THE KINGDOM

Series 3

I. The Old Testament Predictions of the Kingdom

A.     Isaiah 2:1-3

1.      God will establish His mountain in the last days.

2.      All nations will stream to His mountain.

3.      This will all take place starting in Jerusalem.

Note: Zion is the high point on which Jerusalem was built. That's why Jerusalem and Zion are mentioned together.

    B.   Daniel:

1.      Daniel 2:25-45

a.       Daniel interprets the king of Babylon’s dream

(Show ‘The Four Kingdoms’ Illustration on page 18):

i.                     Gold – The Babylonian kingdom (King Nebuchadnezzar).

ii.                   Silver – The Medo-Persian kingdom

iii.                  Bronze (Brass) – The Grecian kingdom.

iv.                 Iron – The Roman kingdom.

v.                   The Rock that became a mountain, covering the Earth – Kingdom of God

Ø      We can now see that the mountain in Isaiah 2:2 is referring to God’s Kingdom.

b.      The Rock struck the feet of the statue (the Iron)

Ø      The figure here is that God was going to establish His kingdom during the times of the Roman kings or “Caesars.”

2.      Daniel 7:18

a.       The saints of God will possess the kingdom forever.

b.      The word “saint” comes from the Greek word “hagios”, which means “holy one”.

II. New Testament Predictions of the Kingdom

A.     Jesus:

Matthew 4:17

a.       Jesus preached the coming of the kingdom was near.

b.      Jesus preached during the reign of the Roman Kingdom (Iron).

c.       Rome is in control and God is about to establish His Kingdom as Daniel predicted!

Mark 9:1

The kingdom would come during the lifetime of the apostles.

The kingdom will come with power.

John 3:3-5

a. The kingdom is entered by water and by Spirit.

Matthew 16:16-19

a.       Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom.

b.      Keys are for unlocking doors. Since the kingdom is entered by water and by Spirit, the “keys of the kingdom” must involve water and Spirit.

III. The Fulfillment: The Kingdom Comes

A.     Acts 2:1-4 – Come with power (Mark 9:1b)

1.      A powerful event happens at Pentecost.

B.     Acts 2:5 - All nations / Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3)

1.      Devout men from every nation are present.

2.      This event is taking place in Jerusalem.

B.     Acts 2:14-17 – Some will not taste death (Mark 9:1a) / Last Days (Isaiah 2:2)

1.      Peter and the other eleven who were with Jesus in Mark 9:1 are present.

2.      Verse 17 identifies the day of Pentecost (verse 1) as being within "the last days".

Ø      Note: The "last days" signifies the New Testament era. We are in the "last days" now. Hebrews 1:1-2 and James 5:1-3 refers to the current times as the "last days".

C.     Acts 2:38 – Water and Spirit (John 3:5) / Peter with the keys (Matt. 16:19)

1.      Jesus said the kingdom is entered by water and Spirit (John 3:5).

2.      Acts 2:38 interprets John 3:5 for us:

a.       Be baptized – born of water.

b.      Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – born of Spirit.

3.      Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom - Matthew 16:19.

4.      Peter delivers the keys of the kingdom in Acts 2:38.

IV. The Church is the Kingdom of God on Earth.

A.     Colossians 1:13-14

1.      Paul told the Colossian church that they have been brought into the Kingdom (present tense).

2.      The Church is the Kingdom of God.

B.     The saints possessing the kingdom forever (Daniel 7:18)

1.      Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1

a.       Church members called “saints”.