Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
“For the Saviour specifies very remarkably the tidings then to be borne, as –“This Gospel of the Kingdom”. That is not the Gospel which is now preached. Most of the missionaries do not believe in the millennium, and therefore do not preach Christ’s Kingdom in the Scripture sense. Much less is it the great and prominent feature of their discourses”
The Prophecy on Olivet, pg.33
Robert Govett; published 1881
What is this gospel of the Kingdom? Mark’s gospel leaves off the “kingdom” and just states “gospel”.
Our Lord many times used the phrase “Kingdom of heaven is likened ” when giving parables of how it relates to man and how men are to respond to it. Matt 13:24,31,33; In each parable there is an interlude; a time of patiently waiting for the final results. In the parable of the good seed, which represents the “children of the kingdom”, the householder patiently waits until the harvest before uprooting the tares. This is the judgment at the end of the world before the kingdom is ushered in. The parable of the mustard seed refers to the patient farmer who waits until the “least of all seeds” becomes a tree. The sowing and reaping aspect of farming becomes the idea used. The parable of the leaven hidden in the three measures of meal shows a time of waiting until the whole was leavened.
This waiting is the “kingdom in mystery” in the sense that the ultimate fulfillment in its literal entirety is yet future. It is currently known only by faith. Its future citizens are written in heaven while still waiting for its heralded appearance.
In Matt 18:23 our Lord uses the same phase “kingdom of heaven likened” but whereas the former in chapter 13 are explicitly named parables, chapter eighteen is different in that it is not.
In Matthew 18 The Lord speaks of a servant who, though he had been forgiven much debt after asking for leniency, nevertheless did not show the same compassion toward his fellow servants. The result being that his Lord was angry and required his previous debt to be paid by the method of turning over to the tormentors.
The Holy Spirit purposefully does not use a parable to teach the lesson of forgiveness and the seriousness of the charge against unforgiveness. No man, when reading this account, can honestly use the excuse of ignoring the severity of possible judgment the Lord will implement toward his servants at the judgment seat by stating this is only parabolic.
Jesus dismisses any thought that this might just be another parable that really doesn’t apply to the believer by finishing the “lesson” and “dismissing” the class with verse thirty-five.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Returning to the question, “what is the gospel of the kingdom?”. The New Testament uses the phrase “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” 107 times. The first occurrence is found in Matthew chapter three: “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The witness of John the Baptist was of the coming of the Savior of the world; the Light of the world. The ushering in of the Lord Jesus is in conjunction of the heralding of the kingdom of heaven.
What it is not
Let me first establish what the “kingdom of God” is NOT. It is not, as so many pastors and teachers claim it to be, eternal life or “going to heaven”. In this Laodicean Church period there is so much confusion, lack of biblical knowledge, and even down right heresy concerning this very important doctrine of the “kingdom of God”. On any given Sunday, in pulpits across the USA, it is not unusual to hear a sermon, that, in passing, the pastor will come to a passage where our Lord will be mentioning the “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” and the pastor or teacher will take the opportunity to explain that “If you want to go to heaven when you die”. Or they will say something like; “see, the rich man would not give up his riches to go to heaven”. When the pastor realizes that he is stating that it is hard for rich people to “get saved”, and according to his own interpretation, the scripture must be stating the same; Mark 10:25. He then has to right his wrong, and settle the hearts of the “rich” Laodicean Christians, by telling them that God is not against riches and a rich man can go to heaven; or something to that nature. It is a lack of biblical doctrine on this subject of “the kingdom of heaven” that is causing confusion in the church today. The reason pastors find themselves in a contradiction, when it comes to the “kingdom of heaven”, is because whenever you find a New Testament passage regarding it, it is most often surrounded by conditions of behavior of the hearer; Matt 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; Mark 10:15,23-25; 12:34; Luke 9:62; Acts 14:22; 1Cor 6:9,10; Gal 5:21; 2Peter 1:11.
What is it then?
The Kingdom of God is, believe it or not, just what the scripture says it is. It is a literal 1000 year kingdom that God will set up on this earth after his bodily descension to the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem. The return of Christ and the ushering in of the kingdom happen together. You cannot separate the two events.
