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THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS
If the Preterists and Futurists are completely opposite in their views, that would constitute different gospels. Can there be One Church with two different beliefs?
Go to Chapter 1
Two different views are in effect two different gospels. What is the real gospel?
The Return of Christ - A Line in the Sand Author: Michael Storey
Chapter Two of The Return of Christ A Line In The Sand
Part One: A Missing Dimension
The many scriptures on the subject show clearly that there is one consistent gospel being spoken of throughout the bible. Despite its frequent and consistent mention it still remains the virtual ‘missing dimension’ in modern Christian teaching.
What was the gospel Christ taught? We can ask the same of the disciples and Paul.
In this chapter we will start with a roundup of scriptures that outline the gospel that is being preached. Following that, detailed studies are presented on the two unresolved subjects that have caused the most discussion through the centuries; Israel and the Church.
The Gospel That Christ Himself Taught
Here are a few of the verses that state precisely the message Christ came preaching. The first three are at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus was teaching the same gospel during His entire ministry. Just before He finally ascended to heaven, He was still privately instructing the disciples in further detail of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Mark 1:14
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt 4:17
And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. Luke 4:43
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. Luke 8:1
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matt 9:35
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matt 4:23
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:3
The kingdom of God is clearly spelt out as the gospel Christ was teaching. In the Luke 4:43 verse – preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God is given as one reason why Christ came in the first place.
What Gospel Did The Disciples Teach?
The answer is logical, they followed Christ’s example. However it raises the question of what exactly was the gospel of the kingdom. No one at this stage had any understanding that Christ was going to die. He had not publicly said He was the Messiah. This was not a gospel about Jesus; it was the gospel of Jesus. There is a distinct difference and it is a critical one.
The disciples taught as they were instructed to. Despite having heard Christ explaining the ‘glad tidings of the kingdom’ reason suggests it must have been something reasonably familiar to them to be entrusted with it at short notice. The ‘seventy’ were likewise. It should be pointed out that this was a very temporary measure for the seventy since they all deserted Christ over the issue of ‘drink My blood and eat My flesh’. They had no understanding at this stage how Christ fitted into the gospel of the kingdom they were preaching.
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. Luke 9:1-6
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also … Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves … 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter … 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. Luke 10:1-9
‘Glad Tidings’ Of A Kingdom
What was the understanding of a ‘kingdom’ in Christ’s day? The next list of scriptures help us to see what the people of Christ’s day both understood and were expecting. A real kingdom with a ‘ruler’, in this case the Messiah, with many nations as His subjects is one concept that was well understood in the Old Testament. Those that had knowledge of the true God were waiting and we could add ‘eagerly’ for this kingdom to come. On seeing and hearing Jesus for the first time Andrew and Peter were both very excited. They searched out their friends saying ‘they had found the Messiah’. To them that meant one thing: the King had arrived and with the King would come his Kingdom.
The following Old Testament scriptures would have been very familiar to almost everyone when Christ chose His disciples. Nathaniel (Bartholomew) was particularly sharp when it came to scripture. When told by his friends that the Christ had been found, Jesus of Nazareth, he immediately responded with ‘there is nothing in the scriptures to say the Messiah comes from Nazareth’ (John 1:46). Whether they be fishermen or not, they still knew their scriptures. This would explain in part their readiness to preach the gospel of the kingdom at very short notice. It was something they were familiar with. Remember at this point no one knew that Christ was going to die; salvation and grace were not part of the message at this stage. That was to come later. From the start and right up to the end of Christ’s ministry the gospel being taught was solely about a kingdom that was to come and the ‘package’ was ‘glad tidings’.
All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
Psalm 145:10
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. Dan 7:27
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations. Psalm 22:27
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
1 Chron 29:11
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 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. Isaiah 9:6, 7
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 2:44
The disciples would have had no trouble relating to what they were teaching: the ‘glad tidings’ of the kingdom of God. For them this was a dream coming true. Obviously expectations were running very high. For simple fishermen to be performing miracles and delivering the good news that the kingdom was on its way would have raised eyebrows to say the least, not that they cared. These were exhilarating times.
All these hopes and dreams would suffer a desperate but only temporary setback with Christ’s crucifixion, but would that make a difference to what they were teaching? Had the ground rules changed?
The brief, hardly noticed little tag thrown in at the last moment almost as an afterthought in Acts 1:3 makes one huge difference in our ability to connect the whole story.
