It is therefore safe to say that the kingdom (sphere of Gods rule) is presently in heaven and within every believer presently on earth. However we also see in scripture that the earth has a problem with satanic rebellion (Eph 6). Therefore we see the kingdom as also being the sphere of Gods rule being acknowledged at a given time as declared by His purposes.There are set times that the satanic rebellion on earth must acknowledge His rule, dominion, royal power and authority, released and expressed from within the Body of Christ, without! Now that we have endeavoured to understand a small aspect of the “kingdom,” let us seek to understand that it is the “preaching of the gospel of the kingdom” that will usher in the end of the age. Matt 24:3-14 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying “ Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. “All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. “ And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. It is important to take note of what Jesus said about the end times. 1) “Take heed that no one deceives you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many …” Jesus is not suggesting that we will be decieved by weird and wonderful ‘gurus’ declaring that they are the Christ as no one would believe them any way! We would recommend that such an individual walking around claiming to be Jesus Christ be evaluated for their mental state of health! What Jesus is referring to here are those who will indeed declare that He is The Christ, acknowledging him, and yet still decieve many! 2) “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet …” Jesus did not say that wars and rumours of wars would signal the end as a ‘sign’. It amazes me how many precious believers are decieved by sincere preachers who declare every time there is a war or rumour of a war that God’s people must get ready for the end is here or ‘nigh’. He said we were not to be troubled, and “the end is not yet.” 3)And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. “All these are the beginning of sorrows …” He did not say that famines, pestilence, and earthquakes would signal the end. He said this would be the “beginning of sorrows”. He does reveal however, in verse # 14, that the end of the age is ushered in with the direct involvement of the church. Matt 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come …” The “gospel of the kingdom” is to be preached. To preach means, according to Vines, “… the act of Christ after His resurrection in proclaiming His victory to fallen Angelic spirits.” This gospel mentioned in verse 14 is not proclaiming Gods plan of redemption through the blood, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ only. The gospel of the kingdom mentioned here is not only John 3:16. The scripture meaning here does not say that the gospel of salvation must first be preached to all, and then the end will come! Of course we must share the good news and preach the great message of salvation to the lost sinner. However, according to scripture, this has already taken place in the first generation of the church. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to declare that the gospel of salvation was already “preached to every creature which is under heaven”.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 11:45:11 +0000
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