LET GOD BE TRUE

CHAPTER X

"THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN"

JEHOVAH God is the universal and absolute Sovereign. But men not recognizing this fact have set up various governments of their own making during the last six thousand years. Whether these have been tribal ruler-ships, monarchies, or democratic political systems, yet it must be admitted that they have all come far short of satisfying the needs of the people. This is because the rulers as well as the ruled have overlooked the only reasonable and true remedy, namely, the establishment of the kingdom of heaven.

² The issue of world domination was raised at the time man took himself out from under God's righteous rule and started down the rough road of human government under Satan's invisible overlordship. Therefore Jehovah gave his word of promise that in the distant future he would himself establish a universal kingdom. That declaration, the first prophecy given to man, is recorded at Genesis 3:15. Being a solemn promise concerning a kingdom "seed", such declared purpose is referred to as a kingdom covenant.

³ As time went on, God enlarged upon that original promise by making a kingdom covenant with his friends Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning the Seed for blessing all the families of the earth. (Genesis 17:7,8; 22:16-18; 26:3-5; 28:13-15) Later it was revealed through Jacob that the "seed" of promise would come through the tribe of his son Judah. (Genesis 49:10) Still later God established a Theocracy (meaning a "God-rule") over Jacob's descendants, the nation of Israel. Such, however, was not the kingdom that was promised in Eden. It did not crush the Serpent's head, nor did it bless all the families of the earth. It was merely a picture or type of the greater kingdom that would come later.

⁴ In that typical arrangement the capital was located in Jerusalem, including Mount Zion. The palace of the king and the ark of the Lord were situated there. It being a government ruled by God, the king was said to sit upon the "throne of Jehovah", and out of Zion went forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 29:23, Am. Stan. Ver.; Isaiah 2:3) Furthermore, the people did not elect the king by vote, for God was the real Sovereign and chose and anointed his own king to represent him. Because David was a man after God's own heart, of the tribe of Ju-

dah, Jehovah made an everlasting covenant of the kingdom with him and his descendants. (Acts 13:22; 2 Samuel 7:12-16) When that typical Theocratic kingdom had served its purpose and approached its end, Jehovah declared: "I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." (Ezekiel 21: 27) The overturning came in 607 B.C. The one "whose right it is", namely, Jesus Christ, appeared A.D. 29.

⁵ Two historians named Matthew and Luke individually traced down the line of David's descendants, and both reached the same conclusion that Christ Jesus was the rightful heir. He indeed proved to be the "Lion of the tribe of Juda". (Matthew 1:2-16; Luke 3:23-34; Revelation 5:5; Hebrews 7:14) The angels sang with joy at the birth of him who should bruise the Serpent's head. Then, when he was baptized and anointed to be King of the heavenly Government, at thirty years of age, a voice from heaven was heard saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) Such declaration showed that Christ was there begotten by God's holy spirit to be a spiritual son; a mere man could not be the King of the heavenly government. — Acts 13: 33; 1 Corinthians 15: 50.

THE MYSTERY

⁶ On one occasion this anointed King said that the least in the kingdom of heaven would be greater than John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:11) If that is so, what are the requirements for entering? Who, and how many, are able to enter the Kingdom? Revelation limits the number to 144,000 that become a part of the Kingdom and stand on Mount Zion. (Revelation 14:1, 3; 7:4-8) Thus it is seen that God never purposed to 'convert this old world and take the good to heaven'. Only a few there be that find entrance into this kingdom; only a "little flock", compared with earth's population. — Matthew 7:13, 14; Luke 12:32.

⁷ This may all seem like a mystery to those who have no knowledge of the Bible and its teachings. Indeed, it is the "mystery of Christ". (Colossians 1:27, Goodspeed) Only those that are "called, and chosen, and faithful" from among men reign with the "Lord of lords, and King of kings". (Revelation 17:14) "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50); and so these must become the spiritual sons of God. Even as Christ told Nicodemus, 'Except a man be born from above, being born of the water of truth and of the spirit, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.' (John 3:3-13, Diaglott; 1:12,13; James 1:18) These spiritual sons of God, re-

ceiving the "spirit of adoption", are able to say, "The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:15-17) Such heirs of God are brought into a covenant for the Kingdom, as stated by Christ, "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22: 28-30) In the capacity of priests and kings of God they reign a thousand years with Christ Jesus. (Revelation 20:4,6; 5:10) This "royal priesthood" is spoken of by the apostle Peter as "an holy nation", a nation of purchased people, who inherit the Kingdom because they bring forth the fruits thereof. (1 Peter 2:9, margin; Matthew 21:43-45) All together they constitute the regal or royal family of God the Father.

