I would like to speak first of all of the kingdom; then of the inheritance—two distinct subjects. The verses that we will read are very definitely connected with our subject, and in the order in which I am sure it will be a help to us to follow, because of what is coming. We will be associated with it all, whether it be in the kingdom, or whether it be in connection with the inheritance.
The Kingdom
First of all, turn to Psalm 2:6-76Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:6‑7) “Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten thee.” God made promise to Israel that they would have a kingdom and that the son of David (who is Christ) would be over that kingdom. We have here the Lord Jesus identified in His manhood—the only begotten One. The next verse in this Psalm has to do with the inheritance, which we will take up later.
Now, turn to Romans 11:2525For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25): “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” What is “the fullness of the Gentiles?” It is Armageddon. There were four empires in Daniel, chapter seven. The last one is the Roman, and the Roman Empire will be destroyed at that time—Armageddon. That is the fullness of the Gentiles. Then the Jewish nation will be brought back into blessing again. The Epistle to the Romans takes up this subject and shows how there have been special privileges given to the Gentiles. And, if they are not faithful to what has been given them, God is going to break them off and graft Israel in again. That is what is going to happen very, very soon! If you and I, who are believers, were taken out of this world today in the rapture, then in seven years Israel will be back again in blessing. They will be the head, and not the tail. So the fullness of the Gentiles has to do with that moment when the last empire which had replaced Israel is destroyed; then Israel will come back into blessing again. Then all of God’s purposes concerning Israel and all of the promises to the fathers, will be fulfilled. That will be a wonderful day—the day when the curse will be removed. This poor world is reeling under the curse; but it will be removed in that day.
Turn now to 2 Samuel 23:1-51Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2 Samuel 23:1‑5), “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although He make it not to grow.” But, He will make it to grow—and the One he refers to is the Lord Jesus. When He comes, then David’s desires will all be fulfilled, and he will be there in that day.
Then we have the character of that coming day. It will be introduced by the Lord Jesus Himself on the earth. This will take place sometime after seven years after the church is gone. Today some say that the rapture and the appearing are the same, but they are not. If you read carefully in the New Testament, you will see that there are seven years of trial coming on this earth; and, that has to come in between the rapture and the Lord’s appearing here on the earth. Also, it will be during that time in heaven when there will be the judgment seat of Christ. So, there will be seven years, or more, after the church is gone before the kingdom will be set up. “He that ruleth over men must be just.” This has never happened yet. But it will happen—evil will not be allowed in that kingdom. It will be cut off every morning. Can you picture a world like that? Evil cut off every morning throughout the whole kingdom! It won’t be allowed to pass through the day. Because, there will be no tempter in that day—Satan will be bound. Only that which arises in man’s heart will come out, and it will be judged.
We will ask the question now, How will this be all brought about? We know the Lord Jesus Himself is going to do it, but how will it be brought about? Does not Israel have to answer in some way for what they have done? You remember at the cross, where they said, “His blood be upon us, and on our children?” So Israel will be visited. Before Armageddon will begin the great indignation against Israel. In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, you have the indignation beginning and ending. It begins with Israel; it begins at the House of God. (We are speaking of the earth now; the church is in heaven.) The great indignation is against Israel—“His blood be upon us, and on our children.” In that day, God is going to work in the hearts of the remnant until they realize fully what they have done. And, in that respect, not until we get home, dear brethren, will we realize the value of the work of Christ as we should. We think we do now; but, really, we do not. We don’t value the work of Christ as we should; it is quite evident to ourselves that we don’t. Israel doesn’t realize. And, even when He returns, they won’t realize until the time when it says that, “every family will weep apart.” Then they will realize fully. Individually each family will weep apart. That is later.
Now we will turn to Zechariah 14. In this chapter Israel has a very terrible visitation.
“Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations [notice that!] against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:1-31Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:1‑3)). This passage only tells us a little bit of what will take place. If we had the time, we could spend a great deal of it just on that subject. But we only want to get an outline here. If you read in the Psalms, you will see that blood will flow like water in the streets of Jerusalem. “His blood be upon us, and on our children.” That is what is coming on Jerusalem. But, we learn that what is coming on the nations will be far greater than what is coming on Jerusalem. Yes; God has something to say to that people; and He has something to say to the nations. But, we find that the nations come as the “army of God” against His people. God is sending the nations against His people.
There are two attacks on Jerusalem. The first attack we have just read. And you will find it also in Joel, chapter two, and in Isaiah, chapter ten. Turn to Isaiah 10. This chapter has both attacks in it. Before the fifth verse of this chapter, there are seven woes given by the prophet Isaiah, starting in chapter five. But, as the result of their not listening, he says (Isa. 10:55O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. (Isaiah 10:5)): “O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the staff in their hand is Mine indignation.” That is His indignation against His people. “I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of My wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets” (Isaiah 10:66I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (Isaiah 10:6)). That is the first attack.
Now, read verse 24: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, O My people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and he shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.” How was that? You know what happened—just as the enemy was in the midst of the sea, he was cut off. That is the second attack. In the second attack they will never touch the Jew. He will be delivered. It is the great deliverance for Israel; it is the time of all nations. “For yet a very little while (45 days, to be exact), and the indignation shall cease” (Isaiah 10:2525For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. (Isaiah 10:25)). That is the end of the indignation. And, how will it cease? “...and Mine anger in their destruction.” His anger ceases then in the destruction of the enemy.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing” (Isaiah 10:2727And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:27)). There was a yoke put upon Israel; and remember, that in the last attack all Israel will be there, not just the two tribes, as in the first attack. It is because, in the meanwhile, the Lord’s feet have been placed on the Mount of Olives; and then He will set up the kingdom in the two tribes. The dominion goes to Judah. Judah has the first dominion we are told in Micah. Then the two tribes will have the kingdom. Why? Because the ten tribes had seceded from them in the time of Rehoboam. So God sets up the nation again in the two tribes. “Then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel” (Mic. 5:33Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (Micah 5:3)). The two tribes are called the children of Israel until the remnant of the ten tribes return.
We are told that it is the Assyrian who is the enemy. He was the enemy in Deuteronomy, and will be all the way through. He comes under different names—“The King of the North,” Media, Persia, etc.—because Russia does not come down until the last. Russia is the great Assyrian of the last days. He is called “Gog,” the name of the one who is in charge of the Russian armies that come down in the last days.
Now we get the exact itinerary of this attacking army and their destruction. The 33rd and 34th verses give the destruction of the enemy—they are likened unto trees that are cut down. After this, and they are delivered, the question arises, Who are the ones who are going to rule? We know that Christ is, and we know that He will have a prince in charge. Turn to Micah 5:77And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. (Micah 5:7), “And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as the dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.” What does that tell us? It tells us that all of the blessing that will be on the earth will come through the hand of the Jew. They will be the head and not the tail, as they are today. When God begins to act, He acts in the way that is according to His own heart. But remember, it is after the people have repented. If you read carefully in the twelfth chapter of Zechariah you will see that the whole nation will mourn. It is the Feast of Atonement. And they mourn every family apart—they are given to feel it down in their hearts. There will be a full and deep repentance on the part of the people of Israel when they finally come into the blessing. And they will be the means of the blessing of the whole earth.
But, what else? “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver” (Micah 5:88And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:8)). This tells us that Israel will be the police force of the earth. It is Israel that will handle the government of the earth directly. Israel will be the one that God will make the chief under Christ, directly to dispose of everything on the earth that is necessary to handle in government.