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:3
This would have to be one of the most underrated verses in the bible. It explains so much. The message of the kingdom continues. It would only be reasonable to presume that whatever it is that Christ has as His last opportunity to leave the disciples with is going to be of great importance. This is the last chance in Person to get across to them what they need and what He wants to be carried forward. This is the final instruction for their life’s work and it is still the message of the Kingdom of God.
Nothing has changed except now there is so much more information on the structure of the kingdom and how it will come about. After forty days of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, Peter and the disciples are ready to go out and take on the world. At Pentecost, ten days later, nothing can hold them back.
As Einstein says ‘if you really understand your subject, you can explain it very simply’. This is precisely what Peter does. He has no trouble connecting all the detail of the kingdom, past, present and future as we will give more details about later.
Next we will look at what Paul and his associates said his gospel was. This is the post crucifixion/resurrection period. Although Paul’s situation is entirely different to the disciples their paths soon merge. Paul also had the advantage of some very personal training from Christ.
They should in theory be preaching exactly the same thing.
These verses cover the entire period of his calling.
The Gospel Paul Taught
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 19:8
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. Acts 28:23
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Acts 28:30
… and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts 20:24
These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, Colossians 4:11
Another example is Philip. This is a little more revealing insomuch that the disciples previously had been teaching the ‘kingdom’ without the pieces of the puzzle that Christ would fulfill. Philip still has the original version of the kingdom in mind, however, with the benefit of the forty days of added instruction from Christ after His resurrection a whole new dimension has been added. Virtually all the information on the kingdom is now available and this verse shows the transition.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:12
Paul and Barnabas together:
And when they had preached the gospel to that city …we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:21-22
At this point there should be no doubts that the ‘gospel’ being spoken of by Christ and the disciples, Paul and others, was a gospel based firmly on a foundation that is the Kingdom of God. So far we have not seen much explanation of what the kingdom specifically is. We have had one reference to it being a message of ‘glad tidings’. What we do have is a continuity carried over from the Old Testament. This should not be surprising since Christ was so specific that no scripture should be changed. The words of all scripture are still valid.
Next we will see from a New Testament perspective how the Holy Spirit, acting through Paul and John, makes it firmly understood that this same gospel has always been preached. Christ adds it was the plan from the very beginning hence ‘the everlasting gospel’.
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. Acts 28:23
(Since Luke wrote this, not Paul, it is an additional cross reference i.e. Luke prompted by the Spirit in recording this is verifying the fact as well).
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt 25:34
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Rev14:6
The Central Theme: A Real Kingdom
People are the same wherever they are or whenever they are. We all enjoy some escapism from the routine of daily life. What Christ presented to those people was effectively the equivalent of gripping entertainment. A blockbuster of ‘good news’ relief for every one. Add the miracles and ‘free food’ and it is no wonder that huge crowds gathered to hear Him. Unfortunately the expression ‘entertainment’ was not chosen lightly. Whenever God’s message is delivered it is usual for it not to be taken very seriously. ‘A prophet has no honour in his own country’ Matt 13:57
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. Ezek 33:32
Thousands had come to see and hear Christ speak ‘as no one else had’. They saw the self-important pretentious hierarchy of the Temple being put in their place. Many hundreds if not thousands had experienced relief from crippling or debilitating diseases and illnesses through healing. The witness was powerful and stirring but by the end of His ministry all had deserted Him. Even the disciples were asked if they too were going to leave. Somewhat reassuringly Peter replied ‘there was nowhere else to go’. John 6:67
The Word of God is not going to contradict itself or fall head over its own heals in confusion. There should be nothing left to doubt with this wealth of clear straightforward scripture.
After observing the very substantial number of scriptures that state a ‘kingdom’ is what Christ, the disciples, Paul and the Old Testament are discussing, we can draw a conclusion that the ‘gospel’, the ‘everlasting one’ (Rev 14:6) is the gospel of the kingdom of God. Since there is only one gospel (with strict warning not to be involved with any other, Gal 1:8) any reference to the gospel in the New Testament is this same gospel of a ‘kingdom’.
We are safe in saying we know what the gospel is about. It is now up to us to put all the scriptures together to define clearly what the ‘kingdom’ is.
On the surface we have quite a mixed bag of concepts. It is no wonder that the gospel of the Kingdom of God has not taken centre stage on the Christian platform. Everything is coming from every direction at once. The Kingdom is here now, and yet it is still to come in the future. Israel has a very important role still to play in the proceedings, but how do the Church and Israel fit together? The Kingdom is literal and on this earth, ‘many nations’ travel to see Christ, however, physical people cannot take part in it! On top of all else, Paul says it will take ‘much tribulation to get there’. (Acts 14:22). It seems that it also takes much difficulty just to understand it.
