Everlasting Kingdom of God

On Sunday, my Pastor started a new series on the "Everlasting Kingdom of God".   In the midst of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His disciples to pray saying "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"  (Matt 6:10).

What is the Kingdom of God?  It is woven throughout Scripture and is:

1. Primarily about God who is King (Genesis 1:1-2; Revelation 22:12-13)
2. The eternal rule of God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19)
3. Good News (Mark 1:14-15)
4. Paradoxical  (e.g. here and yet to come, etc)

It is the coming of righteousness, joy, and peace where evil is defeated and all are under the everlasting rule of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!   It has been ushered in by Christ and will be fully established when He comes again.

21-Mar update:  

• The most important thing is our understanding of the King, how we would answer "Who is God?"   There is only one true God, the King and Creator of all things, Who is personal, relational, Holy & Righteous, merciful & gracious, eternal, faithful, unchanging, glorious, and majestic
• To enter the Kingdom of God, we must be born again through the Spirit (which is apart from sinful flesh) looking to the Cross (ref Numbers 21 bronze snake) where Jesus died to save us.   This is the message of the Gospel
• There are different responses to the Kingdom, as illustrated in the parable of the soils:  callous (wayside), impulsive (rocky soil), distracted (thorny soil), and fruitful (good soil)
• The Kingdom is a treasure of great value, and it is disasterous to miss out, especially in light of the coming judgment:  Judgment Seat of Christ for believers (2 Corinth 5:10) and the Great White Throne for non-believers
• The priorities of the mission of the Kingdom are to 1) declare Jesus as King and His plan of salvation, 2) to preach the good news, 3) to warn of coming judgment, 4) to exercise kingdom authority over Satan's counterfeit evil, and 5) to prepare the world for the end times.   These point to Jesus, who is (from the 7 "I AM"s in John) the Bread of Life (6:35), Light of the World (8:12), Gate (10:9), Good Shepherd (10), Resurrection & Life (11:25), Way, Truth & Life (14:6), and True Vine (15)
• There are mysteries and secrets about the Kingdom.   We often spend so much time on the inconsequential and miss the profound.  Just as the Rosetta stone helped unlock the interpretation of hierglyphics, the Scriptures reveal the hidden truths of the Kingdom:  1) Entered through narrow Gate (Jesus Christ), 2) Both present (God living in us) and yet to come (with final fulfilment when Christ returns), 3) Will grow to enormous and vast proportions, 4) Though works unseen but permeantes and transforms all who touch it, 5) Blessings are based on God's grace
• "The Kingdom of God is constantly under siege by the counterfeit kingdom of Satan and the ungodly world system."   It is a spiritual battle waged for the eternal souls of men (Col 1:13); and the "final outcome is total victory and complete conquest of evil and the evil one by Jesus Christ the King of Kings".  Even under oppressive worldly governments, God's Kingdom purposes can still be accomplished
• When Christ returns and rules during His Millenial reign, it will demonstrate what perfect social and order and peace is supposed to look like, without the Fall.  During this time, Satan will be bound and thrown into the Abyss (Rev 20:1-6) so that the moral climate changes.  All will be able to worship and enjoy Christ as King on earth, fulfilling God's promises

21-Jun Update:

• On Palm Sunday, the prophecies in Psalm 118:25-26 and Zechariah 9:9 were fulfilled.  Jesus is King and He came on the day predicted by Daniel.  Yet, even though there will be a perfect King, government, and environment during the Millennial reign of Christ, mankind will still revolt against God's authority (Rev 20:7-10).   After the final revolt, Satan will be bound forever.  Amen!   And, anyone not found in the Book of Life at the Great White Throne Judgment will be condemned.  Thus, we should refuse to be deceived by the world and ensure that our devotion to the Lord is not fickle.
• Revelation 21 & 22 describe the final form of the everlasting Kingdom of God as the "new heaven and the new earth."   They are not just chronologically new, but qualitatively new and different - perfect.  There will be no more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain.
• The New Jerusalem will be the new Capital City of the New Heaven and Earth (Rev 21:2,9,10).  It will be a bride adorned, pure and beautiful, getting its name from His people, the Church.  It will be glorious b/c the glory of God shines
• The Eternal Throne of God will be at the center, around which will be perfect peace (no ripples, like a sea of glass) from which will flow the Living Water w/the Tree of Life (original purpose fulfilled).  There will no longer be sin's curse, all the saints will serve Him, and we have intimacy with God.  There will be no more night b/c of His Glory shining.  Christ will reign forever and ever.  Amen.