THE KINGDOM NOW AND THE KINGDOM TO COME
06/27/2019
In Acts 1: 6 , we see the disciples asking Jesus when he would restore the kingdom to Israel?”.
They were talking about a physical restoration of the kingdom (rule) to Israel. All along the disciples were (probably) expecting that from Jesus, to rule as a king overthrowing the Romans and other kingdoms. That is why they were so confused when He died like a criminal.
Now that Jesus rose from the dead they were certain that the physical kingdom would be restored soon. So, when Jesus said He was going to the Father; they asked the pressing question as to when He would rule in the natural.
Jesus’ reply to their question is found in Acts 1:7,8
Jesus said, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”…
Jesus was basically saying ; it will happen at some point in time but that the knowledge of the time for it to happen is in God’s authority and not for them (or for us) to know. The time for them then (and now) is to witness and bring people to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were expecting a change of natural rule with the Lordship of Jesus. Christ pointed them away from it to a spiritual rule under the Lordship of Jesus.
Over the centuries this has been a pressing question as to when Christ would rule in the natural.
People have tried to bring in change in the natural govts and governance thinking that Christ physical rule is imminent. However, in each occasion they have gone astray or have been disappointed.
One such instance is that of John Alexander Dowie also called as the apostle of faith who built Zion city in the US thinking that Christ would come and reign there. Not only was he led astray by it but his expectations also didn’t come to pass. Some say he did repent in the end.
In the early years of the church after the persecution when the church was eventually accepted by the government; it led to the church claiming ownership over the State and corruption infiltrating the church. During those years the church believed that they were God’s physical kingdom on this earth.
Even today there are a lot of things being done with the expectation of preparing the way for Christ’s physical return in the natural realm. However, the question to ask is, can we know the times when Jesus has said clearly we can’t know the times?
Also, not only that He has told us to focus on evangelizing about Him with the power of the Holy Spirit rather than focus on His government in the natural.
Now in bringing a balance to this truth, we are called to spread the aroma of Christ in all spheres of life which includes culture, economy, govt, media, politics.. etc . Government is one of the spheres that must be influenced with the gospel and there is no doubt about that.
However, it is with the sole purpose that people in the govt know the crucified and the resurrected lamb and lion of the tribe of Judah leading to faith in the Lord Jesus. It is a spiritual kingdom that we have been called to establish.
The spiritual kingdom does bring the divine order of God in our homes and society when Christ is glorified and exalted. Now, the outcome of that collectively may very well lead to the manifestation of Christ in the natural but our focus should be on preaching the gospel of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When the disciples were focused on the natural change through governance; Christ turned their attention to the spiritual change in the hearts of men. Even so with each generation when the church lost its focus; the Spirit has always been wooing it to focus its eyes on what is more important. For when people focus on the natural realms to establish God’s kingdom before the times; they will not only struggle, they will not have the grace to stand firm for long once they find some success. This is also the reason for the spirit of the world ( the dark spirits working behind in political circles) finding its way in the church.
The kingdom now is a spiritual kingdom that we are called to present to the people. It does have the power to change the chaos bringing order, fill the void and bring light to darkness in the natural realms. In the same vein we are to expect the kingdom to come which would be a natural kingdom with Christ as the head. However, we work based on the kingdom now rather than the kingdom to come.
The disciples weren’t ready then for the kingdom to come and so is the current church. When the times have reached their fulfillment, God will manifest Himself as the supreme ruler to all of mankind. Till then we must focus more on spiritual laws to be implanted into the hearts of men rather than going all out to change natural laws.
If we learn this spiritual truth and be sensitive to the Spirit we will discern the changing of times as a few did from the Old to the New Testament; and today (or in the times to come) from the kingdom now to the kingdom to come.
Amen and Maranatha !!!