⁸ From all of the above it is manifest that the Kingdom is not earthly, but heavenly. It is the invisible or heavenly part of the "new world". (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13) "I am not of this [old] world," said Christ, and again: "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 8:23; 18:36) So the King Christ Jesus was put to death in the flesh and was resurrected an invisible spirit creature; therefore, the world will see him no more. (1 Peter 3:18; John 14:19) He went to prepare a heavenly place for his

associate members, the "body of Christ", for they too will be invisible creatures. Their "citizenship is in heaven". — John 14: 2; Philippians 3:20, Am. Stan. Ver.

⁹ Further showing that the Kingdom is heavenly, Jehovah says, "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool." (Isaiah 66:1) Christ Jesus says he sits down with the Father in His throne. (Revelation 3:21) It is wholly inconsistent to think that the Kingdom ruler-ship over the entire universe will be administered from this lowly earthly footstool.

ITS SUBJECTS

¹⁰ If it is to be a heavenly Kingdom, who will be the subjects of its rule? In the invisible realm angelic hosts, myriads of them, will serve as faithful messengers of the King. And on earth the faithful men of ancient times, being resurrected, will be "princes in all the earth". (Psalm 45:16; Isaiah 32:1) A few of such princely representatives are mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Also the "great multitude" of Armageddon survivors will continue to "serve him day and night". (Revelation 7:9-17) In faithfulness these will "multiply, and fill the earth" and their children will become obedient subjects of the Higher Powers. And finally the "unjust" ones that are resurrected, in proving their integrity, will joyfully submit themselves to Theocratic rule. (Acts 24:15)

Those who prove rebellious or who turn unfaithful during Satan's loosing at the end of Christ's thousand-year reign will be annihilated with Satan the Devil. — Revelation 20: 7-15.

¹¹ The kingdom of heaven is a paternalistic government, its subjects receiving life from the Father through Christ, the reigning King. All, therefore, including the Son submit themselves in faithful obedience to Jehovah God. "Thine, 0 Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty . . . thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all." (1 Chronicles 29:11, Am. Stan. Ver.) Unlike man-made democratic government, all the judicial force, legislative power and executive authority reside solely in the Theocrat. Says the prophet Isaiah (33:22, Am. Stan. Ver.), "For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king." And yet such rule is not a harsh, dictatorial and cruel authoritarian regime. Jehovah's works are perfect and His ways are just. — Deuteronomy 32:4, Am. Stan. Ver.

AT HAND

¹² If the Kingdom is to be heavenly, why did both John the Baptist and Christ Jesus proclaim, according to the King James Version, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"? (Matthew 3:2; 4:17) It was because the anointed King was personally in their midst proclaiming the

thrilling Kingdom message. So when the blind Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom would come, the King answered, "Behold, the kingdom of God is among you." (Luke 17:20,21, margin; Am. Stan. Ver.; Roth.) As long as Christ was among them the disciples likewise proclaimed the presence of the Kingdom, but there is no record that they continued to do so after His ascension on high. Such an announcement would not be appropriate until the return and second presence of Christ.

¹³ On this point the disciples asked what signs would indicate Christ's return, the end of the old world, and the setting up of his kingdom. (Matthew 24: 3; Acts 1: 6-8) Christ knew of the long period of waiting as foretold in Psalm 110:1-3, and he also knew that men would be unable to see the invisible heavenly kingdom when it was established. So he told them what visible signs to look for, which really was a long-range prophecy leaping nearly 1900 years.

¹⁴ The world-shattering events that have followed one another in quick succession since 1914 marked that year as the time when Christ Jesus began to rule in the midst of his enemies. It was a time when the nations were angry. (Revelation 11:17,18) The birth of the heavenly "man-child" government that would rule all nations with an iron rod precipitated a war in heaven, resulting in the ousting of Satan, who

thereafter brings great woe to the inhabiters of the earth and sea as foretold. — Revelation 12:1-12.

