SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT GOD'S KINGDOM

Recently, there seems to be a great deal of attention being paid to the subject of the Kingdom of God, and I am wondering why.  I suspect that most, if not all, of the focus has to do with the doctrinal error which has resulted in Replacement Theology.  Replacement Theology teaches that because Israel rejected their Messiah, God has rejected Israel, and replaced it with the Church.  This teaching borders on heresy.  Paul made it quite clear in Romans that Israel has temporarily been set aside, but will again, one day soon, be the focus of God's "mission" to reach the lost (Rom. 9 - 11).  The prophet Daniel, unknowingly described the Church Age as being the period between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week of his prophecy concerning Israel (Dan. 9:24-27).  The last of the seventy weeks will be the Tribulation, the seven year period in which God chastises Israel; the Church Age will have previously ended with the Rapture (removal) of the Church (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:1-29; Rev. 6 - 19; Jn. 14:6; 1 Thes. 4:13-18). 

So, what's all the talk about the Kingdom?  Here are some observations concerning it: 

1)  There is only one Kingdom of God.  Jesus repeatedly referred to it as THE Kingdom.  It is mentioned 118 times in the Synoptic Gospels, but only three times in the Gospel of John.  By the time John wrote his Gospel, the Church was the focus; when the Synoptics were written, the focus was on Israel.  The Kingdom is mentioned only thirty-four times in the rest of the New Testament, nearly half in Acts and Revelation.  Acts 2:1 is the beginning of the Church Age, and Revelation 4:1 is a picture of the end of it, being a picture of the Rapture

2)  Jesus spoke of His Kingdom as being established upon His return (Mt. 24:3, 30; Lk. 22:30; Rev. 19:11 - 20:9).

3)  Like the Tribulation, the Millennium is dealing with Israel.  Notice that there is again Temple worship and animal sacrifice, only this will be a memorial of what Christ had done over 2000 years earlier (Ezek. 40 - 48).

4)  Israel will view Jesus as their King; the Church sees Jesus as our Lord.  Just as He was the Passover Lamb during His First Coming, He will be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah at His Second Coming (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5:5).  He will truly be both King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16)!

During the Church Age, Jesus is far greater than a king; He is Lord!