Number 35

THE KINGDOM IN REALITY

The coming of God's kingdom, that is, the coming of divine government in and over the earth and within the lives of men upon it, is definitely prophesied in Scripture. This fact cannot be honestly questioned. If any think so, then let them explain Psalm 6 7:4; Isa. 9:6,7; and Rom. 15:12. The day will yet come when divine government will be a reality. This is a fact so positive that God often speaks of it as if it were here now. "Say among the nations that the Lord reigneth" (Psalm 96:10). Or, as Rotherham more accurately translates it, "Say among the nations that Jehovah has become King."

I wish very much that we could say this now, that this were true today, that we could proclaim among the nations that Jehovah has become King, that He has assumed sovereignty, that He has taken to Himself His great power and is governing. However, this is not true today, for this Psalm is a prophecy that has not been fulfilled. In this declaration God is heard speaking of "those things which be not as though they were" (Rom. 4:17), something which He often does and for which we must ever be alert as we read and study His Word.

God is not reigning (governing) today. He is not judging (setting the order for) the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He has ordained (Acts 17:31). The present era is a part of that long period of time when He suffers all nations and the individuals within them to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16).

As we look upon the earth today and consider all nations, we see nothing anywhere but fallible human government. There is no evidence anywhere of that infallible divine rule which God has clearly promised that the nations will someday experience and enjoy. This was the expectation held out to mankind when Christ proclaimed the kingdom of God. "Kingdom" means "government," but there is nothing upon this earth today that can be called "the government of God." His government is nowhere to be seen.

It is God's own government, it is divine rule that is more sorely needed today than anything else. Man has reached the end of his rope. He cannot govern. Any honest facing up to the facts forces the admission that human governments are not equal to the problems they face. Man's technical and material progress has advanced so fast that all men stand now in fear of the discoveries that have been made.

All the evidence of history shows that human governments do not bring peace to the people. Of many governments it must be said, "Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known" (Rom. 3:16,17). Divine government is now man's greatest need. God must intervene and impose His moral law upon all men. There needs to be a manifest assumption of sovereignty by God over all men and all nations, the institution of the kingdom of God upon the earth. The only hope of mankind is the advent of divine government which will be of such power that it will bring swift retribution to all who rise up or even stiffen themselves against it. We should hail the coming of this, and we should anticipate it as the great hope of this misgoverned world.

In the past twenty-five years I have given much thought and study to the conditions that will prevail when God's government is a reality. Many truths concerning these conditions can be based upon direct statements of Scripture, such as, "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:4). From this direct statement we can go on to logically deduce further results, such as the closing and clearing away of every college of war such as West Point, Annapolis, Sandhurst and Saint-Cyr. The mind is staggered by the changes this one new condition will bring about. I am glad that it will be in the hands of God.

The advent of God's government upon the earth will result in the immediate lifting of the curse that came both upon the earth and mankind when Adam sinned. One act of Adam brought sin and death into the world, and one act of Jesus Christ has made possible the entrance of righteousness and life. Remember, He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His work upon the cross of Calvary is now an accomplished fact of history, and there is not one thing more that needs to be done before the curse of sin and death is lifted. All that is needed now is for God to speak the word and the reign of sin and death will be ended and a reign of righteousness and life will begin.

When this word is spoken, never again will Adamic death with all its ills be working in mankind. Adamic death and all the death processes that precede it will be abolished. "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick" (Isa. 33:24). His saving health will be known among all nations (Psa. 67:2). Even the sickest will be astonished and marvel as his illness is suddenly arrested. And as the physician listens with his stethoscope to the last wavering heartbeats of one who is at death's door, he will get the surprise of his life if death is conquered and life takes over to begin its healing processes.

This conquering of death and the gift of health, I firmly believe, will come upon all living men alike, whether good or bad. "Yea, for the rebellious also" (Psalm 68:18). And since everyone will be touched in some manner by this stupendous miracle, all will be under responsibility to recognise the One Who did it and give Him the glory. If it seems strange that such blessing should come upon all living men without distinction, let it be remembered that Jesus Christ and His apostles, when proclaiming the kingdom, healed all who had need of healing. See Luke 4:40, Matt. 12:15, Luke 9:11. Thus, it will be that God's long display of grace comes to an end in the greatest and widest display of grace He has ever shown. Truly, "He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil" (Luke 6:35).

It must never be forgotten that when God's government makes its advent upon the earth, it will come with a gift of light, healing, and health for every man upon it. It will not make demands before it gives. It will give first and then make its demands. In that day if anyone is sick, it will be because he had sinned against God; and if anyone dies, it will be for the same reason. There will be "a sin unto death" (1 John 5:16,17), but never again will death be working in men because of the sin of Adam; never again will anyone die because Adam sinned.

When one considers the tremendous revolution in human affairs this will bring about, the mind cannot conceive its magnitude. We would be appalled at the very thought of it if we did not know that God is in complete charge and directing every detail. Consider all the disease, degradation, sickness, sorrow, and misery that is upon the earth that works in each of us all because of the entrance and fact of sin being in the world. Then try to grasp what it would be like if the reign of sin and death should be replaced by the reign of God under which Adamic death and all its attendant ills would be abolished. Under such conditions sin, sickness, and death would be rarities; and if any were sick, the cause of the illness and the way of relief would be perfectly manifest. In that day if any sin, and it is not a sin unto death, they will know that there is an Advocate ready to act in their behalf with the Father. If they will confess their sins, God will be faithful and just to forgive and cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It is a sad thing to see people trying to obtain forgiveness today by means of confession in a time when we have the forgiveness of our sins in accord with the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7).

It can readily be seen that the end of the reign of sin and death will bring about a tremendous revolution in our economy, much of which is based upon the presence of sin and death in the world. It is difficult indeed for us to conceive of a world in which there are no hospitals, no doctors, no nurses, no drugs, and no remedies; in which there are no prisons, no jails, and no policemen; in which there are no military establishments, no arms, and no conflicts; in which there are no insurance companies, since there will be nothing against which to insure. And if this should trouble any who may now be engaged in such pursuits, let them rest assured that God's government will be benevolent and beneficent; and no man engaged in any honest pursuit will ever be harmed by any change God brings about. It is ridiculous, however, to imagine that when God governs the earth, He will allow some sickness and crime to continue just so doctors, policemen, and lawyers will not be thrown out of work.

I trust the reader will ever keep in mind that the glorious picture I have tried to set forth is one that is to come upon this earth, and not some other planet. It is to come upon the human race, not some other order of beings. This is to happen to mankind. The earth is not to be wiped clean before God imposes His government upon it. He will speak from heaven, and men will begin to know from that moment on what it is to live upon this earth where everything is under God's complete control. The kingdom comes upon the earth as it is and upon men as they are. All judgements to be made, all punishments to be meted out, and any changes that are to be made will come after God has assumed sovereignty.

This glorious prospect is one that fills the pages of God's Word. It is there that we learn of all the benevolent changes that will alter the climate, the habitability, and the fruitfulness of the earth. "Then shall the earth yield her increase" (Psalm 67:6).

However, when this picture of the future is presented, the inevitable question that arises concerns what will happen to wicked men who are living upon the earth when this blessed condition comes with all its glorious benefits. And, what will be our lot and what will be our hope if we should die before God assumes sovereignty? I will try to answer these in our next study.

INDEX

Issue no. 035