By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #95 ~
God’s primary work is kingdom work! It’s what He’s been doing since the creation of the world. Starting with Adam and Eve, then through the Jews, now through the church, and then during the next age, God has been, is, and will be, building His kingdom.
To understand the history of God’s most important work, we have to go back to the Old Testament, where we find many prophecies and promises that God gave to the Jews about the coming King and His kingdom. Zechariah 14:9 tells us, “The Lord will be King over the earth.” In 2 Samuel 7:8-17, David is told, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever.” Daniel 7:27 says, “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom.” Isaiah 9:6-7 predicts, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom… from then on and forevermore.” Psalm 2:6 clearly states, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 47 tells us the truth, “For God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 98:6 exhorts us, “Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.”
God also promised the Jews, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). You see, God wanted the Jews to be members of His kingdom, and part of the process in establishing this kingdom, both spiritually and physically. Some of the Jews were righteous and serving Him, but for the most part, they were rebellious. The majority of them were looking at things outwardly and worshiping idols they had made, but weren’t loving God, the One who had made them. In spite of all their sins, God was very gracious, for many Jews, and Gentiles too, repented and received God’s mercy, thereby becoming members of His glorious and growing kingdom.
God’s kingdom work continued, wonderfully and dramatically so, when His Son, the King, came to earth. It was about 2,000 years ago that Jesus entered this world as a little baby, then grew up and became a man. Jesus was perfect, the most loving person, an incredible teacher, and a healer of diseases, but the Jews still rejected Him. They didn’t see their need for Jesus to save them from their sins. Their rejection of Him as their Savior led to their rejection of Him as their King. Yet, Jesus assured His disciples that He would come back and set up His kingdom on earth. In fact, right before He ascended into heaven, He was talking to His apostles about the kingdom, “… appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Jesus’ disciples were excited about the coming physical kingdom, but they knew it had to be spiritual at its core, for Jesus first needed to be King in their hearts. He had already told them, “Behold, the kingdom of God is in you.” Luke 17:21
Since that time, Christ has been building His church, and God’s kingdom is continuing to grow, for a great number of people are being born again, and are entering into His kingdom (John 3:5). Millions, if not billions, have been delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13). 1 Peter 2:9 also speaks of this kingdom, telling us that the church is a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” language reminding us of God’s promises and plans for the Jews.
During this church age, God has commanded us to work with Him, to seek His kingdom, to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). We know it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth. That’s because the Jews are back in their land, a clear indicator from God that we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 37; Daniel 12:4, 9
This church age is now drawing to a close, and Jesus Christ will be coming back soon. He will return as a Savior to rapture the believers, as a Judge to punish the unbelievers, as a Redeemer to save a Jewish remnant, and as a King to set up His kingdom on earth. At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). What a momentous time that will be, for Christ will take control of the world, and finally, be her King! Then for the next thousand years, we and all believers will be working with our King, helping Him rule and guide the nations. Multitudes more will be saved, and God’s kingdom will continue to grow during the entirety of Christ’s glorious reign on earth.
It is during this time that God’s millennial promise will be true for all believers, “God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” Our prayer will be, “Let all the peoples praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You” (Psalm 67:5, 7). People all over the world will be praising our King. “O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2). “Then (after 1000 years) comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” 1 Corinthians 15:24
P.S. Here is a good article to read, one that will help you to more clearly understand this post: A Summary of the Prophetic Work of God, from the Time of Abraham to Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.