Harnessing this Pandora’s box of semantics is essential if for no other reason than it is the central core message Christ, the disciples and the whole bible presents. If we cannot come to grips with what the gospel of the kingdom of God is we will never understand the fundamentals of what and where Christ is going. Besides, we should remember the very serious warning should any other gospel be preached.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8
The Church has had so much difficulty in coming to grips with this concept that to overcome the problem it has broken the subject apart into separate gospels. In light of the Galatians verse, that would not seem the best direction to go in.
Many theologies have been invented to ‘crossfade’ the Church and Israel. Replacement theology is an example. It tries to explain that whatever applied to Israel in the Old Testament has been inherited by the Church in the New. There are many novel ideas.
What is the Kingdom of God?
The gospel of the Kingdom of God has proven an elusive target to pin down. It has a broad spectrum personality with multi facets that does not easily fit mainstream thinking. We will sound out a sample range of verses, see what they say, note the problems and consider why this message has been parked to one side.
A spiritual kingdom
Many passages make it clear that there is a purely spiritual element concerning the kingdom. To be in it therefore is not possible for regular human beings. The Matthew verse below is in the context of part parable, part explanation on what occurs after Christ has returned. The people on his right hand ‘shall go… into life eternal’ v46
Worth noting is the fact that this kingdom has been planned since before creation. This is not the only verse that takes this position. It is the ‘everlasting’ gospel.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 15:50
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt 25:34
A physical kingdom
The following three passages give an example of the kingdom as a physical, literal government. Based from Jerusalem, Christ as the Lord of Lords will rule from right here on earth. The Daniel passage is in the context of successive stages of world empires until the Roman Empire’s final phase where its descendant ‘legs’ are being suddenly and unceremoniously taken over by Christ. The Micah verses show the outcome.
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 2:44
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. Dan 7:13
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. Micah 4:1
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15
A kingdom that involves Israel
Even after extensive additional training on aspects of the kingdom of God, the first question asked by the disciples was ‘will you restore the kingdom to Israel right now?’ Christ did not rebuff the Israel part of the question, only the ‘when’ was in doubt. Israel have had the gospel preached to them in the past i.e. the instruction they received was the gospel of the kingdom of God. Until their ‘blindness’ is overcome which in turn depends on the Gentiles coming to their ‘fullness’, Israel is on hold – but by no means ancient history.
Many other New Testament verses confirm Israel is still very much in the overall policy.
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:33
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Heb 4:2
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Rom 11:25
A kingdom that is ‘here now’
The kingdom is described as being ‘present’ when Christ was here the first time.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt 4:17
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. Luke 10:1 – 9
A kingdom that will not be here until Christ returns
The Revelation 11 and Matt 25 verses indicate the kingdom arrives with Christ after Armageddon has taken place. The Luke verse refers to the kingdom coming when all the ‘end time’ events are encountered. In the Lord’s Prayer we are instructed to pray for the kingdom to come, future tense; that instruction has not changed.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Luke 21:31
Thy kingdom come. Matt 6:10
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt 25:31
Summary Of Part One
We have gathered information on the subject being preached. From the Old Testament scriptures, expectations at the time of Christ were in line with a fairly traditional concept of a kingdom. A ruler accompanied with assistants would rule over subjects. This kingdom would be beneficial for all people with fair and just government.
If anything, Christ lifted the expectations of this ideal even higher. There is a repeated common denominator to almost every instance where the kingdom of God is mentioned. ‘Heal the sick and raise the dead’. Christ, the disciples, Paul and others all accomplished miracles whilst proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. One more directive completed the set of instruction: proclaim the gospel, heal the sick and say ‘the kingdom is at hand’.
It cannot be stressed how important this hand-in-hand practical demonstration plays a part in getting through to us the full depth and scope of what the kingdom will entail and how this point was being indelible impressed on the audience. The point being made; nothing is the limit.
In today’s world this would be compared to a marketing exercise. ‘Tell them about the product, demonstrate its capabilities and then make sure they catch the brand name’.
Any semblance or comparison to a slick marketing campaign though abruptly ends in a damp fizzle right here.