Now, turn to Daniel 7:2727And 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. (Daniel 7:27), “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven (the Millennial kingdom), 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 (that is, Christ).” Who are “the saints of the most High”? Are they the church? They are included. Are they the Old Testament saints? Yes. Are they the martyrs? Yes. They are all those who have either died in Christ, or those who have been raptured. They are “the saints of the most High.” Remember how in the twentieth chapter of Revelation (verse 4) the martyrs were told that they were going to reign? The church, too, is going to reign with Christ—and so are the Old Testament saints. The “most High” is a Millennial term, referring of course to the most High God. So, Israel will be the immediate ones on the earth. But how will those who have died, risen, and gone to heaven reign? Just as the angels today carry on everything connected with the universe under the hand of Christ. They will be replaced by the saints. You get that in the twelfth chapter of Hebrews. Remember where we read that “the powers of heaven shall be shaken?” The powers of heaven are the angels. There will be a change in heaven, and Christ and the church will take over in the administration of all the affairs of the universe in that day.
Please turn now to Isaiah 65:17-2517For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. 24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 65:17‑25). “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth [it is figurative]: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat of the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people [the thousand years], and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain [it will be like the Garden of Eden], nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.” The “mountain” refers to a kingdom, or power. It is Israel.
We have skipped over a great deal, but we have tried to bring out the main points in regard to the kingdom. When it says in the Old Testament that they will reign forever, it refers to the Millennial Day. It is because, life and incorruptibility have been brought to light by the gospel (2 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10) JND). Eternity in the Old Testament simply went as far as the Millennial Day; there was no revelation of anything further.
The Inheritance
The kingdom and also the inheritance are both connected by that verse in Psalm 2 which goes between (verse 7): “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me. Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten thee.” That is, all centers around Christ; but, Christ as a man—“this day have I begotten thee.”
Now, Psalm 2:88Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8) (God is saying to Christ): “Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” When God gives this to Christ, do you think He will ever take it away from Him again? No! This is a gift from the Father to the Son. It has nothing to do with the kingdom we have been speaking about; this is the inheritance. The kingdom we have been speaking about terminates at the end of the Millennial day. Then, time will be no longer. It is then that the inheritance begins. In Ephesians 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10), we learn that the Son Himself is going to have all things in His hands—everything. That will be the result of the Millennium. It is called, “the fullness of times.” It is the end of time. He will have brought under control everything that, as the eternal Son, He created. All government, all authorities, all powers, will be brought under His authority. According to 1 Corinthians 15:2828And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28), we learn that He then hands it all over to God, even the Father, that God may be all in all. Then He takes up the inheritance.
“Ask of Me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” This is the possession. The Millennial Day was not His possession. He, under God, was given to rule for a thousand years. At the end He gives it up to God, even the Father. But this is His possession. What does that have to do with you and me? We noticed that we have something to do with the Millennial Day, because we are going to reign with Christ over it. But now we have something that is a possession of Christ—it belongs to Him. It will never be taken from Him, like the Millennial Day, which He will give up.
Please turn now to Ephesians 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10), “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.” That is the Millennial Day, which closes everything in connection with the earth. Now, verse 11, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” We have here purpose—the eternal counsels of God. The second chapter of Genesis gives us the counsels of God; the third chapter, man’s sin. Before failure, God tells us what He is going to do. Isn’t that blessed? God is going to carry out a program of blessing for His creature even though he has sinned. How can He do that? It is the result of the work of Christ—only that. And, Christ has received an inheritance—it belongs to Him. It will never be taken from Him.
“In whom we have received an inheritance.” We are going to share this with Him. How long? Forever and ever. Do we know that? Yes! Turn to Hebrews 9:1515And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15), “And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” We know these things, but have we made them our own? Are they forming our lives, or are we living down here as though we belonged to this earth? That is the danger. We don’t belong here. Where is the inheritance? Is it on earth? No, it is not on the earth, although it includes the earth.
Turn to 1 Peter 1:44To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4), “To an inheritance incorruptible (that is its character), and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” Is that all? No! It is “reserved in heaven for you.” (What more can we ask, dear brethren?) “Who are kept by the power of God.” It is reserved in heaven—not on earth; we do not belong to this earth. Samson had a secret. When he lost his secret, or gave it up, he lost his testimony. When you and I lose the secret that we are a heavenly people, we lose our testimony. We may go on and say a lot of things; but we have lost our testimony if we give up the truth that we are a heavenly people. We belong to heaven. Our whole eternity will be with Christ in heaven. Oh, how blessed!
