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THE KINGDOM OF GOD

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 13, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 50.

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THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

By L. D. Santee

"The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Ps. 37: 11.
THERE is an objective view that stands out peaceful and calm at the end of this world's stormy history. Wreathed in eternal sunlight, it appears the supreme object of desire. In all the ocean of the ages, wistful eyes have looked longingly for the everlasting hills of home. It is sometimes called, "the first dominion;" sometimes, "the purchased possession;" but it is oftener referred to as the kingdom of God.
It is of long continuance, and of great extent. "And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Dan. 7: 27.
It existed first in Eden, and the fruits and flowers of Paradise gladdened the hearts and eyes of the king and queen of the new world. God declared of the perfection that He had created, that "it was very good." Gen. 1: 31. When He shall reward His people, He will say to them, "Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25: 34.
Adam failed to keep his inheritance, and Satan said to Christ concerning the kingdoms of the world, "That is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it." Luke 4: 5, 6. Christ recognizes Satan as having control, and speaks of him as "the prince of this world." John 12: 31; 14: 30.
Christ does not act as king until He has first redeemed His people, through His office of High Priest." Heb. 6: 20. He said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18: 36.

Restoration Sure.

But, thank God, the Eden beauty will come again. The "times of restitution" are foretold by all the prophets, since the world began. Acts 3: 21. The "first dominion" will be restored to the "Tower of the flock," and "the kingdom shall come to the daughters of Jerusalem." Micah 4: 8.
John announces voices in heaven that are saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." Rev. 11: 15. There we shall sing the song of redemption together. There we shall tread eternal pathways, and drink of the river of life.
It is a matter of desire, and all over the earth longing hearts are praying, "Thy kingdom come." It is also a matter of promise; so the scripture tells of those who are "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him." James 2: 5. And Christ says, "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." Matt. 5: 5.

A Matter of Prophecy.

When in vision upon the isle of Patmos, John was shown the redeemed as they will appear after the coming of Christ, and heard them singing, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." Rev. 5: 9, 10. "We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3: 13.
The Lord says, "Behold I make all things new." Rev. 21: 5. He did not say, I make all new things, but those things which are waxed "old like a garment" are to be renewed, or made new, and possessed by the saints forever. Thus the Bible teaches very plainly that this earth, now filled with wickedness and burdened with the curse, is to be made new, the curse removed, then filled with the glory of God, to be inherited by "the saints of the Most High" forever and ever.
A kingdom consists of a king, territory, subjects, and laws. In the kingdom of God it is easy to recognize each. Christ is the king. Rev. 11: 15. This earth is the territory, and the righteous are the subjects. Dan. 7: 27. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matt. 13: 43.
The beauties of that land are beyond conception, its joys eternal. The loved will mingle in sweetest fellowship. Dear ones will clasp hands in holiest tenderness. We shall know as we are known, and the recognition will be with unspeakable joy.

The Hope of the Saints.

In hope of the kingdom of God, martyrs have trodden the paths of peril, saints have paced the cold cells, hearts have ached, souls have hungered, fires have burned around the forms of the faithful. Storms and adversities have pelted the prophets, eyes have wept tears of blood, and brows platted with coronals of persecution have endured, in view of the coming kingdom. The righteous have proven, in the words of Inspiration, that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14: 22.
Of the innumerable company clothed in white it is declared, "These are they which came out of great tribulation." Rev. 7: 14.
Earthly pleasures, wealth, and gain, All I resign; Welcome sorrow, grief, or pain, If heaven be mine."
Well has Christ said of the immortal company, "and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy."
One woman, while listening to the gracious words of Christ, cried out, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." Luke 14: 15. Its rainbows never fade, for they are woven into the foundations of the city. On every side are forms of loveliness more beautiful than islets that slumber on the ocean, and where loved ones that have left us here will stay with us forever.

When Fulfilled.

Will the kingdom come, and the prayer of the ages be answered? When Jesus commenced His ministry the burden of His message was, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." Mark 1: 15. The prophecies of Daniel had outlined four universal monarchies, to be followed by the kingdom of God. In the days of the Saviour three had already arisen, and each in turn had been overthrown. The fourth was in its power. The world was taxed by Caesar Augustus. Luke 2: 1. The kingdom of God was then "at hand," or next to come.Nearly two millenniums have passed since then. The signs that indicate the nearness of the kingdom of God have nearly all been fulfilled. Many are looking for the coming of the king, and "unto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9: 28.
As the New Jerusalem is to descend to the earth, and be its metropolis, it also is included in the kingdom of God. When the Lord comes, the saints are to be taken to this city. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22: 14. They are in the kingdom, whenever they enter the pearly gates.

Cleansing the Kingdom.

When Christ shall come to take possession of the earth it will be filled with His enemies. His first work will be a cleansing work. "As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity." Matt. 13: 40, 41.
But when His work shall be finished, "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the water covers the sea." Hab. 2: 14. It will be "the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3: 13. Then God will have a clean universe. In Rev. 5: 13 is seen this glad consummation. "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever."

A Joyful Kingdom.

When I speak of the joys that are in that kingdom, my pen lingers. Life will be a series of glad surprises. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him." 1 Cor. 2: 9. Rev. 7: 16 speaks of the children of the kingdom: "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
Isaiah declares, "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." Folded under the wing of the Eternal, embosomed on the heart of the Infinite, thrilled with the pulsations of a living faith, we shall be indeed children of God, gathered into the kingdom of our Father. All that love can promise, it is ours to claim. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21: 4.
We read of the city, "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." Ps. 87: 3. Again we read: "I will lay thy stones with fair colors and lay thy foundations with sapphires, and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." Isa. 54: 11.
In holiest fellowship with the pure of all ages, and taught of the Lord, in the kingdom of God will be our rest forever.