The Kingdom of Isaiah 2:2-4;
Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14
is the church established on Pentecost.
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The Kingdom of Old Testament prophecy is the church that began on Pentecost. |
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The signs of Matthew 24 prophecies the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD not the second coming and certainly not some “Rapture” theology that was invented in 1830 AD by John Darby. When Christians saw the signs, they fled the city and were saved.
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The Kingdom of Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14
is the church established on Pentecost.
The Kingdom of Old Testament prophecy is the church that began on Pentecost.
Introduction:
1. All the prophecies of the Kingdom have been fulfilled in the church on the day of Pentecost.
2. The kingdom of Old Testament prophecy is the church.
3. All these prophecies were fulfilled on Pentecost when the church began during the time of the Roman Empire.
A. Master Summary of Kingdom prophecies fulfilled in the church on Pentecost:
1. Daniel 2:44 shows that the kingdom was established on Pentecost, during the days of the Roman Empire. The time prophecy cannot be fulfilled after 397 AD when Rome fell. Premillennialists fail to comprehend that after 397 AD it is impossible to fulfill Dan 2:44. They twist the Bible by seeing 10 additional kingdoms in the “toes”, rather than the four in the context. They literally twist the text and dream up “kingdom toes”. “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed [fulfilled in Eph 3:21 and Heb 12:28], and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. ” (Daniel 2:44)
a. Ephesians 3:21 fulfills Dan 2:44 because the church will last forever just like the Kingdom. For the Rapture false teachers who view the church as a temporary “parenthesis”, this verse refutes them and proves the kingdom is the church: “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. ” (Ephesians 3:21)
b. Hebrews 12:28 proves the kingdom has been established on Pentecost. Notice the kingdom cannot be shaken just like Jesus said in Mt 16:18 “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ” (Hebrews 12:28)
c. Matthew 16:18 fulfills Isa 2:2-4 because it shows the church shares the quality of being eternal, and not going extinct at the rapture or in 1988 AD as false teacher Harold Camping once taught before his end of the world prophecy failed for May 21, 2011 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ” (Matthew 16:18)
2. Isaiah 2:1-4 “The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it [gentiles: fulfilled on Pentecost Acts 2:39 “far off”, Eph 2:13]. And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [fulfilled on Pentecost Acts 2:1]. And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. [fulfilled in the peace between nations in Christ Eph 2:11-16] ” (Isaiah 2:1-4)
a. Luke 24:45-49 is a direct fulfillment of Isa 2:2-4 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures [Isa 2:2-4], and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations [gentiles: fulfilled on Pentecost Acts 2:39 “far off”, Eph 2:13], beginning from Jerusalem [fulfilled on Pentecost Acts 2:1]. “You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45-49)
b. Ephesians 2:11-16 is a direct fulfillment of Isa 2:2-4. It shows two fulfillments in that the gentiles are saved and the gentiles and the Jews are at peace in Christ: “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. ” (Ephesians 2:11-16)
c. Acts 1:8 fulfills Isa 2:2-4 because the gospel started in Jerusalem and went global: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
3. Ascension prophecies: Jesus received the kingdom at the ascension:
a. Daniel 7:13-14 is a prophecy that Jesus received the kingdom at the ascension when he “came to God from earth”, not at the second coming when he leaves God to spend 1000 years on earth. “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. ” (Daniel 7:13-14)
b. Luke 19:11-15 shows that Jesus received the kingdom at the ascension and returns at the second coming to judge. “While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country [ascension] to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return [at the second coming]. “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. ” (Luke 19:11–15)
i. Acts 1:9 “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ” (Acts 1:9)
ii. Revelation 5:4-10 directly fulfills Dan 7:13-14 because it shows the time immediately following the ascension where Jesus is presented before God. Notice the Kingdom is referred to as having already been set up by Christ: “Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Revelation 5:4-10)
4. Mark 9:1 states that Jesus disciples will live to see the kingdom of prophecy established on earth when it comes with power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. “And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1)
a. Luke 24:49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
b. Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
c. Acts 1:4–5 “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4–5)
d. Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. ” (Acts 2:1–4)
5. Mark 1:15 is the final proof that the kingdom of Old Testament prophecy began on Pentecost: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
a. Colossians 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ” (Colossians 1:13)
b. Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ” (Hebrews 12:28)
c. Revelation 1:6 “and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ” (Revelation 1:6)
d. Revelation 1:9 “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ” (Revelation 1:9)
e. Revelation 5:10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Revelation 5:10)
B. The Kingdom was established on Pentecost:
1. Jesus announced “The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand”:
a. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
b. “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ” (Matthew 12:28)
c. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)
d. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
2. Jesus promised his disciples that they would see the Kingdom established in their lifetime:
a. “And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not die until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1)
b. “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28)
3. Jesus said the Kingdom was so near that at the last supper, he said the next time they would have the Lord’s Supper, they would be in the Kingdom.
