KINGDOM - OLOGY 38

Here are Three Matters by Way of Conclusion to the Study on the Kingdom

1. Permit me to summarize this entire study on the Mediatorial Kingdom. In the beginning God started out with Adam and the human race to establish a kingdom in the earth. Into this kingdom He planned to bring His Son where He could make an everlasting revelation of Himself to men.

The human factor entered into the program, and it was necessary to introduce the ministry of redemption to accomplish His purpose. On the surface it appeared to fail so far as reaching mankind in general. But what appeared to be discontinuance now, at the end, this kingdom has been established in the earth for all mankind.

            At the point where it was appearing to fail, God narrowed down His program to one nation, the children of Israel. But in electing this one nation, it was His purpose to lift them up to even a higher position than the nations in general. Even though He established a theocracy for them, and provided for them as for no other nation, at last they rejected the Kingship of God and His Mediatorial Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. But at the conclusion of the long journey, this nation will finally have been lifted to the high position He planned, and it will have performed that ministry for which it was called.

            The rejection of Christ by the nation of Israel eventuated in another provisional arrangement. God unveiled the election of the Church. In this He narrowed down His program to a people out of every nation, and decided to lift them to even a higher position than the nation of Israel. This people were to become the bride of Christ and the ruling aristocracy in the kingdom. This program is not failing. Despite the onslaught of Satan, the gates of Hades cannot prevail against it. One day soon it will be completed, Christ will come, and the Kingdom will be inaugurated in its first phase. Once this has begun, it will move on without interruption until it is completed in the eternal state.

2. The story has now reached its grand consummation. It is so wonderful that at this point an invitation is addressed to all whom it may concern (Rev. 22:17): “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely”. Since the second coming of the Lord Jesus will usher this drama into fulfillment of the first and final phases of the ideal realization of the divine program, like the apostle John we all ought to join him in praying: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

3. A little girl was born into this world blind. To compensate in some small way for this deficiency, the parents spent hours each day describing to the little girl the beauties of nature: the glow of sun as it rises out of the east; the azure blue of the sky; the green verdure of the hills; the beauty of the flowers; and the golden sunset at the close of day. Then they learned that by means of a delicate operation it might be possible to restore her sight. They submitted her into the hands of a noted surgeon. The operation was performed and the day came to remove the bandages. It was decided to do it at home. When the bandages were taken away, the little girl, with arms flying, ran to the open window and then to the open door. Then turning, she ran into the open arms of her mother, down whose cheeks tears were streaming, and she said to her mother: "Why didn't you tell me things were so beautiful?" To which the mother replied, "I tried to, but I couldn't."

            I think it will be like that for us someday. When we see John the apostle, we may say to him, "Why didn't you tell us things were so beautiful?" And his reply will be, "I tried to, but I couldn't."