Bokeh

The Kingdom of God on Earth

Matt. 6:10 - “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Kingdom is the rule and reign of God as was Eden, Israel in the promise land, Jesus on earth and the church today.

  • What we should notice is that there is always a clash of light and darkness where the rule and reign of God is.

  • Eden – The serpent

  • Israel, the land – drive the enemy out. (other nations at war)

  • Jesus – religious system and the devil.

  • The church – the world’s system, the world, the flesh and the devil

Jesus prepared His followers for tribulation (John 16:33) Persecution (Matt. 5;11-12) Hebrews 10:32-35

  • Paul, who suffered the most (2 Cor 11:23-27) clashed with the forces of evil as he preached Christ and demonstrated the kingdom in power (1 Cor 4:20)

Persecution comes in many forms, Israel in the OT to the church in the NT and Christians from the NT church to now has undergone persecution, including death.

  • Israel in Babylon is a perfect example of how the kingdom operated and how evil resists it as God’s rule and reign prevails.

  • The book of Daniel – we find Israel in captivity and are no longer in their own land. (Note: the church today has no land, the Kingdom of God is within people not in an ark inside a temple on some land.)

  • Daniel and the three Hebrew children are a perfect picture of God using His people who live among the darkness as light being the rule and reign of God themselves.

  • They ate their own food and though they had to learn the culture and customs never compromised who they were or their beliefs. (Dan 1:3-16)

  • Dan. 2 - Danial interprets a dream – Vs 46-49 he and others promoted.

  • Then the persecution (Daniel 3:7-30) the worship of the golden image.

  • God was faithful and protected them and promoted them.

  • Daniel 4 – Dream interpreted Vs. 25-37

  • Daniel 6 – The plot against Danial. Vs. 3-28

  • Do you see a pattern in these stories? God’s people are blessed, persecuted, protected and promoted. (No weapon formed against them prospered. (Like Joseph, in Egypt he prospered in every season and stage of his life from the pit to the pinnacle.

  • They did not build a system, take over a kingdom, or promote themselves. But was used by God in His rule and reign in Babylon.