The Kingdom of GOD is not “imaginary”, nor is it relegated to some future era yet to be manifested. Rather the establishment of this Kingdom is the very purpose for which CHRIST came into the world according to the ancient prophets. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name 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, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isa 9:6-7) “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Psa 110:2) “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” (Jer 23:5) “Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zec 6:13)
There are many who suggest that we are in a “waiting period”, expecting but not yet seeing the Reign of CHRIST in the Earth. They tell us that at some future date, the LORD will come back to the Earth and set up a literal throne in carnal Jerusalem and only then will these prophecies have their fulfilment. Yet it seems quite clear from the scriptures that HE has established HIS reign in the present age. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zec 9:9) Did HE not ride upon this ass, and did HE not come with justice and salvation? Can we not see HIM declare the establishment of HIS work when HE cried out with a loud voice, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)?
All will admit that when the scripture says HE will build the temple of the LORD, it does not mean HE will cut stones and hammer nails. HE is nonetheless, the MASTERBUILDER whose edifice (i.e.; building, place of habitation) arises unto HIS glory and cannot be destroyed. “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:18) HE has established HIMSELF as that SURE FOUNDATION upon which HIS Kingdom arises and cannot fall. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1Cor 3:11) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isa 28:16) “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Mat 21:42-44) The LORD spoke here of a present HEADSHIP and if HE, speaking to these rebellious Jews states that HE is the “HEAD of the corner” can we not conclude that the “kingdom” of which HE speaks is a present “building”.
Now if this “building” of which HE is both the FOUNDATION and the BUILDER is not constructed of literal stones and lumber then of what does it consist and for what purpose is it raised? We are certain that the LORD does all things for HIS own glory and well deserves the praise thereof. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa 46:9-11)
The materials of which HE is pleased to build HIS Church, thereby establishing HIS Kingdom, is that people which HE foreknew and chose in CHRIST from before the foundation of the world. HE does, by HIS own power, bring HIS children out of darkness and into the LIGHT and establishes them as a habitation of HIS SPIRIT. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1Pet 2:5)
This is a “spiritual house”, which cannot be viewed through carnal eyes, but is made manifest to those who are called to be a part of it. The LORD made this feature of HIS Kingdom quite plain to those Pharisees who believed they had it in their power to dwell in the presence of the LORD by their acts of devotion and obedience. “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:37-39)
Every kingdom upon the Earth has a currency with which trade is carried out in it. Our nation’s currency has a motto written on it saying “In GOD we trust.” While we might wish that were true, the fact is that we (as a nation) are in absolute rebellion against the True and Living, GOD. We despise HIS WAY and trample upon HIS precepts daily. The currency of the Kingdom of GOD, is FAITH and the motto written upon it in bold letters, is “CHRIST is ALL.” One cannot do business in this Kingdom without that “money”, which a man cannot obtain through human effort but is only bestowed on its inhabitants by the GIFT of GOD. This is a glorious “welfare state”, wherein the citizens of it have their every need supplied by HIM who is the KING.
Peter refers to this Kingdom as a “spiritual house” while Paul speaks of it as “building fitly framed”. In the construction of Solomon’s temple, the sound of man’s tools were not heard. “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” (1Kings 6:7) By this (in type and foreshadow) we are made to understand that this “building” of the LORD, is not constructed by the endeavors of men but rather of “stones” fit and prepared beforehand to be placed in an exact location according to the purpose of the MASTER BUILDER.
This “building” rises and is sustained not by the carnal washings and trappings of the religion of men, regardless of how “scriptural” those practices might be deemed to be by those who promote such. “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:11-14) The redemptive work of CHRIST on the behalf of those whom HE has loved from before the foundation of the world, is the “framework” of this building. To ignore this is to dwell in a building which is already condemned. Thus, Paul declared, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1Cor 2:2) “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal 6:14) Do you dwell in this “fitly framed” building “not made with hands” or in one of your own design?
mam