¹⁵ Another sure sign given by Christ that would indicate the Kingdom's establishment was, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." (Matthew 24:14) Identically the same announcement made 1900 years ago has been revived and proclaimed since 1914 with even greater volume than at the beginning. From and after the year 1919 the most sustained publicity campaign ever given on earth has been to the effect that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand"! "This gospel" is of the Kingdom's having been established A.D. 1914.

¹⁶ With the Theocratic Government's establishment in all its power and glory, God's will is now done in heaven. Therefore it can be said that the Kingdom is here! This being so, is it proper when uttering "the Lord's prayer" to include the words "Thy kingdom come"? If anything, it is even more proper since 1914 to so pray, for Satan has been ousted from heaven and cast down to earth and only Jehovah God's will is now done in the heavens. Christians will therefore continue to pray that God's "will be done on earth, as it is in heaven"; they will continually pray for that kingdom to come in all its destructive fury against Satan's remaining forces at Armageddon.

NOT SEDITIOUS

¹⁷ But is it not seditious to repeat "the Lord's prayer" and announce that the Kingdom is at hand? In reply, we ask, Was not Christ so charged for making a similar proclamation? As it was then, so now, only the religious clergy will contend that the Kingdom message is seditious. (John 18: 28-32; Luke 23:1, 2) No honest court of justice would so rule, not even if the doing of God's will on earth meant the destruction and replacement of present human governments by the lofty and majestic kingdom of heaven. For there is no power ordained except by The Theocrat. (Romans 13:1,2) The Kingdom is of God.

¹⁸ The very purpose of the Kingdom is to crush out all rebellion and restore righteousness universally; and therefore Satan and his wicked organization will be destroyed beneath the irresistible power of The Theocratic Government. (1 Corinthians 15:25) Then under a righteous Kingdom rule the original purpose of Jehovah will be carried out, namely, the populating of the earth with creatures that will serve, praise and honor their loving Creator. All of this will vindicate the name, word, sovereignty and purpose of Jehovah; and, since it is the kingdom of heaven that will accomplish this, it follows that the Kingdom is of greater importance than anything else. Such impor-

tance is also indicated for it by the fact that the greatest doctrine, yea, the whole theme, of the Bible is the Kingdom. The prophecies given under inspiration of God, and the parables and teachings of Christ, all carry as their main burden "The Kingdom of Heaven". — Acts 3: 20-24.

¹⁹ Even the Creator so loved the New World that he gave his only begotten Son to be its King. (John 3:16) Likewise creatures who will live under its rule must make the kingdom the most important thing in their lives. The Son of God emptied himself and humbly became the target of Satan's fiendish attacks in order to qualify as God's Vindicator. (Philippians 2:5-8, Diaglott; Hebrews 5:8,9) He sold everything he had in order to purchase that kingdom. (Matthew 13:44-46) The apostles, following Christ's example, sought "first the kingdom". (Matthew 6: 33) 'This one thing I do, press on to the high calling of the Kingdom, cost what it may,' is the way one of them expressed it. (Philippians 3:13,14) People of good-will who hope to live on earth in the New World do not divide their affection and allegiance with this old, Satanic world, but make the Kingdom the most important thing in their lives.

²⁰ The undefeatable purpose of Jehovah God to establish a righteous kingdom in these last days was fulfilled A.D. 1914. At the coming battle of Armageddon it will smite full-force

against the entire organization of Satan the Devil and destroy all its parts, high and low, visible and invisible, as foretold by the prophet Daniel: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44) Not only will it last forever, but "of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end". (Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:14; Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 11:15) It is beyond the imagination of frail men to conceive the blessings that that glorious kingdom will bestow on all who are privileged to live under its righteous rule.

²¹ The climax of the centuries has been reached, and the great issue of world domination is about to be settled once and for all time by the Kingdom. So, awake, everyone who wants to live under that righteous government! (Romans 13:11) Put not your trust in the princes of this old world who have set up an abomination in the form of a worldly international organization in defiance of God's kingdom rule. Obey the King Christ Jesus and flee, while there is still time, to the Kingdom mountains. (Matthew 24:15-20) The time is short, for "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND".