THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
KINGDOM OF GLORY
(Outline # 7)
Meditation:
COL
76-77
INTRODUCTION:
Most SDAs are aware of the establ
ishment of the kingdom of glory
but believe it begins with Christ's 2nd advent and continues to the
New Earth. Although God's kingdom of glory includes the millennium
(1,000 years) and the New Earth, the Scriptures clearly reveal that it
will begin partially before the 2nd Advent. The object of this study is to
establish this and show how, why, and where this kingdom will be
established.
1.
The Old Testament Church Expected The Kingdom Of Glory
Read:
Isaiah 9:6,7
The Jews expected the Messiah to establish the kingdom in their day.
With the promise of the birth of the Messiah (Christ) also came the
promise of the establishment of His kingdom.
2.
The Apostles Expected The Kingdom In Their Day
Read:
Acts 1:6,7
The Lord did not say that the kingdom was not to be established, but
that it was not for them to know the times or the seasons. The Jews
and the Apostles had studied these promises and were expecting
Christ to set up his kingdom of glory at that time. This indicates that
the kingdom will be established subsequent to the time of the
Apostles.
3.
The Kingdom Of Glory Established In The Latter Days
Read:
Daniel 2:44
a.
Here we see that the Kingdom is to be established
in the days of
the ten toe kings
(our time - 1
T
361). We conclude that the
promise to restore the Kingdom to Israel is to be fulfilled
during
the present world. We
must therefore now be looking for its
establishment. Not Before our present world or After, but IN —
DURING our present world.
b. We also note that the stone is the same as the kingdom because
they both smite the image. The
stone —144,000. (See outline on
Daniel two).
c. We note that the stone was a kingdom before it smote the
image. (See verse 44) "...and it [the kingdom] shall destroy all
these kingdoms..." This proves that the kingdom is established
before the finishing of the
gospel and the 2nd advent.
Read:
PK
19
The ancient people of God were to extend the borders of their
kingdom to embrace the whole world. God intended that the earth
was to be filled with righteousness from border to border.
GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE FOR ISRAEL
TO BE FULFILLED WITH THE SDA
CHURCH
Read:
PK
713, 714
Even though ancient Israel did not fulfill this commission, God's word
cannot return to Him void. Thus what ancient Israel failed to do, it will
be accomplished through the Israel of today. All the covenant
promises made to ancient Israel will finally reach their fulfillment
through the SDA church—modern or spiritual Israel. (
For further proof
see PK
22, 299).
Read:
Psalm 105:8-11
This verse describes what the covenant is and definitely reveals that
God will remember it forever. The covenant states that "unto thee will
I give the land of Canaan."—The kingdom established in Palestine.
4.
The Kingdom Established In The Latter Days In The Land Of Canaan
Read:
Jerimiah 30:3,24
a. Note that this promise of restoration is Unconditional, and that it
includes the return of ISRAEL and JUDAH (all 12 tribes) to the land
of their fathers (Canaan/Palestine). We also note that this is to be
fulfilled in the Latter Days (verse 24).
b. When Jeremiah was writing only two tribes existed as a nation.
The ten tribes had been scattered many years before in 721 B.C.
Up to this day they are completely assimilated among the
nations. Thus Jeremiah could not have been referring to his time.
Neither could his prophecy be speaking of the identifiable Jews
of today found in Palestine and other parts of the world, since
they too are descendants of the two tribes—Judah. Jeremiah
refers to all 12 tribes returning to the land of promise.
5.
Who Are The Early Morning Laborers?
Read:
Jeremiah 23: 5-8
This promise is also
Unconditional
and refers to all 12 tribes (Israel and
Judah) in the Latter days.
Read:
Hosea 3:4,5
Here we see that after many days of obscure wondering, without
their own government (king, or prince), and without the temple and
its services (sacrifice, ephod, teraphim, etc), all the tribes ("children of
Israel") will return [to the land of their fathers] and establish a
kingdom.
6.
What Will The Pre-Millennial Kingdom Be Like?
Read:
Isaiah 11:1-12
This passage could
NOT
be referring to Heaven during the millennium
or to the New Earth because:
a. There will be
no gentiles
to seek the kingdom.
b. No such gathering described in verses 11, 12, will take place in
2
3
heaven or the New Earth.
C. There will be No
births
from the time Christ returns, through the
1,000 years (millenium) and throughout the New Earth. Hence,
there will be no children in the earth made new. Therefore, this
passage unequivocally proves that this event is pre-millennial.
(See Luke 20:27-36; 1
SM
172, 173)
d. Therefore, Isaiah here must be speaking of a time when there will
be gentiles seeking to join God's kingdom, and a great
gathering from various nations, and when sucking, weaned, and
little children exist. Thus it must be pre-millennial. It cannot be
Heaven or the New Earth. We note, too, that there are no
conditions to this prophecy.
7.
The Kingdom And The New Heart Experience
Read:
Ezekiel 36:17-37
Here we see that God is to cleanse His people from their sins. Hence
only those who have embraced the righteousness of Christ will inherit
the land. The kingdom is to be a witness to the heathen. This is the
grandest object of the Pre-millennial kingdom.
Further Proofs:
Read: Zech. 8:1-8—There
will be no old men and women, or little
children in the new Jerusalem.
Read: Ezekiel 48:1-16—This passage describes new and unfulfilled set-
up of Palestine. Thus it has to be in the pre-millennial phase of the
kingdom.
Note, too, that in verse 8 it mentioned a sanctuary or temple, but
there will be no temple in the New Earth (Rev. 21:22). So, we see
again that this has to be pre-millennial.
(Jer. 31:8-12, Amos 1:14,15; 9:9-15, Micah 4:1-4, Hos.l:10,11; 2:18, Ezek.
34:11-13,15; 37:16-22, Gen 49:10, Zech 2:1-12.)
CONCLUSION:
We have seen that the Kingdom of God has a very small beginning.
However, it is to grow and exte
nd its borders, just as God had
intended for ancient Israel. We have also found that internal
conditions are to be different fr
om those of any previous earthly
kingdom, because it is based upon the reign of Christ's righteousness
in the hearts of His people. It is to be a kingdom of believers and it will
begin before our Lord returns in the clouds of glory.