With An Expose' Of Kingdom Fallacies
Kingdom fallacies generally fall into three categories: Nationalistic, Materialistic, and Futuristic error. It is not unusual to find two, or all three of these errors combined into a single concept — in fact the first and second are kissin' cousins.
The Jews were chosen for a specific purpose, i.e., to be the fleshly ancestry of Christ (Rom. 9:4-11, Heb. 2:16). The promise to Abraham, basis for the Hebrew race, contained also: "In thy seed shall all nations be blessed" (Gen. 12:1-3, Gal. 3:8,16) The "breaking off" of unbelieving Jews, and the grafting in of believing Gentiles (in the two-trees illustration of Rom. 11:16-24) shows the loss of nationalistic or racial significance to "Abraham's seed." If today's Jews succeed or fail in their national aspirations, it is upon the same basis as all other nations.
Jesus said (Jn. 18:36-f), "My kingdom is not of this world." When Pilate asked, "Art thou a King?" Jesus replied, "Thou sayest that I am a King" — which is an affirmative. He continues: "I for this have been born and for this I have come into the world." Remember, he is answering Pilate's question! He further describes the nature of His kingdom by then saying, "that (in order that) I might witness to the truth; everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." He rules in the hearts of those who will heed and trust Him.
We must do God's will in order to enter the kingdom (Matt. 7:21-23). The better we understand His teaching the closer we are to the kingdom (Mk. 12: 28-34) — a fact that must point to the nature of the kingdom rather than to the "day" of establishment. Only the humble (Lu. 18:17), those born of water and Spirit (Jn. 3:3-5), can see (appreciate) and enter into it. The kingdom "cometh not with observation" but was "within" or "among" those to whom Jesus revealed himself, as he prepared them for his "rule" (Lu. 17: 20-21). It is a spiritual relation!!
And the whole argument of Acts 2: points to its establishment. The law of the Lord, signaled by the coming of the Holy Spirit, went forth from Jerusalem in "the last days" (Isa. 2:13, Joel 2:28-32), and Peter declared, "this is that..." (Acts 2:16-f.)
Christ's kingdom was to be in the lifetime of a 1st. century generation (Mk. 9:1, Matt. 16:28). It was to "come with power" and that came with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:1-f). First Century Christians were in it, as Paul clearly teaches (Col. 1:12-13).
Zechariah 6:12-13 prophesied that Christ would be "priest upon his throne." But Jewish priests were of Levi, while kings were of Judah. The problem is resolved when we remember Christ would be High Priest "after the order of Melchisedec" who was both priest and king (Heb. 7:1-f.). We are lost without Christ as our High Priest (7:23-25), but it is most inconsistent to claim Him as our Priest and not recognize Him as our King. In truth, He is NOW, both our Priest and our King; His kingdom is NOW established and is operative; it is a spiritual and not a materialistic kingdom; and it is for who-so-ever-will. Amen!