Christ is giving a ‘hands on’ demonstration of how different the reality of life in the kingdom would be. The kingdom will be this world; lead, ruled and governed by its original creator. That creator has every ‘technology’ available that was used in the creation of everything and anything that exists.
… the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Matt 8:27
… verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt 17:20
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
This is the future potential for mankind being demonstrated in staggering, visible, tangible language. Undeniable terms.
The shear dimension of what was happening, of being able to keep up with the implications was almost beyond the capacity of the disciples to handle. This was way bigger than any of them. Paul later was starting to realize where this kingdom – in stages – was leading. ‘The eye cannot see, the mind cannot even imagine what God has in store for those that love Him’.
The component that had been entirely missing from all preconceived notions of a ‘kingdom that would last forever’; is that it would come by degrees and in stages. The whole operation would unfold as a precision campaign. It was thought out, signed, sealed and delivered even before the first human had been created. Matt 25:34
First the doorway for mankind’s eternal future had to be opened. ‘The soul that sins shall die’. That restriction had to be lifted. We are all under a sentence of death, a preset unalterable ‘law’ of God.
As it stands all we have is this physical life and no more. This is the result of having committed just one sin. Christ took care of that roadblock. He paid that penalty for us. Now it is possible, not automatic or guaranteed for all of mankind to have more than just this physical existence. A whole lot more.
First, there is the small matter of ‘every knee shall bow to Christ’. This is stated as a fact.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phillip 2:9
At some point in time it is required that all people that have ever lived present or past must accept Christ as their Lord. That is the process of repentance. There is no ‘free lunch’ as they say; neither can we escape the cost of how we have lived as humans. The ‘tab’ is still there to be paid for and someone has to pay it. Grace is nothing more or less than Christ making that payment personally for each one of us. Acknowledging that ‘free gift’ dictates our response. We ‘bend our knee to Christ’. For some it is in this life, for others it will not be until a future resurrection. The kingdom is yet another situation entirely; it is a clear and distinct different chapter in the course of this world.
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Heb 8:11
The entire world knowing and following in Christ’s footsteps certainly will not occur as things stand at the moment. Yet it is plainly said that at some time every person, every single living or inanimate object in the universe will come under the government of Christ. That is quite a kingdom.
The next stage is Christ returning and taking the whole world into this new phase. This time the foundation is being set for mankind to set their sights on the reality of what an eternal existence really means.
That is the purpose of Christ returning, to establish the next stage in the preparation of mankind’s existence as an eternal being.
The two points the post resurrection disciples came to comprehend in a more detailed way are:
1) Christ came and qualified as The King. He is now crowned and ‘all authority has been given Him’. He is the first of the ‘first fruits’. The very first resurrected being in a new order of created beings that Church members strive to become. The need for the Messiah to come and offer Himself for our misdeeds and by default qualify as the new Adam was the gap in understanding prior to the crucifixion.
2) The Church now has a specific role to play prior to the kingdom being established.
Particular Points:
• Christ and the disciples both had been preaching a literal kingdom was to come. This gospel, good news of a kingdom (glad tidings) must have been a message that spoke of how wonderful life would be in this kingdom. Had it been in any way a message of overthrowing governments or politics, the Romans would have instantly seized Christ as a mutinous revolutionary.
• The message was solely about this future wonderful life in a wonderful kingdom. There was no mention of Jesus being the Messiah or of Jesus dying for mankind.
• For forty days after Christ’s death, intense extra information and training was given to the disciples showing how His death and resurrection applied to the kingdom that was still to come.
• When the disciples had this full understanding their immediate concern was ‘when’ would this all take place. Christ replied that there was work yet to be done i.e. there was to be an interim stage or phase of events yet to take place.
• The gospel from here on was the same gospel of the kingdom together with the added dimension that Jesus as the Christ had performed prior to His coming again to inaugurate the kingdom in the future as the King.
• The instruction was to keep going with this same message of the gospel of the kingdom (and no other).
• Other scriptures state this same message of the kingdom will be preached in the future; then Christ will return to establish it.
• Where (and when) this same gospel is preached, the sick will be healed and dead raised back to life. It is a functional part of delivering the gospel, prima facie evidence that the correct gospel is being preached.
Israel And The Church.
If the kingdom is a literal kingdom with nations more or less as we know the meaning of nations today where does Israel fit into the plan and where and how does the Church fit into the equation?
To resolve these issues it will take a detailed study of the information God gives us on both subjects.
First up will be Israel. In Part Two we will study the history, the geography, the future of Israel. What does God say?