a. “And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:24–25)
b. Acts 20:7 shows that the early church had communion every Sunday.
c. Communion means a sharing with one another and with Christ.
d. Every time we break bread on the first day of the week, we are fulfilling Jesus’ words: “I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
C. Every passage after Pentecost speaks of the Kingdom as being established:
1. The Christian in Colossae were IN THE KINGDOM: Col 1:13
a. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ” (Colossians 1:13–14)
b. Notice that we have been DELIVERED from Satan and TRANSFERRED into the kingdom.
c. If we are not in the kingdom now, then we are not saved but are still under the bondage of Satan.
2. The Hebrews were in the Kingdom: Heb 12:28
a. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28)
b. Notice that the tense of the verge for “receiving” is active present tense. This is exactly correct because the kingdom is the church and every time a new soul believes and is baptized into Christ’s body (the church) the kingdom gets larger!
c. Think of the receiving a TV signal on your antennae. You are currently watching the kingdom in a live, ongoing active way.
d. The key, is that this verse does not say that we will receive the kingdom some time in the future. Rather we receive it now, and in an ongoing way.
e. Notice also that the kingdom we receive “cannot be shaken” which exactly fulfills the Kingdom prophecy of Dan 2:44, “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed”.
f. This also agrees with what Jesus said of the church: “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18–19)
g. So Heb 12:28 is a direct fulfillment of Dan 2:44
3. The Christians in the seven churches of Asia were in the Kingdom: Rev 1:6-9
a. “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father-to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ” (Revelation 1:5–6)
b. John flatly stated that Christians are the kingdom or the church.
c. How much plainer do Rapturists need the Bible to be?
d. It also says that every Christian is a priest.
4. Apostle John was in the kingdom: Rev 1:9
a. “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ” (Revelation 1:9)
b. John was a partaker in the Kingdom. The word “partake” means “sharer” meaning that both he and the seven churches of Revelation (which were real churches in Asia in the first century) were in the kingdom and enjoyed its privileges.
D. Summary of Time sensitive prophecies:
1. Time sensitive prophecies must be fulfilled according to the time clock. You cannot stop a time prophecy clock, yet pre-tribulation Rapture false teachers have stopped the clock on not one, but 5 different time prophecies!
2. We know the kingdom was established last days also known as the end times that began during Jesus’ ministry on earth:
a. “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. ” (Hebrews 1:2)
b. “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you ” (1 Peter 1:20)
c. “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND” (Acts 2:15–17)
i. “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. ” (Joel 2:28)
d. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! ” (James 5:1–3)
3. The prophecy is in Daniel 2 where a great image of a statue was seen by the King of Babylon. Daniel interpreted the vision with God's help and told him that there would be a series of four kingdoms that would rise and fall. Daniel identified the head of gold on the statue as being the Babylonian kingdom (606-539 BC) The chest of silver was the Medo-Persia kingdom (539-331 BC) The thighs of bronze represented the kingdom of Greece (331-30BC). The fourth and final kingdom of Rome was represented by the legs and feet of iron and clay (30BC-397AD) Then Daniel made that fantastic prophecy about God's kingdom, Dan 2:44, "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever." This is a crystal clear time prophecy that God's kingdom would be established sometime during the Roman empire! Is it just random chance that Pentecost in Acts 2 was during the Roman empire? (Luke 2:1) No way! God is able to bring his will to pass! God established the kingdom on the day of Pentecost! If the kingdom is not yet established, then the prophecy fails and God is a liar, for Rome has been gone for over 1500 years!
