The Kingdom of God Concept in the Scriptures The basis for the Kingdom of God Concept 1 st Chronicles 29:11-12 David declares three things concerning God Thus sovereignty of God is the basis of #1 God has sovereign power & authority to rule The Kingdom of God Concept in the Bible. #2 God s realm of subjects include all that is in heaven & earth. #3 God exercises His sovereign rule over this realm. Since God in His sovereignty possesses & does all the above David declares then that God has a Kingdom.
Distinctions These distinctions first appear to contradict each other! The distinctions are: Time Scope & Administration
Distinctions Scripture Time Scope Administration Psalm 103:19 Laminations 5:19 Acts 17:24 Psalm 2:6-9 Daniel 2:35+44-45 Daniel 7:13-14+27 Zechariah 14:4+9 Matthew 6:10 Revelation 11:15 Revelation 19+20 from long ago yet to come (future) Universal! The entire universe is God s realm Only the earth is described as His kingdom directly. indirectly through a human mediator These distinctions are not contradictions! In spite of how it may appear Daniel 4:17+34+37 2 nd Kings 19:35 Isaiah 14:24-27 Isaiah 37:36-37 directly
Explanation for the distinctions The Kingdom of God has two aspects/ expressions The UNIVERSAL KINGDOM OF GOD The THEOCRATIC KINGDOM OF GOD The rule of God over the entire universe (including the earth & everything in the universe) The Universal Kingdom Rule of God has always been in existence The dispensations are the different ways that God administers His Universal Kingdom Rule over earth Sometimes God administers His rule directly (not through a mediator) & sometimes indirectly (through a mediator) The Theocratic Kingdom of God is only one phase of the Universal Kingdom The rule of God is restricted to God s rule over earth. The rule of God is administered through a human mediator or representative (through Adam) The Theocratic Rule of God is restricted to those times that God has an Adam administering His rule over the entire earth
Distinctions The UNIVERSAL KINGDOM OF GOD Scripture Time Scope Administration Psalm 103:19 Laminations 5:19 Acts 17:24 from long ago Universal! The entire universe is God s realm directly. Psalm 2:6-9 Daniel 2:35+44-45 Daniel 7:13-14+27 Zechariah 14:4+9 Matthew 6:10 Revelation 11:15 Revelation 19+20 Daniel 4:17+34+37 2 nd Kings 19:35 Isaiah 14:24-27 Isaiah 37:36-37 The THEOCRATIC KINGDOM OF GOD Also before the fall - See: Genesis 1:26+28 & Psalm 8:3-9 yet to come (future) Only the earth is described as His kingdom indirectly through a Human mediator directly
Satanocracy Genesis 3 - Satan persuaded Adam to defect from God! Result = God lost His representative who was to administer His rule over the world system. = The Theocratic Kingdom phase of God s Universal Kingdom rule of the earth was suspended. Luke 4:6 - Satan was handed the authority to rule the world system John 12:31+14:30+16:11 2 nd Corinthians 4:4 + 1 st John 5:19 + James 4:4 Satan rule has continued to dominate the world system since the fall of man. Hebrews 11:13 + 1 st Peter 2:11 - Jesus followers are not of the world John 17:14-18 + 1 st Peter 5:8-9 system even though they are in it.
Satanocracy Although the Theocratic phase of God s Universal Kingdom rule ended at the fall of man God s ownership of the earth & God s Universal Kingdom rule over the earth Did not end & will never end! Other phases of God s Universal rule has been present since the fall. God is still in control! Psalm 24:1 + 50:12 & Daniel 4:17 Just a reminder that God still rules universally! God will one day restore His Theocratic rule!
Distinctions The UNIVERSAL KINGDOM OF GOD Scripture Time Scope Administration Psalm 103:19 Laminations 5:19 Acts 17:24 already in existence from long ago Satanocracy Universal! The entire universe is God s realm directly. Psalm 2:6-9 Daniel 2:35+44-45 Daniel 7:13-14+27 Zechariah 14:4+9 Matthew 6:10 Revelation 11:15 Revelation 19+20 Daniel 4:17+34+37 2 nd Kings 19:35 Isaiah 14:24-27 Isaiah 37:36-37 The THEOCRATIC KINGDOM OF GOD Also before the fall - See: Genesis 1:26+28 & Psalm 8:3-9 yet to come (future) Only the earth is described as His kingdom Satanocracy indirectly through a Human mediator directly
The THEOCRATIC KINGDOM OF GOD RESTORED See also Romans 16:20 (Satan crushed) Genesis 3:15 Isaiah 9:6-7 Revelation 19:11-20:6. SATAN IS CRUSHED! Satanocracy 1 st John 3:8 (Devil s works destroyed) Matthew 24:29-30 (Jesus 2 nd coming) Matthew 25:31-34 (Jesus sends the righteous into the Kingdom) 1 st Corinthians 15:24-25 (Jesus reigns over a literal physical Kingdom) 1 st Corinthians 15:45 (Jesus is the last Adam).