Thy Kingdom Come

When Jesus was on earth He told His followers that He must die, that He must go away, but would come again and receive them to Himself. (John 14:1‑3). He further taught them that He would go away from earth and return to receive His kingdom. (Luke 19:10‑12). Since He was on earth the gospel has been preached in order that some might hear, believe and become true followers of Jesus; and being faithful unto death, should participate with Christ in His kingdom. (Rev.20:6; Rev.2.10; Col.3:4).

For over nineteen hundred years the hope of the Christian has been the Second Coming of the Lord, and the establishment of His Father's kingdom on earth. These have prayed from the heart: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven". This is the kingdom which will bring deliverance to mankind, and which will bless all the families of the earth with the opportunity of life, liberty and happiness eternal. The Revelator saw in symbolic vision the present order of things passed away and all things made new. After seeing the Devil, the adversary of God and oppressor of man (Rev.20:1‑3) bound, he saw a new heaven and a new earth, a new order of things, and the present order of things passed away. He saw the time when death will be no more, when sorrow and suffering and pain will be ended.

He saw One on the throne (Christ, the new king of all mankind) saying "He that overcometh shall inherit these things"—the blessings of life, and freedom from sorrows and suffering, and the oppression of the Devil. (Rev.21:1‑7). These blessings are for all, even those in the grave. To this end God has provided a resurrection of the dead through Christ His Son. Jesus said that the time was coming when those in the graves would hear His voice and come forth. (John 5:28). The Revelator further saw a river of life proceeding to man from the throne of God and the Lamb, and Christ and His Bride, the Church, glorified, inviting whosoever will to come and drink of the water of life freely. (Rev.22:1‑3:17). The Apostle Peter spoke of "times of restitution of all things" when Christ should return. Restitution means a restoration of something lost. Through sin, man lost life and his Eden home. Jesus said that He came to "seek and to save that which was lost". In His kingdom, the earth is to be made beautiful and fruitful. (See Isa.35:1‑10 and Ezek.36:35 for proof that earth will be like Eden). Man will then be given a full opportunity to live for ever (Ezek.18:19‑23), but those who are disobedient will be destroyed from amongst the people. (Acts 3:19‑23).

When Christ's work on behalf of man is complete, every knee shall bow to Jesus' name; all living creatures in heaven and earth will praise God. (Rev.5:13; Phil.2:7‑11). Every follower of Jesus desires His kingdom to come. The disciples asked Him when it would come and for signs of His return and kingdom (Matt.24:3). The Lord's reply (verses 7 and 8) tell us plainly that world wars and events following are the signs that His Kingdom is near. Before man gets the blessings of this kingdom he is to pass through a great wave of trouble which will completely destroy the present order upon the ruins of which Christ's kingdom—the new heaven and earth—will be established. The Bible message for today is "The Kingdom of God is at hand", which should be a message of joy and hope to all who desire better things for mankind.

FM