraham is afraid for his life before this king because his wife was attractive, so he lies to the king and says that Sarah is his sister (which was half true if there is such a thing ). The king takes Sarah and God visits Abimelech telling him Behold thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou has taken; for she is a man s wife. When Abimelech confronts Abraham regarding his lie, his statement reveals his concern not only for himself, but for his kingdom. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. Children of Israel A Peculiar Treasure, A Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 19) Exodus 19: 1-8 Notice the conditions placed upon the people for these things to be true: If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then The Promise of the Kingdom God clearly made promises to Abraham and his descendants which we can examine and use as a gage in understanding the timeline of history and the events thereof. God always keeps his promises, he can do no other for he is perfect, without sin, unable to go back on his promises. Promises Made to Abraham (Genesis 12, 13) Command to leave, the promise of a great nation: Genesis 12: 1-4 Separation from Lot, the promise of a land for Abraham s descendants: Genesis 13: 8-18 What conditions are placed on the promise of the land? What is the length of the promise? It is interesting that there are no conditions given on this gift, simply to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. There is no terminus given with this gift of land for ever! Instructions Regarding the Land, Future Rulers (king) and the Kingdom (Deut 17) God gave instruction, long before there were kings in Israel, regarding the kingdom over which these kings would rule. They were to read God s Word to learn to fear the Lord God and act accordingly. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 2 P a g e
Notice that this instruction was given before the Promised Land had been entered into ( when thou art come ). God knew beforehand the things that a king and a kingdom would struggle against in this sin cursed world and gave warning hundreds of years before Israel would ever have a king. God s true desire was for him to be their only King, but He knew they would want an earthly king eventually (1 Samuel 8: 4-7). Promises Given to King David (1 Chronicles 17) King David though a flawed sinful man like the rest of us, always repented and eventually restored his walk with the lord even through adultery and murder. Though worthy of death for either of these crimes, God spared the life of David and David loved the Lord God with all of his heart, mind and soul. It was this love and dedication that drove David to desire to build a house for the Lord. This house however was not to be built by David, but by the next ruler of Israel after David s death. 1 Chronicles 17: 1-15 How long did God Promise to establish David s seed and their Kingdom? (v. 11, 12, 14). The answer is clear: for evermore. Does that sound familiar? What conditions are given for the establishment of this throne for evermore? Again, the answer is nothing. There are however, conditions given for the uninterrupted continuation of this kingdom and throne. The Promises of Chastisement for Disobedience Again God gives an early and clear warning to the people of Israel regarding their future if the path they choose is disobedience. One of the places we read about this is in Leviticus 26 where God clearly lays out exactly what will happen if they will not hearken and follow His path. Leviticus 26:11-39 There are many promises of punishment in this passage: Terror Sorrow Burning inflammation and fevers (burning ague) Crops stolen by enemies God s face against them Slain before their enemies Enemies to rule over them Punished seven times more for their sins Seven times more plagues and pestilence Wild beasts will rob their children Cattle Destroyed Population Reduction Eat but not to satisfaction 3 P a g e
Cannibalism (eat the flesh of sons and daughters) Carcasses shall be cast up the carcasses of your idols God s Soul shall abhor them Cities Laid Waste, Sanctuaries Desolate, Land Desolate Scattering of Israel among the heathen with a Sword after them The Land that was deprived of her Sabbath s will enjoy rest while it is desolate Many will perish among the heathen with great fear upon them at all times (shaking leaf) The Promise of restoration for returning to the Lord With all of this God will remember his covenant with Israel and will also remember the land. God promises to not forget but also to not utterly destroy them or cast them away totally. Leviticus 26:40-46 40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. We know that the nation of Israel suffered all of these things because of their disobedience. The law was ignored and the land not allowed to rest every 7 th year as commanded. The period of years required was 70 years, the length of the Babylonian captivity. After which Israel was allowed to go back and rebuild the temple, and eventually the city of Jerusalem. Since that time, Israel only briefly has ruled itself, certainly not the Kingdom and Throne that was promised to David s seed to be for evermore. The book of Amos was written by a farmer, that being Amos, the herdmen of Tekoa, ministering in the days of Uzzia king of Israel and Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel (Amos 1:1). 4 P a g e
Amos was given many interesting insights perhaps God likes farmers In chapter 9 of Amos we are given some information relevant to this topic: Amos 9:8-15 8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. 9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. 10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. 11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. 13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. Notice verse 15: they shall no more be pulled up out of their land. We have to ask ourselves if this promise has been fulfilled in the past. The answer is clearly no. How interesting that Israel now has her own country once again after such a long time! The Promise given to Mary, mother of Jesus Seeing that we cannot ascertain any fulfillment in the Old Testament of the promises given to Abraham and his seed and to David and his seed, we look for the coming Messiah and the promises concerning him: Luke 1:30-33 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 5 P a g e
The Promise of a King and Future Fullfillment Isaiah 9:6-8 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. Rev 2:27 Rev 12:1-5 Rev 19:11-21 Other References: 6 P a g e