Kingdom Culture: Part Ten
The kingdom culture that Jesus described again and again while He walked this earth actually began in the book of Genesis where mankind operated in kingship and dominion over the earth. As time progressed God chose a people who heard the promise of that same kingdom which would appear again. Let’s look at David and Daniel.
Before he died King David wrote a prayer which breathes life into this future, eternal kingdom:
“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may You be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion people are made great and given strength.” 1 Chronicles 29:10b-12
The prophet Daniel envisioned eternity (Dan. 7:13-14) when the Son of Man was given this final kingdom with everlasting dominion that will never be destroyed.
And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. Daniel 7:27
Saints, that’s our future. The King of kings promises believers an everlasting kingdom; it’s as if we go back to the Garden.
Jesus taught a kingdom parable about Two Sons (Matt. 21:28-32) where He emphasized the crucial point of receiving this kingdom: change your mind (repent) and believe. It seems pretty simple, right? However, He also warned us that obstacles like money and power (Mark 10:17-27) make it difficult to enter this eternal kingdom. The disciples responded, “… then who can be saved?” That’s the million dollar question.
Our Savior followed up with yet another kingdom parable picturing a Wedding Feast (Matt. 22:1-14). In this story the invited guests wouldn’t attend his son’s wedding, consequently, the king invited others and the hall was filled. A man in attendance with no wedding garment (white linen robe) was expelled. There’s a divine wedding coming and your invitation requires wearing His robe of righteousness (Is. 61:10) and purity like a garment.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:31-34
Comments are closed.