The Establishment of the Kingdom of God Upon Earth.--The prophets of
the Old Testament had two great thoughts which they continually
presented, namely, the coming of the Messianic King and the
establishment of the Messianic kingdom. Isaiah said, "Unto us a Child
is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His
shoulder and He shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God,
The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His
government and peace there shall be no end" (9:6,7).
When John the Baptist came, he proclaimed the coming of this King and
kingdom (Matthew 3:11,12; John 1:1-28) and when he saw Jesus he said,
"Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. This
is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is preferred before
me: for He was before me" (John 1:29-33). "And I saw and bare record
that this is the Son of God" (v. 34).
Jesus spoke much about His kingdom, the kingdom of heaven and the
kingdom of God. He sought to explain by many parables and by direct
discourse what this kingdom was like; it is mentioned by name many
times in the New Testament (Matthew 13:11,19,24,31,33,44,45,47, 52;
22:2; 25:1). He claimed that He was the Messianic King (Matthew
26:63,64; 27:11,37; 26:53,54; 16:16,17; John 14:9; Luke 22:67,69; John
18:37; Mark 14:61,62), and the Son of God. He declared that before Him
all nations should come to be judged (Matthew 25:31-46). As in the Old
Testament so in the New Testament the world-wide character of this
kingdom of God is plainly shown.
There are Four Conceptions of the Kingdom of God set forth in the
Bible. 1. The reign of God over all His creatures. 2. The reign of God
over men and nations. 3. The reign of God over Israel. 4. "The reign
of God as Divine Love over human hearts, believing in Him and
constrained thereby to yield Him grateful affection and devoted love."
It is this fourth conception which is most prominently set forth in
the New Testament. The special work of Christ on earth was to reveal
the supreme rule of Divine Love.
The Church and the Kingdom.--It is the care of the church to forward
the establishment of this kingdom of Divine Love everywhere, in the
heart of the individual, in society, in the business world and in the
national life. For this we pray, as Christ taught us, "Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).