Now, turn to 1 Corinthians 15:2424Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24) (we go back now to the end of the Millennial Day): “Then cometh the end (that is the end of time, the ‘fullness of times’ of Ephesians 1), when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father.” Why does it say, “even the Father?” There must be some reason for this. “Every word of God is pure.” That means it has a meaning. “Even the Father.” Could this be said in the Old Testament? No. It began when the Lord Jesus said to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)): “Go unto My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your father; and unto My God, and your God.” This was not known in the Old Testament.
So, in what way do we learn this—“even the Father?” In the Old Testament in Leviticus 6:55Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. (Leviticus 6:5), and perhaps other places, that when a man stole something, and he was found out, he had to pay back what he had stolen. But he also had to add twenty percent again—a fifth part. He had to add to what he had stolen and taken away. When the Lord Jesus died He could say, “Then I restored that which I took not away” (Psa. 69:44They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. (Psalm 69:4)). But, beloved, He added a fifth part to it. What was that fifth part? God has been brought into a place of nearness that was never known before. You and I, as belonging to the church, can call Him our Father. But, not only that; every part of the creation will know God in a new way. They won’t know Him as Father directly, as we do. But Christ will say to the nations, “Come ye blessed of My Father” (Matt. 25:3434Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34)). They are blessed in connection with the Father of the Lord Jesus. So the whole creation will be affected by this new position, and it will be in government; that is, the government that God exercises over all of His creatures. It will be a place of nearness that was never known before. It won’t be God at a distance—almighty God. That is true; but it will be God in the sense that He is the Father of the Lord Jesus. Isn’t that blessed?
These are things that have been brought to us as the result of the work of our blessed Savior. How near we have been brought to God! And, how near He has been brought to His people! It was God’s original purpose that man should be blessed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Only those who rebel at His Word—who reject it—are the ones who will never partake of these blessings. But those who have owned the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, those who go on in the enjoyment of what He has provided (and there we have our souls built up day by day), will enjoy His presence, and the result of His works for us—forever and forever!
Now, back to 1 Corinthians 15:25-2825For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:25‑28), “For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But, when He saith, all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. [That is, Christ willingly put these things under His Father.] And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” The Lord Jesus here takes His place as man forever. Forever! After He has done everything, as man, that the father has asked Him to do in all perfection, even to the doing away with death forever, then He takes His place as man with His bride forever. We have spoken of the future of Israel, and their blessings on the earth. Now we are speaking of the future of the church, and her blessings in connection with the inheritance.
What is the inheritance? Oh beloved, the inheritance is all created things—everything that was created by the Lord Jesus. That is the inheritance. Do you know that there will be people living on the new earth forever? Yes, forever. And, there will be those who will be living in heaven forever. What a day that will be!
Now, another verse comes in, in this connection. Turn to Revelation 22, the end of verse 5: “For the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.” Now we will be reigning forever and ever. What does this mean? I thought that we had been through with the kingdom. Yes, we are. This is not the original kingdom on earth. On the earth, and in heaven, there will be a people: Old Testament saints; on earth there will be those who have come out of the Millennial Day, who have never died; and the church will be in the Father’s house with the Lord Jesus. But the Lord Jesus, as a man, will be over everything which is included in redemption’s work. So, it is a kingdom. It is not a kingdom of nations, for there are no nations. But it is a kingdom. Marvelous truth, isn’t it? Not a kingdom as we regard it but a king on a throne. No, it will be a moral kingdom. It will be the kingdom of God in its fullness—righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Turn to 2 Peter 1:1111For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11), “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Now, what kind of an entrance would you like to have into this everlasting kingdom? Beloved, would you like to have an abundant entrance? Read the first part of this chapter carefully, and you will see how it can be. Do you really want an abundant entrance into that everlasting kingdom? You will be there if you are a Christian. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an abundant entrance? That is what Scripture speaks of. Does our present attitude have an effect on this? Our daily ways, do they have an effect on this? I am sure they do. What is in our thoughts day by day, in regard to eternity? Are we thinking of the day when we are going to be with Christ Himself? The verses we passed over in Revelation 22 assure us that we will see His face. Perhaps you have heard that song, “Face to face with Christ my Savior?” What a wonderful day that will be! What does that mean? It means personal communion. There will be no one standing in the corner, wishing that they could see Him, and talk with Him. No. Every one there will have personal communion with the Lord Jesus. And, may I say, It is no different from what can be now, if you want it. You and I can have personal communion with the Lord Jesus now, if we want it. We will have it then.