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
It is a literal place.
Matt 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 9:7 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.
See also Isa 66:20;
It was promised in the prophets
Dan_2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
See also the second Psalm.
It was anticipated.
Luk_14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
Luk_19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Luk_23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Act 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?
The kingdom shall be established by force.
Contrary to what some of “Christian circles” believe concerning how the kingdom of God is ushered in, it will not come peaceably to the rebellious inhabitants. The world that lieth in wickedness will experience, not peace, but the sword of the Lord Jesus;
Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
The Lord Jesus isn’t waiting for His Church to help bring in the kingdom by the use of civil authority to enact laws of morality. On the contrary, our Lord gives a grave outlook on the spiritual state of affairs on earth at His appearing; Luke 18:8; 2 Tim 3:13.
The Lord sends forth angels to sever the wicked from the just by force; Matt.13:36-42. Neither the kings nor their antagonistic leader will willfully give up an inch of land to Jesus Christ when he returns; Psalms 2. Though the world’s resistance to the King of kings will be no more than that of what a pot could produce; Psalms 2:9, nevertheless it will be a destruction that the world has never witnessed since the day that Noah entered into the ark.; Rev 6:13-17. The blood of the slain will literally fill the battle field; Rev 14:20
It is a kingdom of peace.
It is the long anticipated time of peace and of the earth being at rest. After millennia of wars and deaths by famines and diseases, the earth will finally be given a time of rest. The tempter, deceiver and destroyer will be locked away from the presence of her. The oppressed will be delivered from the oppressor. The captives will be set free. The devil will no longer have free reign. Even the trees will shout for joy at the return of the Prince of Peace.
Psa 96:11-13 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. (12) Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice (13) Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
“The Lord should rule the nations; and as the result of His righteous rebukes, peace should be established everywhere. The weapons of war should be forged into the tools of peace, as no longer needed for the destruction of men, or the defense of life and property. Israel should walk in the light of God’s countenance.”
The Kingdom of God future
Robert Govett; published 1870
It is a time of rewards for God’s people (both OT and NT)
When the King comes he brings with him his kingdom. For when Christ was on the earth, He confessed that, though the kingdom was near; Matt 3:2, it was not of this earth; John 18:36. The King of this kingdom requires complete devotion to him in order to be his disciple.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
The disciple of Christ, like their Master, looks for this kingdom, outside of this world’s system, to come. Nay, he even prays for its coming; Matt 6:10. The disciple’s affections toward this future kingdom is kept alive with its promised rewards. The true disciple of Christ does not lay up his treasure in the earthly kingdoms but in the heavenly.
Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The affections of his heart must be in placed in the vault of heaven’s treasures. Looking for the day when it will be revealed from heaven at Christ’s return and His kingdom; Rev 11:18;22:12.
Entrance into the kingdom is dependent upon our obedience to the Lord.
This seems to be the most controversial doctrine concerning the kingdom. If one even believes or understands the biblical teaching on the one thousand year “world to come”; Heb 2:5, such belief that God will either allow or deny entrance for His people based on obedience is never brought to light. Yet without this simple understanding, one can inadvertently be deceived into believing “heaps” of doctrines of men and creeds that explain away clear warnings to God’s people concerning entrance.
Based on my studies of the “kingdom”, I will list what I believe are reasons why “kingdom truths” are not understood or taught as of now.
The hearer is not regenerated by the Holy Spirit to begin with
It requires imputed faith, that is, a supernatural result of the indwelling Spirit of God, to see, with the eye of faith, a future kingdom of righteousness.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
1Co_2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A hardened heart concerning belief in the scriptures
Another reason put forth to explain why men either do not understand or reject the kingdom truths, is their attitude toward the spiritual things of God.
Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
A child-like faith in the millennial kingdom is required for entrance. It is a faith that understands the simple instructions of his or her Father concerning entrance. If one does not believe that he must produce works, that are pleasing to the Father, in order to enter His kingdom, then the person is not exhibiting a “childlike” faith.
