What is the Kingdom? 1 Thessalonians 2:12

1 Thessalonians 2:12 …that you should walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

The Kingdom Planned 2 Timothy 1:9 …who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…

The Kingdom Planned Ephesians 3:10-11 …to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord The kingdom was never an afterthought. The church had an eternal purpose.

The Kingdom Prophesied Isaiah 2:2-3 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

The Kingdom Prophesied Isaiah 2:2-3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Keys to Isaiah’s Passage Lord’s House In the hills Last days Law of the Lord

The Kingdom Promised Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, 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 in the gospel.”

John the Baptist, Jesus, the 70 Matthew 3:2 “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Luke 10:9 “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Keys to the Kingdom Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Keys to the Kingdom Matthew 16:13-19 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Timeframe The keys of the kingdom were to be used by Peter. This would happen during his lifetime, which most scholars believe ended in the year AD 64 at the hands of Nero.

Will not taste of death Mark 9:1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

Timeframe This also fits the timeframe established by the death of Peter. These words were spoken prior to AD 30, and the life span of the listeners would have been during this time.

Beginning in Jerusalem Luke 24:46-49 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Significance of Passage Jesus instructs apostles to preach a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins Begin this preaching at Jerusalem Wait in the city until they received the power from on high

Restore the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:4-8 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Restore the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:4-8 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Still a misunderstanding “Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” The question shows a lack of understanding, but the fact is that something was to happen in “a few days”.

The Kingdom Present Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What shall we do? Acts 2:36-41 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What shall we do? Acts 2:36-41 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Change in tense After Acts 2:38, the church is always spoken of in the present tense as an existing institution. Acts 5:11 Ananias & Sapphira Acts 8:1-3 Saul of Tarsus Acts 14:23 Appoint elders 1 Corinthians 1:2 Corinth 1 Corinthians 12:28 First apostles… Among others!

Change in Tense Likewise, the existence of the kingdom is also spoken of in the present tense.

Conveyed into the kingdom Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love

Receive a kingdom Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (New American Standard Version)

Companion in the kingdom Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion Q: What is the kingdom? A: The Lord’s Church Everything fits! The time, the place, the manner of establishment, and the results.