Today I would like to begin a study on the
Kingdom of God.The teaching about God’s kingdom program can be found throughout
the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
The Bible gradually reveals a program in which God makes His sovereign
authority known. Through the Bible, God demonstrates His right to rule. This is seen in the different forms of the
kingdom that He has established on earth.
For the next several meetings I would like to
do a series of studies on the kingdom of God.
Today we will study some basic facts about the kingdom of God. Next, we will study God’s kingdom in the
angelic realm. The next time we meet we
will study the kingdom of God established on earth. Then we will continue to study how God’s
kingdom program developed in the Old Testament.
We will study the different covenants of the Old Testament and then we
will study the new covenant of the New Testament. Hopefully these studies will be a help to
you.
I.
Today we will begin by looking at the different ideas that people have
about the kingdom of God. Some people
believe that the kingdom of God is in heaven where believers go after
death. People who believe this say that
the kingdom has no relationship to the earth at all.
A.
Some people think the kingdom is a spiritual kingdom that rules over
the hearts of men. They think that God’s
kingdom is related to the present but it is not related to the earth. It is spiritual and not material.
B.
Some think that the kingdom is only earthly, without anything spiritual
in it. It is a future political and
social structure that is achieved by the efforts of humanity.
C.
Some people believe that the kingdom is the visible organized
church. They think that the church
becomes the kingdom of God.So there are many different thoughts about the
kingdom of God. To know the truth we
must go to the Bible and study what it says about the kingdom of God.
II.
To better understand the kingdom of God we will study the word
kingdom. There are 3 things that every
kingdom must have.
A.
First is the right to rule. That
is the authority given to king or the dominion given to someone who reigns over
a kingdom. This is clearly seen in
Christ’s parable in Luke 19:11-27. Jesus gave this parable because the people
thought that the kingdom would immediately appear. The Lord Jesus told of a nobleman who “went
into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return”. This parable is based on the historical event
of a journey that Archelaus the son of Herod took to Rome. He went to be confirmed by the Roman emperor
Augustus as a ruler in Palestine. So, to
receive a kingdom means that the authority to rule was committed to someone. The same idea is seen in Revelation 17:12 “And
the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom
as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” “నీవు చూచిన ఆ పది కొమ్ములు పదిమంది రాజులు. వారిదివరకు రాజ్యమును పొందలేదు గాని యొకగడియ క్రూరమృగముతోకూడ రాజులవలె అధికారము పొందుదురు.” Notice the words kingdom and power
are use in the same way. The 10 kings
are given the right to rule and to share the authority that the beast exercises
in his kingdom. Therefore, the word
kingdom includes the idea of a person’s right to rule.
B.
The word kingdom also includes the idea of the realm in which ruling
authority is exercised. This includes
the people of the one in authority. Look
what Jesus said in Matthew 21:43 “The
kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth
the fruits thereof.” “కాబట్టి దేవుని రాజ్యము మీ యొద్దనుండి తొల గింపబడి, దాని ఫలమిచ్చు జనులకియ్యబడునని మీతో చెప్పుచున్నాను.” Jesus is talking about the people under His authority. Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” “కాలము సంపూర్ణమైయున్నది, దేవునిరాజ్యము సమీపించి యున్నది ;మారుమనస్సు పొంది సువార్త నమ్ముడని చెప్పుచు దేవుని సువార్త ప్రకటించుచు, గలిలయకు వచ్చెను.” Only people can repent. So the kingdom must include a realm in which
authority is exercised over people. Acts
1:6“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord,
wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ” “కాబట్టి వారు కూడివచ్చినప్పుడుప్రభువా, యీ కాలమందు ఇశ్రాయేలునకు రాజ్యమును మరల అను గ్రహించెదవా? అని ఆయనను అడుగగా ఆయన.” The words restore again (మరల అను గ్రహించెదవా) comes from a Greek word which means to reestablish what had
previously existed. Israel’s kingdom in
the Old Testament had a specific realm of rule.
That thought should be seen here also.
It seem that this what Paul had in mind in 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:1 “I charge thee therefore before God, and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing
and his kingdom” “దేవునియెదుటను సజీవులకును మృతులకును తీర్పు తీర్చు క్రీస్తుయేసు ఎదుటను, ఆయన ప్రత్యక్షతతోడు ఆయన రాజ్యముతోడు, నేను ఆనబెట్టి చెప్పునదేమనగా ”. Since the living and
the dead involve people, the meaning of the kingdom in this verse is realm.
C.
The third thing that is necessary to the idea of a kingdom is the
exercise of authority. A sovereign ruler
has a right to rule and a realm in which to rule. But,without the active exercise of that
authority there cannot be a kingdom. The
relationship between possessing authority and exercising authority is seen in
different ways in the Bible. Look what
Jesus said to Peter In Matthew 16:19, “And I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” “పరలోకరాజ్యముయొక్క తాళపుచెవులు నీ కిచ్చెదను, నీవు భూలోకమందు దేని బంధించుదువో అది పరలోక మందును బంధింపబడును, భూలోకమందు దేని విప్పుదువో అది పరలోకమందును విప్పబడునని అతనితో చెప్పెను.” It is clear in this verse
that the authority Christ gave was to be exercised. Daniel 5.
In this chapter King Belshazzar saw a hand write something on the
wall. Then he was very afraid. Verse 7. He said that “Whosoever shall read this
writing, and shew me the interpretation… shall be the third ruler in the kingdom”
This shows that he fully expected the one who received authority to exercise
it. In Daniel chapter 6:1 King Darius
appointed 120 princes to rule throughout the kingdom. This shows that the ideas of realm and
authority are connected. Daniel 6:3 “Then
this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the
whole realm.” “ఈ దానియేలు అతిశ్రేష్ఠమైన బుద్ధిగలవాడై ప్రధానుల లోను అధిపతులలోను ప్రఖ్యాతి నొందియుండెను గనుక రాజ్యమంతటిమీద అతని నియమింపవలెనని రాజుద్దే శించెను.” After Pilot questioned Jesus
he declared that he found no fault or charge on which he could be
condemned. Pilot knew about Christ’s
claim to be king. He declared that He
was without fault because He was not exercising the authority that He claimed
for Himself. The exercise of authority must
be there for it to be a kingdom. So, we
understand that in order for something to be a kingdom there must be 3
things. It must have authority to rule,
a realm to rule over and the exercise of authority.
III.
As we study the kingdom of God in the Bible there seems to be some
contradictions. Sometimes the kingdom of
God is described as being only eternal.
Sometimes it is described as being temporal(అనిత్యమైన), with a definite historical beginning, progress, and ending. Some passages in the Bible describes the
kingdom as being universal (సర్వసామాన్య;విశ్వజనీనమైన) and in others it is described as local. Sometimes the kingdom of God is seen to be
the direct administration of the sovereignty of God. At other times it is described as an indirect
administration appointed through administrators (పరిపాలకుడు). However, we should understand
that the Kingdom of God does not have contradictions. Instead it has 2 separate aspects (అంశాలను) that can be described in several different ways. There is an eternal aspect and there is also
a temporal (అనిత్యమైన) aspect. To better understand
the kingdom of God we need to look at 4 truths that describe the eternal
aspect.
A.
First the kingdom of God is eternal.
There are many Bible verses that show that God has always possessed
absolute sovereignty over all His creation.
Many verses also show that He reigns as a king eternally. Psalm 10:16 says “The LORD is King for
ever and ever” “యెహోవా నిరంతరము రాజై యున్నాడుఆయన”. Psalm 145:13 says “Thy
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all
generations.” “నీ రాజ్యము శాశ్వతరాజ్యము నీ రాజ్యపరిపాలన తరతరములు నిలుచును” Jeremiah 10:10 “But the LORD is the true God, he is the
living God, and an everlasting king.”“యెహోవాయే నిజమైన దేవుడు, ఆయనే జీవముగల దేవుడు, సదాకాలము ఆయనే రాజు”
B.
God’s kingdom is also universal.
I Chronicles 29:11-12. Psalm
103:19. Daniel 4:25. This tells about how
God punished king Nebuchadnezzar. He
said the punishment would last “till thou know that the most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” It is clear from the Bible that God’s
sovereignty is exercised over heaven and earth and even hell. There is no realm outside of God’s authority. God’s kingdom is universal.
C.
God’s kingdom is administered through appointed representatives. God exercises absolute authority over all
things. However, His sovereignty may be exercised through individuals. Genesis 45:7-8; 50:20. Proverbs 21:1 “The
king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water:
he turneth it whithersoever he will.” “యెహోవా చేతిలో రాజు హృదయము నీటికాలువల వలెనున్నది. ఆయన తన చిత్తవృత్తిచొప్పున దాని త్రిప్పును.” Isaiah 10:5-6. Isaiah 45:1 tells how God used Cyrus. Jeremiah 25:8-12. We see that God deals sovereignty through
men. Some men recognize it, some reject
it and some don’t even know it. Yet in
every situation God’s will is accomplished.
That is not only true with man but it is also true in nature. Psalm 148:8 “Fire, and hail; snow, and
vapor; stormy wind fulfilling his word.”“అగ్ని వడగండ్లారా, హిమమా, ఆవిరీ, ఆయన ఆజ్ఞను నెరవేర్చు తుపానూ,” Nothing ever happens that is not a part of God’s will.
D.
God’s will is also miraculous.
There are times when God’s sovereignty is demonstrated through His
intervention (మధ్యరావడము)in the affairs of men. These
demonstrations of God’s sovereignty are called miracles. The connection between biblical miracles and
God’s sovereignty are seen in many passages.
We will only look at 2 examples.
Exodus 7:3-5. Psalm 135:6-10.
E.
The Bible teaches that God’s kingdom is eternal and universal. It may be administered through individuals. It also may be demonstrated through
miraculous interventions in the affairs of men.
God is in control of the world of man and the world of nature. Therefore, He is able to direct the course of
history and accomplish His purposes.
Conclusion:
Today we have studied the 3 things that every
kingdom must have. It must have a right
to rule and a realm in which authority is exercised. It must also have that authority being
exercised. We have seen that the kingdom
of God is characterized by 2 main aspects.
The eternal aspect and also the temporal aspect. The kingdom of God is characterized by four
essential truths. It is eternal, universal,
providential and miraculous. In eternity
past, before the creation of angels or man, a kingdom existed in the heaven.God
the Father was sovereign. God the Son,
although equal in person, was subordinate to the Father (తండ్రి
అధీనంలో). God the Holy Spirit was the executor of the will
of the Father. Therefore, in eternity
past there was a kingdom. Tomorrow we
will begin to study the kingdom of God in the angelic realm.
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