THE CHURCH = THE KINGDOM:

1. Kingdom; “basileia” (Gk.) means: “rule, reign, authority, or power”.

-The Kingdom defined by the “rule, reign, authority, or power” of God (Matthew 12:28 and  

 Luke 17:20-21)

-The Kingdom is, simply, where Christ is submitted to, and served, and honored, as the King.

-A Kingdom illustrated: Luke 19:11-27.

-Things necessary for a ‘kingdom”:

            a) A King; the church has One: Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 6:13-16.

            b) Subjects; the church’s subjects are those in Christ: John 17:20-26.

            c) Territory; the church is made up of all races: Daniel 7:14; Mark 16:15-16.

            d) King’s Edicts; Christ’s church obeys Christ’s commands: Matthew 4:4, John 14:15-23,  

                17:6-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5; 2 John 6-11.

2. The Kingdom prophesied; Read Daniel 2:

-vss. 36-38: “Head of Gold”: The kingdom of Babylon (625-539 BC), ruled over by then King Nebuchadnezzar. Year of the dream: approximately 603 BC.

-vs. 39: “Breast and Arms of Silver”: The Persian Empire (538-332 BC), which replaced the Babylonian Empire (Dan. 5:18-31), and was larger at it’s height than the Babylonian Empire.

-vs. 39: “Belly and Thighs of Bronze”: The Greek Empire (332-?), ruled over by Alexander the Great until his death, at which time his kingdom was divided up into four sections and given to his best four generals: Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus. Later, after much fighting and strife, Seleucus II, along with Antiochus III (Antiochus the Great, as history calls him), invaded Egypt about 216 BC. Later (203 BC) Antiochus invaded again, and then attacked the Mediterranean islands in 191 BC, which marked the beginnings of the Roman Empire .

-vss. 40ff: “Legs of Iron, Feet Partly Clay, Partly Iron”: The Roman Empire; in 190 BC the Romans defeated Antiochus the Great at the Battle of Magnesia. Caesar eventually came to power, and after being killed by his enemies in 44 BC, civil war broke out, and Octavian eventually assumed control. He later proclaimed himself Emperor, with the title of Augustus. It was during his reign that Jesus was born; and during the reign of his successor Tiberius, the crucifixion occurred. The martyrdom of James, the brother of John, took place under the reign of the emperor Claudius (Acts 11:28, 12:1-2). It was to the emperor Nero that Paul appealed (Acts 25:11). The destruction of Jerusalem as prophesied by Jesus (Matt. 24) was accomplished in 70 AD by Titus, who later became Emperor. The empire at its greatest size extended 3000 miles from east to west, 2000 miles from north to south, and its population was approximately 120 million. The iron and clay in verse 42 refers to the resentment of many of the territories under the dominating control of the Roman Government. This later, along with many other factors, would result in much strife and corruption, and ultimately lead to the separation of the Eastern part of the empire in 395 AD (vs. 43).

But notice: Daniel 2:44 very specifically explains that “In the days of THOSE kings…” (referring back to the immediately preceding verses’ prediction, depiction, and description of the Roman Empire in verses 40-43), in the days of the Roman Empire, the God of Heaven would set up a Kingdom that would never be destroyed (See Matthew 16:18-19: This kingdom is His Son’s church).

NOTE: ANY KINGDOM NOT ESTABLISHED DURING THE DAYS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE IS NOT THE KINGDOM OF GOD , OR CHURCH OF GOD/CHRIST , PROPHECIED HERE!

Notice: This Kingdom would:

            …be established during the Roman Empire (vs. 40-44)

            …never be destroyed (vs. 44)

            …never be left to another people (vs. 44)

3. The Kingdom Prophesied Elsewhere:

-Daniel 7:13-14:

a) The kingdom would include peoples of all nations (vs. 14)

    The church does (Acts 2:37-39, 10:34-35; Galatians 3:23-29; Revelation 5:9)

b) Christ’s kingdom would not pass away nor be destroyed (vs. 14)

    Christ’s church won’t either (Matthew 16:18-19)

            -Isaiah 2:2-3:

The “Mountain of the House of the Lord” would:

                        …come in the last days (vs. 2)

                                    Christ’s church did (Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:1-2)

                        …be the Lord’s house (vs. 2 & 3)

                                    Christ’s church is (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19-22)

                        …include people of all nations (vs. 2)

                                    Christ’s church does (Acts 11:15-18; Colossians 1:18-23; Revelation 5:9-10)

                        …begin with the word proceeding forth from Jerusalem (vs. 3)

                                    Christ’s church began, and spread forth, from Jerusalem as the

gospel went into all the world from there (Acts 1 & 2, Acts 8:1-5)

NOTE: ANY “HOUSE OF GOD” WHICH WAS NOT ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED IN JERUSALEM FROM WHENCE THE WORD WOULD GO FORTH ACCORDING TO GOD, IS NOT THE KINGDOM GOD PROPHECIED HERE!

-Isaiah 9:6-7:

                        -Christ would be born, to establish and govern, an unending kingdom:

The angel Gabriel confirmed this when His birth was imminent (Luke 1:26-33).

