In our first two articles on this subject we noted that the land promise made by God to Abraham has been fulfilled, giving the passages which teach this clearly; and, that the promise of God to restore Israel to Palestine was conditional, and that God has performed all of his words concerning this matter.  We have encouraged our readers to go beyond all the emotionalism and sensationalism of the modern era and examine these subjects based on their merits in the light of the scriptures.  We ask the same for this study.

HAS THE KINGDOM OF DANIEL 2, ISAIAH 2, AND MICAH 4 BEEN
ESTABLISHED, OR IS IT YET TO COME?

     Is the kingdom here?  If so, then that would remove the need for Jesus to return to this earth and establish it, wouldn't it?  If not, then Jesus would need to come back and do that.  Let's see.

     As for Daniel's prophecy, we see that 4 kingdoms were to come prior to the advent of the kingdom of God.  These kingdoms were revealed to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream.  Daniel was called upon to interpret the dream.  In Daniel 2:38 we see that the first kingdom, the "head of gold", was to be Babylon, the kingdom over which Nebuchadnezzar was king.  From Daniel 5:28 we learn that the second kingdom was that known as Medo-Persia, "...Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."  The third kingdom is identified as Greece in Daniel 8:20-21 -- "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia:  and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king."  The fourth kingdom was that of the Romans, those in power at the coming of Christ (Luke 3:1).  Now, both secular history and religious history agree that these were the four kingdoms of Daniel's prophecy.  The Roman kingdom was to be in power when the kingdom of God arrived:  "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).  Since the Roman kingdom has long been out of power, either the kingdom of Christ was established in the long ago or God lied.

     Another bit of information from Daniel may be gleaned from comparing the prophecy of Daniel 7:13-14 and Acts 1:9 and 2:33.  Hear first Daniel -- "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him:  his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14).  Hear now Luke:  "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight...Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear" (Acts 1:9; 2:33).  Notice the following parallels:

DANIEL 7:13-14                  ACTS 1:9 & 2:33
Son of Man                      Christ
Came with clouds                Ascended with clouds
TO ancient of days              TO heaven (where God is)
Received dominion,              Exalted at right hand of
glory & kingdom                 God.

Everything Daniel called for Luke attributes to the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ.  Therefore the kingdom spoken of by Daniel (and that of Isaiah and Micah) had to have come at that time, lest God was untrue.

     John the baptizer said, in his ministry, that the kingdom of God was "at hand" (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15).  Jesus said that the kingdom was "at hand" (Matthew 4:17).  He said that "some of them that stand here this day shall not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom come with power" (Mark 9:1).  Now, men may argue about how long "at hand" allows for, but Mark's account leaves no room for doubt; the kingdom would come before some of them died.  Are there any 2000 year old people alive today?  Part of the problem centers around men's understanding of the nature of the kingdom.  People expect a physical kingdom, with a physical throne (to be considered in our next installment), and a physical king.  Jesus flatly denied that his kingdom would be anything like this, saying:  "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36).

     Prior to Pentecost of Acts 2, the kingdom is always spoken of as being yet in the future.  However, after this pivotal point in our history it is spoken of as being here now.  Consider Paul's words in Ephesians 1:20-23 -- "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."  What is there yet to be given to him?  All things are his, all things are "under his feet".

     Paul and the Colossians were in the kingdom in the first century, for he wrote:  "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13).  Even John, the one whose "Revelation" is so misunderstood and misused, said that the kingdom was present in the first century:  "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the..." (Revelation 1:9). The Bible tells us that the kingdom of God is here, and Jesus used "kingdom" and "church" interchangeably in Matthew 16:18-19.  The kingdom is the church.  Jesus will take it to God at the last day (Ephesians 5:25ff).

(We plan to continue these thoughts in a later issue).

     Are you a citizen of the kingdom of God?  Have you heard and believed the gospel (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6), repented of sins (Acts 2:38), confessed faith in Christ (Acts 8:37-38), and been immersed in water for the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16)?  Are you being faithful (Revelation 2:10)?  If not, call on us at the Enon church of Christ.

 Tim Smith
 1272 Enon Road
 Webb, AL 36376

VOLUME XIX                May 12, 1996           Number 19

HOSPITAL NEWS:  As of this printing, we know of no one in the hospital.  Lillian Ingram was dismissed from the hospital and returned to the Nursing Home in Donalsonville, GA.

MONTHLY MEAL:  EThell and Callie Kilgore invite everyone to come to the Annex on Saturday, May 11 for a fish fry.  EThell Kilgore and Floyd Turk are providing the fish.  Please see brother Kilgore for what else is needed.  Cooking is to begin at 4:00 P.M. and eating at 6:00 P.M.

CARD RECEIVED:  "We are thinking that there aren't many as good and kind as our church family.  We appreciate you all for the wonderful things you did in the sickness and death of Bill Hopkins...We Love You, George and Alyne (Blevins)."

CARD RECEIVED:  "Dear Friends, Many thanks for your prayers during the past months.  This has been the most difficult time of our lives...we knew prayers were going up for Lindsey each day...He was a wonderful man, mate, father, grandfather and friend...Joyce Turk and Family".  (Floyd Turk's Sister-in-law).