The Church is the Kingdom

The prophet Isaiah foretold of the kingdom that was to come. He specified the place for the beginning and described its nature. "…For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem …and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:1-4). The latter part of the above passage indicates that Christ's kingdom would be a spiritual kingdom as opposed to a warring kingdom. The "law" Isaiah spoke of is the "new covenant" of which Jeremiah spoke (Jer 31:31-34). On one occasion, Jesus said to his disciples that some standing about would not die before the kingdom would come into existence (Mark 9:1). This meant that it was near. Later, he told his apostles (Lu 24:49b) "…Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem , until ye be endued with power from on high." We read in Acts 1:4 that Jesus was assembled with the apostles. He commanded them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the promise about which he had spoken previously (Luke 24:49a). The apostles asked him; "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6)? From the Lord's reply it is evident that the apostles did not understand the nature of Christ's kingdom. The apostles were assembled together, as commanded, on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1). Since there were many different languages represented, God performed a miracle that served to confirm the word being preached and to help in the actual preaching-everyone heard in their own language (Acts 2:6). This great event was the beginning of the "last days" (Acts 2:17). Peter stood up among the large gathering and preached the first gospel sermon following the crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 2:14). That powerful sermon was convincing and convicting. After some asked what they must do, they were told to "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:36-38). Three thousand gladly received the word and were baptized (Acts 2:41), "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). These people made up the church (meaning "the called out") that Jesus had promised to build (Matt 16:18). Those who obeyed the gospel message were "delivered from the power of darkness" and translated "into the kingdom" of Christ ( Col 1:13). This indicates that the church and the kingdom are the same institution. Therefore, there is no foundation for the idea that Jesus will return to set up his kingdom-he already did that. When the Lord comes again he will deliver the kingdom (the living members of the church) up to God, and then will come "the end" (1 Cor 15:24). Peter tells us that on this great "day of the Lord," the earth will be burned up (2 Pet 3:10, 11).

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