His never-ending kingdom is His church (Matthew 16:18-19)

            Zechariah 1:16:

                        -The Lord’s house would be built in Jerusalem .

                         The Lord’s church was established there (Acts 1 & 2)

4. The kingdom getting very, very, near (note: during the days of the Roman Empire ):

-“Kingdom at hand”: Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 10:7; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 10:9-11, 11:20.

-This Kingdom:

a) Would be a place where God’s will would be obeyed on earth, just as it was in Heaven

    (Matthew 6:10).

b) Would come during some of the disciples’ lifetime who were alive then

                            (Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27).

c) Would need to cleaned out, or purged, of the evil it would contain “at the close of the

    age”, before the remaining righteous within it would come into the eternal, or

    Heavenly aspect of it (Matthew 13:40-43)

-In Matthew 16:18-19 we see some very conclusive evidence that the “kingdom” and the “church”, are by and large, synonymous terms:

                        a)  Jesus uses “kingdom” and “church” interchangeably.

                        b) Christ’s church would not be overpowered or outlasted by even Hades

                            (Compare “kingdom” in Daniel 2:44, 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:26-33).

c) Peter would “unlock” the Kingdom; Peter “unlocked”, or “opened up”, the Lord’s

    church on the day of Pentecost, by preaching the first gospel sermon, and binding

    repentance and baptism as “terms of admission” to enter into Christ’s church/kingdom

    (Acts 2:37-47). Even Jesus Himself had explained them to Nicodemus (John 3:3-5).

NOTE: ANY CHURCH NOT ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED DURING THE REIGN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND WITHIN THE THEN-LIVING DISCIPLES’ LIFETIME, IN JERUSALEM, BY PETER, HONORING AND TEACHING REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND AS THE “TERMS OF ENTRANCE” INTO THAT CHURCH/KINGDOM, IS NOT CHRIST’S CHURCH/KINGDOM, ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE.

5. The kingdom and the gospel: Matthew 9:35; Acts 8:12 (see Mark 16:16)

6. The earthly portion of the Kingdom CAME!

7. After Acts chapter 2 where Christ’s church came into existence when Peter unlocked, or opened it up, the kingdom’s establishment on earth is shown in the PAST TENSE, and the “on earth” aspect of the kingdom as being in existence in the first century:

a)     Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 14:13-18; 1 Corinthians 4:16-20

b)    Hebrews 12:18-24, 28; Revelation 1:5-9, 5:9-10

Of course there is an eternal Heavenly aspect of it as well which we’ve not yet experienced (Matthew 25; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 15:50-56; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Timothy 4:18; 2 Peter 1:11), but, that is where all those who are in Christ’s earthly aspect of the kingdom, His church, will eventually end up, IF they continue faithful (Matthew 13:40-41, Chapter 25; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 2 & 3).

8. The “Kingdom of heaven”, “ Kingdom of God ”, “His Kingdom”, and “ Kingdom of His Dear Son ”, all refer to the same institution:

a)     Matthew 16:28 and Mark 9:1

b)    Matthew 19:23 and Mark 10:25

c)     Matthew 3:2 and Mark 1:5

d)    Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28.

The different phraseology is simply due to different writers, but the Kingdom is still the Kingdom.

9. The Church: The Kingdom; Parallels:

-Acts 20:28: The church (the people) was purchased with His blood.

            Revelation 5:9-10: The Kingdom (the people) was purchased with His blood.

-Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24: Christ is the Head of His church.

            Luke 1:30-33: Christ would reign over His Kingdom.

-1 Corinthians 1:1-2: Christ’s church is made up of saints.

Colossians 1:2 and 13: Christ’s Kingdom is made up of saints.

-1 Peter 2:5, 9-10: Christ’s N.T. people (His church) are “priests”

            Revelation 1:6: Christ’s kingdom is comprised of “priests”

10. The church of Christ and the Kingdom of God in Scripture can be seen to have exactly the same marks of identity:

11. Our Divine Relationship:

It is our sincere hope, prayer, and desire, that you might indeed check out these references in the Word of God Itself, and seek for yourself, the kingdom of God and His righteousness, as of first and foremost importance in your life. (Matthew 6:33). We would gladly and heartily welcome your Biblical questions, concerns, or comments regarding any Scripture references you find contained in this study; that’s why we take the time to post such studies: For your careful consideration and contemplation relative to your salvation.

There are a lot of denominations and denominational doctrines here in Rapid City , as well as, we believe, many earnest, honest, and ardent seekers of Almighty God and eternity in Heaven with Him. Our intention and purpose, is to simply present the Word of God as the all-authoritative and final word on what that process truly entails, so that those who are truly seeking, may truly find.

We seek to follow ONLY God’s Word, as the one and only way to truly come to know the Savior and get to spend eternity in Heaven with Them, through Him (Hebrews 1:1 & 2). If that sounds like what you’re looking for too, please consider joining us some Sunday soon for study and worship. And certainly, if you have any questions regarding anything whatsoever that you find contained in the Bible studies on this website, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

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If that’s what you honestly seek, come and find!!!