Refutation of the Doctrine Called The Age to Come

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Chapter Three. The Kingdom Of God

If the importance of any subject is to be estimated by its prominence in the Scriptures, that of the kingdom is second to but few. RDAC 43.8

When John, the forerunner of Christ, began to preach in the wilderness of Judea, he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2. RDAC 43.9

When the Saviour himself began to preach, he used the same language, saying: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15. RDAC 43.10

When he chose his twelve apostles and sent them out to preach, he committed to them the same words, saying, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:7. RDAC 44.1

In his “Sermon on the Mount,” it was the first of the beatitudes-the beginning of the promises, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:3. RDAC 44.2

When he taught his disciples how to pray, it was the burden of the first petition:—“Thy kingdom come.” Matthew 6:10. RDAC 44.3

The gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation, is called by the Saviour, “this gospel of the kingdom.” Matthew 24:14. RDAC 44.4

When our Saviour forewarned the Jews of their rejection for disobedience, and of the calling of the Gentiles, he did it by declaring the kingdom should be taken from the former, and given to the latter. Matthew 21:43. RDAC 44.5

When the graces of the Christian character are enumerated and enforced, it is that we may have an abundant entrance into the kingdom. 2 Peter 1:11. RDAC 44.6

They who are rich in faith, who love God, are called “heirs of the kingdom.” James 2:5. RDAC 44.7

And finally, when the Saviour comes to call the faithful unto himself, he says unto them, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom.” Matthew 25:34. RDAC 44.8

It is called the kingdom of Heaven because it is of Heaven and not of earth in its origin and principles. It is called the kingdom of God because it is set up by the God of Heaven. And it is called the kingdom of Christ because Christ is the king thereof. RDAC 44.9

When man was created, he was appointed to have “dominion” over the earth, and everything upon it. But this, and his life also, he soon lost by disobedience; and for a long time thereafter the Lord, in his communications with men, said nothing about a dominion. A bare intimation of a future reign was given to Abraham when it was said to him, “I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.” Genesis 17:6. RDAC 45.1

After the sojourning of the children of Israel in Egypt, the Lord brought them out and made a covenant with them to be their God, and that they should be his people and obey his voice. Exodus 19:3-8; Jeremiah 11:2-4. But they not only broke his covenant, but rejected him as their ruler, and asked for a king to rule over them, that they might be like all the nations. 1 Samuel 8:5, 19, 20. In this, the Lord said, they had rejected him, that he should not reign over them. Verse 7. He pointed out Saul to be their king, who reigned over them 40 years. RDAC 45.2

But Saul displeased the Lord, and he took the kingdom from him and gave it to David. By this it will be seen that the Lord did not forget his covenant with Israel and forsake them, though they rejected him, and departed far from his ways. He reserved to himself the right to choose who should be their king, and he promised that the crown should remain with David and his house. This promise is recorded in Psalm 89. “I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations.” Verses 3, 4. “Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him forevermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of Heaven.” Verses 27-29. Nothing could be more positive and sure than this. There is a condition introduced in regard to the conduct of his people, Israel, but this affects them alone; it is as follows:— RDAC 45.3

“If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.” Verses 30-32. RDAC 46.1

That this cannot invalidate the promise is shown in the succeeding verses 33-37. “Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in Heaven.” RDAC 46.2

The descendants of David reigned something over 400 years; but they were not steadfast in the ways of God. They suffered many things of their enemies, and many things by reason of dissensions and rebellions. Truly were they visited “with the rod.” And Zedekiah added to the iniquities of his predecessors, and in his day the chief of Israel followed the ways of the heathen; the house of God in Jerusalem was polluted; the prophets of God were despised and misused “until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” 2 Chronicles 36:11-16. RDAC 46.3

Accordingly Ezekiel the prophet was sent with a message, foretelling, not only his overthrow, but the subversion of the kingdom. “And thou, profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 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 21:25-27. RDAC 47.1

Three years after this prophecy was uttered, viz., in 590 b. c., the king of Assyria was exalted over him; the king of Israel was abased; the crown was removed; the temple of Jerusalem was burnt, and its vessels and all its treasures carried away; the sons of King Zedekiah were slain before his eyes, his own eyes were put out, and he, in fetters of brass, was carried captive into Babylon. RDAC 47.2

This is, in brief, a history of the kingdom of Israel from its establishment under Saul to its overthrow under Zedekiah, since which time the throne of David has not been restored nor occupied by any of his sons. By permission of the kings of Persia, into whose hands they had fallen on the overthrow of Babylon, the Jews returned to Jerusalem, and, amid many perils, built again the house of the Lord. When the Romans became strong so that it was an object to secure their favor, the Jews made a league with them, and were under their control at the birth of the Saviour. RDAC 47.3