The Kingdom of God

Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels contain much about the Kingdom of God. Many of His parables contain, in symbols and object lessons, precious, individual, detailed truths about the kingdom. Studies into the Old Testament reveal wonderful things in type and shadow; in prophecy and in actual fulfillment. As we study about the kingdom of God in this series, my prayer is that our experience will be as the songwriter joyfully expresses:

“There’s a theme that is sweet to my memory, There’s a joy that I cannot declare, There’s a treasure that gladdens my being, ‘Tis the kingdom of righteousness here.”

Bro Edgar and Sis. Gloria Martens

We are sorry to report that Bro. Edgar Martens, who has faithfully served this ministry by having the Bible Lessons printed, mailing them, and overseeing the financial part, has been quite ill over the summer and is no longer able to take on this enormous task. We appreciate him so much for his willing service over the past several years and pray God will richly reward his labors. Please remember him in prayer; also, if you have opportunity, it would be good to send Bro. Edgar a note of thanks for his service. Mail to: Edgar and Gloria Martens, 2200 Edwards Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661.

In his place, the Lord has supplied Bro. Kevin Sorrell and his family to take care of the printing and mailing. This is a great answer to prayer! As always, God takes care of His work. We are so grateful, and want to welcome Bro. Kevin and his wife, Sis. Kimberly, and their children to our Bible Lessons family!

—Angela Gellenbeck

 

OCTOBER 3, 2021

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN PROPHECY

 

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Psalm 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalm 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

Daniel 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.

Daniel 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.

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.

27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

 

MEMORY VERSE: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. —Micah 5:2

 

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Throughout the Old Testament, God foretold the establishment of the heavenly kingdom by the Messiah. The kingdom was to come out of Zion, be an everlasting kingdom encompassing the entire world and be given to the saints of the most High.

 

WORD DEFINITIONS

 

Genesis 49:10 “Scepter”: shepherd’s implements, such as a rod or staff; mark of authority; tribe. “Lawgiver”: commander’s staff; from a word meaning decree, or to cut in or inscribe. “Shiloh”: a title given to the Messiah in this passage, meaning he who is to be sent or that which belongeth to him; also Peaceful One; in other places Shiloh was a city of Ephraim. “Gathering of the people”: obedience; referring to the winning of the hearts of the Gentiles to Christ and their submission unto Him.

 

LESSON BACKGROUND

 

Genesis 49 is the chapter in which Jacob called his twelve sons and prophesied what would happen to them “in the last days.” Jacob addressed Judah in verses 8 through 12. Although Judah was not the eldest son, he was given the distinction of being the one from whom the Messiah would come. The passage mentions the rule and dominion of the Messiah and the obedience and submission of the people of the world unto him.

Baalam (Numbers 24:17), although not a faithful prophet of the Lord, was also inspired by a prophecy concerning the Messiah. He had been hired by King Balak of the Moabites to curse Israel, but instead, he blessed them over and over again. How significant to note the word scepter again, referring to the kingship of Christ and the dominion that would be His over the nations. Here also is the word star—a tiny hint of detail about the Messiah’s birth, over which a special star was observed in the sky and which led the wise men from eastern lands to the place where baby Jesus was. It is perhaps also a reference to Christ being the morning star, or the Sun of righteousness, the Light of the world.

The Psalms contain many references to the Messiah as the coming King, beginning with the second Psalm. The New Testament author of Hebrews applied verse 7 directly to Christ, and the holy hill, or Zion, “which is the resting-place of the divine presence and therefore excels all the heights of the earth, is assigned to Him as the seat of His throne” (Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the New Testament).

The 145th Psalm gives the description of the Messiah’s kingdom as being everlasting. This same truth was also given in Daniel’s prophecies when he referred to a kingdom that would never be destroyed, would not pass away, and would stand forever. Daniel also expressed the scope of Messiah’s kingdom: all people, nations, languages, and dominions. He gave the blessed truth that Christ’s kingdom would also be given to, or possessed by, the “saints” or holy people of the most High.

Micah declared the birthplace of the Messiah to be Bethlehem and called Him the ruler in Israel.

—Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

 

  1. Jacob prophesied that the Messiah would descend from which of his sons?
  2. What other Old Testament prophet mentioned a scepter?
  3. The Messiah was to rule from what city?
  4. How is this applied spiritually?
  5. What is the scope and longevity of the Messiah’s rule?

 

LIFE APPLICATION

 

Living now in the period of time subsequent to Christ’s birth, earthly life, death, resurrection, ascension, and sending forth of the Holy Spirit, we rejoice as we look back on these Old Testament prophecies and see their fulfillment.

Was Jesus born of the lineage of Judah? His lineage is given in Matthew 1. We know that David definitely came from Judah’s heritage and that Jesus is called the son of David. Judah’s leadership in Israel, once established under David’s kingdom, though interrupted during the captivity, did not depart until Christ came, just as Jacob prophesied.

As we also noted, the detail about the star mentioned by Baalam was fulfilled at the birth of Christ, and the idea of the kingdom was alluded to by him in the mention of the word scepter.

Has the dominion of Christ’s kingdom been from sea to sea, encompassing all nations, people, languages, and dominions? Truly, the gospel message has gone to all nations and people. There are believers in Christ in every part of the world. The persecuting powers of satan have endeavored to stamp out the kingdom of Christ in every place and every age, but the rule of the Messiah has conquered every time.

Was Christ indeed born in Bethlehem? The historian, Luke, details the story in the second chapter of his gospel. Secular historical accounts confirm the time and place of the birth of Jesus.

As Gentiles, we are so privileged to have heard the wonderful story of salvation! We too have had the Spirit poured out in our hearts. We gladly submit to His dominion in our lives and obey His Word. As kings and priests we reign with Christ and possess the greatness of the kingdom every day!

—Angela Gellenbeck

 

REFLECTIONS

 

Many times the disciples asked Jesus for a sign of his coming kingdom. No doubt they were eager to exact vengeance on their oppressors. James and John, as well as their mother, desired that Jesus would make them next in command. Peter stated that he would fight for Jesus “to the death.” He tried to prove this in the garden of Gethsemane when he cut off the servant’s ear with a sword. Their understanding just could not take in the spiritual kingdom of which He spoke.

But Jesus kept pointing to a kingdom that would exist within the heart of man. This would be a kingdom that could never be destroyed; one which would extend from this physical life and into the eternal one. He taught that to be the greatest in the kingdom of God you must be willing to be the smallest in this kingdom. He exhibited a servant’s heart when he knelt down and washed the disciple’s feet. He desired that the children of God would not be taken out of the world but that they might overcome the wickedness and evil of this world by his abundant grace.

This kingdom would supersede any political power or high place set up by man. It would then be possible to establish this dominion within the heart of every believer, in any nation, under any government rule. Daniel 2:44 states it well, “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 forever.”

—LaDawna Adams