The Two Thrones Representing the Kingdoms of Grace and of Glory

THE KINGDOM AT HAND

John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:1, 2. “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1:14, 15. And as Jesus sent forth the twelve to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he said to them,” And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Matthew 10:5-7. TTKGG 21.3

We have now reached a very important point in the discussion of this subject. Many will meet us here with the popular view that the kingdom was set up at the time of the first advent. They will use the phrase, “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” expressed by John, Jesus, and the twelve, with force upon the minds of those who do not study the subject in all its bearings. But, as we have shown, in no sense of the word whatever was the kingdom set up at the time of the first advent of Christ. The words, “kingdom of Heaven,” and “kingdom of God,” have but two significations: first, the plan to save men by grace; and, secondly, the future condition and reward of the saved. The plan of salvation, or the kingdom of grace, was instituted soon after the fall; and the reward of the saved, or the kingdom of glory, is future. TTKGG 21.4

The Greek word translated “at hand,” as used by Jesus, John, and the twelve, is engizo, and is defined by Greenfield as follows: “To approach, draw near. By metonymy, to be at hand, to impend. Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7; Luke 10:9, 11; Mark 1:15.” The immortal kingdom was not at hand, according to this definition, or the obvious meaning of the phrase, in the days of John and of Jesus. In fact, Paul warned the church at Thessalonica against the idea that the day of Christ — the day to destroy earthly kingdoms, and establish the immortal kingdom — was even then at hand. “Be not soon shaken in mind,” says the apostle, “or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2. TTKGG 22.1

The Greek word translated “at hand” in this text is enistemi, according to Greenfield, “to place in, or upon; to stand near, be at hand, impend. 2 Thessalonians 2:2.” In their bearing upon the subject of the kingdom, there is really no difference in the signification of these two Greek words. But, does Paul contradict John, Jesus, or the twelve? Certainly he does not. TTKGG 22.2

What, then, did John and Jesus mean in proclaiming the kingdom of Heaven at hand? Not that the kingdom of grace was soon to be set up. No; that had been instituted more than four thousand years before that proclamation. Neither did they urge immediate repentance on the ground that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand in the sense of being the next universal kingdom? With this view, their fervent announcement would seem to lose its force. But,their proclamation had direct reference to the wonderful manifestations of divine power and grace immediately to follow, during the work of confirming the covenant; Daniel 9:27; first, by Christ, for three and a half years, and by the apostles, Hebrews 2:3, the same period of time. TTKGG 22.3

John looked forward to the ministry of Jesus, which was approved of God “by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him.” Acts 2:22, and proclaimed the kingdom of Heaven at hand. And Jesus looked forward to his own ministry, and also to that of the apostles as “they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following,” Mark 16:20, and proclaimed the kingdom of Heaven at hand. This view of the subject is sustained by the commission given by our Lord to the seventy: “Go your ways. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Luke 10:3, 8, 9. The kingdom of God in this connection can mean nothing more, and nothing less, than the manifestation of divine power and grace. TTKGG 23.1

And with this agree the words of Christ addressed to the worthy scribe. “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:34. This scribe was sound in the fundamental principles of God’s government. He only needed to know Christ and the power of his great salvation, in order to enjoy all the privileges and blessings of the kingdom of grace. TTKGG 23.2