The kingdom was established on the first Pentecost
after the
ascension of Christ
Several passages in the Old Testament look forward to and describe the day of Pentecost
in Acts chapter
two. To make it easy to remember, just think of the great "two" chapters of the
Old Testament.
First is Isaiah. Isaiah 2:2-3 tells us that the Lord's house would be established
in the top of the mountains. The Lord's house is referring to the church (1
Tim 3:15). The top
of the mountains is talking about Jerusalem because of its great elevation (over 2500 ft. above
sea level). Verse three tells how the word of the Lord would go forth from Jerusalem. We see
this carried out throughout the book of Acts starting in chapter
8.
Daniel 2 is the next passage of Old Testament Scripture at which we will look. In this
chapter, Daniel interprets a dream for the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar
had seen an image with an head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs
of iron, and feet of iron and clay (Dan
2:32-33). He also saw a stone cut without hands which
smote the image upon the feet and destroyed it. Yet the stone became a great mountain and
filled the whole earth (Dan
2:34-35). Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he was the head of gold (Dan
2:38). The breast and arms of silver was another kingdom which would come after his
(Dan 2:39). This would be the Medo-Persian Empire. Another kingdom after that would be the
belly and thighs of brass. This was to be the Grecian Empire. The last kingdom, represented by
the iron, was to be the Roman Empire. The feet of iron and clay show that that empire was
divided and had internal problems. Daniel 2:44 is the key verse;
"And in the days of these kings
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed..." The kings being
talked about are the kings of Rome. Therefore, the kingdom would come during the Roman
Empire.
Next week we will look at Joel 2 and also some New Testament passages which point to
Pentecost as the start of the Kingdom.
Part 2
Having already discussed Daniel 2 and
Isaiah 2, we will now look at
Joel 2. Joel 2:28-32
is a prophecy about the coming of the church. It tells us that God would pour of His Spirit on
the people and that they would prophesy, and dream dreams, and have visions. Also, the place
of the establishment is given: Jerusalem.
Now going to the New Testament we can see some predictions which Jesus made that
also pointed to Pentecost. In Mark
9:1, we learn two very important things. First, that the
kingdom of God was going to be established during the lifetime of those present when the
statement was made. Second, that the kingdom would come with power.
Luke 24:49 tells us where that power was going to be given to the Apostles; in Jerusalem.
Acts 1:8 tells us that the power would come when the Spirit was come upon the Apostles.
So, from all the predictions made thus far we know that:
- The kingdom was to be established during the days of the Roman empire (Dan
2:44).
- The kingdom was going to be established in Jerusalem (Isaiah
2:2,3).
- The kingdom was going to be established when the Spirit was poured out (Joel
2:28-32).
- The kingdom would be established during the lives of the Apostles (Mark
9:1).
- The kingdom would come with power (Mark
9:1).
- The power was going to come in Jerusalem (Luke
24:49).
- The power was given when the Holy Spirit was poured out (Acts
1:8).
Where were all of these predictions fulfilled perfectly? Acts
2:1-4.
This is when the church was
established. From this point on in the Bible, the kingdom of God is talked about as already
being in existence (Col
1:13; Rev
1:9). From the list of Scriptures given above we can prove
decisively to anyone with an honest heart when the kingdom was established.
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--
Ralph Price --
