The Gospel of the Kingdom

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

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Mark began his gospel by stating, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Then he continues the theme of the gospel in verse 14, "Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {15} and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel."

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So what is this good news that Jesus preached about that we are to believe? It is the message of the kingdom of God. What Is the Kingdom of God? Let’s begin by asking some simple questions.

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What is a KINGDOM? Primarily, it is a system of governance -- a NATION and the GOVERNMENT which rules it. And especially in this Biblical sense, there is the DUAL sense of the NATION, including all its subjects or citizens, and the GOVERNMENT by which it is ruled. Again -- in BIBLE usage, a Kingdom is often a family from a single parent grown into a NATION.

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Four things are necessary to constitute a KINGDOM: 1) The TERRITORY, with its specific location and definite boundary lines, with 2) a KING or Supreme Ruler or governing agent, ruling over 3) SUBJECTS or citizens within that territorial jurisdiction, with 4) LAWS and form of GOVERNMENT.

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If we leave out any one of these vital requisites, we do not have, and cannot BELIEVE, the true GOSPEL for this time.

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Born Into the Kingdom

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Notice, when Nicodemus came to Jesus secretly, as recorded in John the 3rd chapter, Jesus said to him: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the KINGDOM OF GOD." (Verse 3).

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As Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth in I Corinthians 15, flesh and blood -- that is, a mortal human -- cannot enter IN to the Kingdom of God. The Church, then, cannot be the Kingdom of God, for it is composed of flesh-and-blood mortals.

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Jesus went on to show Nicodemus that we who are born of flesh ARE flesh -- just mortal flesh and blood.

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But it is possible for us to be BORN AGAIN – next time, not as a mortal flesh-and-blood baby, but born of the SPIRIT. Then we shall be spirit -- composed of spirit!

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Now in the 4th chapter of John we read that GOD is a SPIRIT. The Kingdom of GOD is composed of those BORN of GOD. God is REPRODUCING HIMSELF! God created man in GOD'S IMAGE (Genesis 1:26), so that man may become impregnated, BEGOTTEN, and, by a resurrection, be BORN as an immortal, SPIRIT-COMPOSED person in the KINGDOM OF GOD.

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The Apostle Paul made it very plain to the Corinthians that while mortal flesh and blood cannot inherit, or enter into, the Kingdom of God, that through the resurrection of those BEGOTTEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD during this mortal life, this MORTAL then puts on IMMORTALITY, and we, like the very God Himself, become IMMORTAL, INCORRUPTIBLE, actually, literally, BORN of God's Spirit INTO the very GOD FAMILY (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).

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Conditions of Entering

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Now, HOW do we enter into that glorious KINGDOM?

Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, REPENT, and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.

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Just TWO things we do -- REPENT, and BELIEVE. We must BELIEVE the Gospel, and that means also believing on JESUS CHRIST, the KING of the Kingdom of God, and coming KING of kings over all the families of the earth. It means believing in Him as our personal SAVIOUR, as High Priest now, and as coming KING.

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'Thy Kingdom Come'

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In Jesus' prayer, so commonly called "The Lord's Prayer, He prayed, THY KINGDOM COME -- then it wasn't there yet, and it isn't here yet, today -- but He taught us to pray for it to COME, for His KINGDOM and that ALONE shall bring PEACE and HAPPINESS to this sin-sick, war-weary earth! "

Jesus is coming in supreme POWER and GLORY. Notice this description of the event: "Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30).

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He is coming to set up the GOVERNMENT OF GOD and to rule all nations with the help of those who have qualified in this life.

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The Saints will Rule with Jesus Christ

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"Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. {9} And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, {10} And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth"" (Revelation 5:8-10).

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Saints will Reign with Christ for 1,000 Years

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"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. {5} But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. {6} Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-6).

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The Saints will reign with Christ for one thousand years on the earth.

When the Messiah returns with all the power of God, we shall have WORLD PEACE, with happiness, joy, prosperity -- and a CHANGED WORLD inheriting ETERNAL LIFE.

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The Kingdom of God will fulfill the four conditions that are required for a kingdom. It will have the earth as its territory, Jesus will be its sovereign king!