4. At the very beginning of Jesus' ministry our Divine Savior said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15 Yet, there are those who say that Jesus didn't mean what he said about the kingdom being "at hand". For them "at hand" has been 2000 years and still counting! Again Pentecost is a prefect fulfillment.
5. In the middle of Jesus' ministry He said, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death (die physically) until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." Mark 9:1 What could be more clear? Jesus promised that the kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament would come during the lifetime of those standing before Him. But Jesus even gave us an additional detail by saying that the "kingdom would come with power" Amazingly, Jesus told the disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for this power. Jesus said, "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city (Jerusalem) until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:49. Again Pentecost is a perfect fulfillment since it was only about 2 years later when God, the Father, sent the miraculous power of God, the Holy Spirit upon them. (Acts 2:1-4)
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Text |
Prophecy |
Fulfillment Time |
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Isa 2; Dan 2:28 |
last Days |
Pentecost onward |
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Dan 2 |
Within days of Roman Empire |
30BC- 396 AD |
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Mark 9:1 |
Within hearers lifetime |
30AD-100AD |
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Mk 1:15 |
Kingdom at hand |
Very soon! |
E. The kingdom is the Church:
1. The Same Beginning: Pentecost
2. The Same Duration: Forever
a. “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. ” (Daniel 2:44)
b. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ” (Matthew 16:18)
c. “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ” (Hebrews 12:28)
d. “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. ” (Ephesians 3:21)
3. The Same Ownership: God and Christ
a. “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ” (Ephesians 5:5)
4. The same historical period: During Roman empire
a. “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ” (Luke 2:1)
b. “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ” (Acts 2:1)
c. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ” (Colossians 1:13)
5. The same eschatological beginning: In the “Last Days” or “end times”
a. “in these last days [1st century] has spoken to us in His Son” (Hebrews 1:2)
b. “Christ appeared in these last times [1st century] for the sake of you ” (1 Peter 1:20)
c. Joel prophesied that “it shall be in the last days [1st century, Pentecost] that i will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind” (Acts 2:15–17)
d. “Come now, you rich … It is in the last days [1st century] that you have stored up your treasure! ” (James 5:1–3)
6. Kingdom and church used interchangeably:
a. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18)
Conclusion:
1. Pre-tribulation Rapture and Premillennialists are a system of infidelity that take all the spiritual promises in Christ and make them into fleshly carnal physical promises on earth and reject the idea that the church is the kingdom.
2. They actually teach the church was an afterthought invented by God as a stop gap measure after the Jews rejected Jesus as their earthly king. This surprised God and he needed to invent the church as a temporary “parentheses” until God was able to give his plan a second try. This is the reason why dispensationalists really believe Israel needed to become a nation in 1948.
3. Rapture false teachers believe the church is not the subject of Old Testament prophecy, and will come to an end at their “rapture”. They are wrong on both counts. The church fulfills all the Old Testament prophecies being the cornerstone of our salvation and will endure forever and ever, even after the second coming.
4. Every single passage in the Bible fits perfectly with the truth that the Kingdom is the church which was established on Pentecost in 33 A.D. Those who promote pre-tribulation Rapture must either ignore these passages or come up with bizarre explanations.
5. The only reason pre-tribulation Rapture false teachers can promote their doctrines, is because they claim special and direct revelation from God and their followers believe this and do not take the Bible as a primary source.
6. Find a local church in your home town that teaches that the kingdom began at Pentecost, being identical with the church.
Steve Rudd
We Speak truth in LOVE
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