Now, in connection with Ephesians 1 again: The Apostle is praying here, and also in the third chapter. The character of his prayer here is different from the third chapter. Notice it, starting in Ephesians 1:1717That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:17), “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father [or, the author] of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” What language! Not the glory, but the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints! What is Paul the Apostle telling us here? Just that he wants us to have our eyes opened. Did he pray that we might have power? No, we have that. “All power is given unto Me,” the Lord said; and if you want it, come to Him and you will have it. No, He is praying that our eyes might be opened to see what we already have.
What do we have? Let’s read on, Ephesians 1:19-2319And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:19‑23); “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, [That is the secret of it all, beloved—the power that He wrought in Christ when He raised Him out from among the dead] and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness [or, complement] of Him that filleth all in all.” It never says that the Lord Jesus is all in all. God is all in all. But it does say that the Lord Jesus “filleth all in all.” How blessed! The Father is the source; the Lord Jesus is the means by which all blessing comes.
We have gone now to the very highest pinnacle, we might say, of blessing for the church. You can’t go any higher than this. Here, we see the church in the Father’s house in heaven with Christ. He is head over all things to the church. Can you go any higher that this? No!
Now, just one more thought, in Revelation 3. What we are going to read comes at the time of Laodicea, the lowest state mentioned in connection with the church of God. It is interesting to see that, this is when the Lord comes in blessing—when everything is at the bottom. When the sinner is down at his lowest point, then the Lord comes in and saves him. Here we have the church at its lowest point; everything is in ruin. What does He say? Notice, Revelation 3:1414And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14), “and unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness [that is Jesus], the beginning of the creation of God.” What is this? We have been speaking about things; haven’t we come to the sum of them? No, we haven’t even spoken of the new creation. There is a creation that is of God. The first one was not; it was by God. But the new creation is of God. What does this mean? Oh, beloved, we are overwhelmed at the thought. This is a creation where everything is of God. Can your mind grasp it? A creation where everything is of God. What does it mean that Christ is the beginning of it? He is the public manifestation of all the power and glory of God for the first time. He is the firstborn. He is the One who brings it into view; and we join Him in it for all eternity.
A new creation, and you and I are already a part of it. But this new creation has to do with all created things. This present world is going to burn up—the surface will be burnt; there will not be any more seas. Only one-eighth of this earth is habitable; the rest is water. And there is a day coming when there won’t be any water left; it will all be burned. It will be a physical creation, and there will be men on it. Can you picture, during the thousand years on the earth, that there will be no death? Think how quickly the earth will multiply and spread out during those thousand years. And, except for those who are slain at the end, the rest pass on into a new earth—a new creation that is of God. What does it mean? When you look over here, you see God. When you look the other way, you see God. Everywhere you look, you see God! What do we see today? We have to hide our faces, don’t we? But, not then; everything will be of God.
So, that is the story. We have just touched a few spots here and there, beloved; but it will give us each something to think about. And, I trust it is the true order in which things will occur in that coming day for the glory of Christ, and for the blessing of His people, and that the Lord Jesus might have all the glory, praise and honor.