Theme

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
In Matthew 1 it is recorded, “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:22-2322Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:22‑23)). The long-promised Messiah has been born. He grows up quietly in Nazareth. When the time arrives, as Isaiah had prophesied, the forerunner, John the Baptist, presents him to the nation with the message, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of the heaven is at hand.” With preaching and works of power, the King presents Himself, for the nation to repent of their sinful ways and receive their king. Sadly, led by their religious leaders, they reject their king, stating, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” As a result, the kingdom on earth is deferred. Being presently rejected, He returns to heaven after his mighty work of redemption on the cross is done. Presently the kingdom is a “kingdom of the heavens,” as the king is in heaven while those who accept Him are on earth. And those who now accept Him as Savior are destined to be with Him in heaven as His bride when He comes again to reign. This issue explains some of what has been happening since His rejection, while waiting for the time to return in power, putting down any who oppose Him and establishing a kingdom of power and glory that will never be replaced.