The people of Jesus’ day were, for the most part, profane in their desire to receive understanding of spiritual matters; Matt 13:14,15
They were dull of hearing and cared only for the material things to comfort the body. On many occasions Jesus tried to awaken them to this fact. He understood the heart of men.
Deception
Men who are held in high esteem are keeping multitudes of “sleeping” Christians from entering in. These men are no different than the Pharisee of Jesus’ day in that they are not allowing men to enter the kingdom. By not teaching the “clear” warnings to the Church concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ, neither exhorting men to provide works for entrance into it, they are barring God’s people from entering in.
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Providential hindrance
God, in his wisdom, has hidden these truths from so many. This is the most profound and mysterious teaching concerning the gospel of the kingdom. In the years since I have learned of the “kingdom doctrine”, I have seen so much ignorance and lack of resolve to know “if these things be true” from Christians. To challenge their understanding of biblical doctrine on this matter is disconcerting to say the least. When one mentions that there is a judgment to come for Christians, by the look on their faces, you would think that you were committing a repugnant act. Why is it that God is hiding this truth, in plain sight, from so many well-meaning pastors, scholars, religious leaders, and their followers? The word of God gives us some insight into it.
Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field
We see that our Lord mentions the “mystery of the kingdom of heaven” as being hid in a field. The field represents the world; Matt 13:38. The Pharisees were told that they had the kingdom of God within them; Luke 17:20,21. The Pharisees were demanding of the manifestation of the kingdom but had no desire to learn from the Master. Nevertheless the Lord took this opportunity to teach us that the knowledge of the “mystery of the kingdom” was within us who have heard, as they had in their day. The Pharisees had heard our Lord’s doctrine concerning the kingdom; for the many parables He had spoken to them. It is quite obvious that the kingdom within them was not the physical manifestation of it, nor had they experienced a spiritual transformation by the indwelling Spirit of God. This was not a “spiritual” translation into this kingdom during this time of God’s patience; Col 1:13. The knowledge of the future manifestation of the kingdom is within those that hear it. This passage can only make biblical sense when interpreted as such.
Heb 6:1-6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Paul had determined that some of the Hebrew Christians were not in a spiritual state to receive greater revelation. It was because they were carnal and complacent in their desire to learn.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
The Spirit speaks to us through the Apostle of the danger of an apathetic mindset; of having no spiritual desire. Can it be more evident of the dullness in the churches today then by how the word of God is taught from the pulpit? There seems to be no desire to move on from the principles that the apostle mentions; of baptisms, of repentance from dead works, of eternal judgment. These are principles that we should know already as a people of God. In churches across America, on any given Sunday, the message will be one of how to become a Christian; when it is the same people week after week. There is no moving on from the basic principles of the faith. Even our hymns encourage us to continue in this state; “Keep me near the cross” or “There is a Fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins”. Is it any wonder that the truths of the kingdom doctrine are not taught or understood when they are?
Much is required when God has committed these truths to us. They should be taken seriously with all humility.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Mar 4:22-25 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. (23) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (24) And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. (25) For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
In both instances of the above verses, there is a warning given against complacency
In a way, it can be seen as God’s mercy upon so dull of a people. That is what the apostle speaks of in his letter to the Hebrew Christians. Peter also speaks of the danger of hearing truths and turning from it. There is greater condemnation for those who were enlightened and yet fall away.
2Pe 2:19-22 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (21) For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
This section of second Peter is speaking about those Christians that have fallen away, after hearing and knowing greater revelation. The modern “Laodicean” teaching that this is speaking about unregenerate people is proven wrong in verse twenty one; “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness..”.
Can this passage of scripture be speaking about an unsaved individual who “heard” the gospel but did not act upon it, therefore he is the worse than someone who had never heard the “gospel”? He is still going to the Lake of fire with the one who never heard the gospel. Somehow we are to believe that the unsaved person who never heard is in a far better position than one who had. No, this passage is in agreement with the warning that Christ in Mark 4; as well as Hebrews 6:1-6
Mar 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Mar 4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
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