Grace Thoughts
Teaching Notes: On Christ’s Kingdom
Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a series of studies about Christ’s Kingdom.
[These notes are from a study prepared 45 years ago.]
Christ’s Kingdom
I. Different Viewpoints of Christ’s Kingdom
A. The rule of Messiah will begin only at the setting up of His Kingdom in glory at His return in the End.
B. The Davidic Kingship of Messiah began at the ascension and exaltation of the Divine Son of David to the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
II. Points of Difference in the Different Viewpoints
A. The degree of this extension as regards what persons and lands are included: to what extent Israel, to what extent the other nations.
B. The form of this rule, whether it will be only inward and spiritual, or, in addition, visible and external, indeed, even historical and political.
C. The dating of this Davidic Kingship of the Son of David whether its commencement is to be placed at the ascension and Pentecost or only at the future parousia and ephiphany.
III. Christ’s Kingdom will be of wider scope than David’s
A. Christ is Lord of the Church, made up of millions from every nation.
B. The Millennial reign will place Christ as ruler over all nations.
C. Christ will rule men on earth and saints raised from the dead and glorified.
IV. How Christ will set up His Kingdom
A. The judgment upon and destruction of the sinful Kingdom of Israel
B. The visiting by God to the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His Name.
C. The return of the Lord.
D. The rebuilding and raising up of the tabernacle of David.
E. The conversion to God of the residue of men in connection with this restoration of Israel.
V. Prophecy backs up the view of an earthly reign
A. Acts 15:13-17
B. Amos 9:8-10
C. Romans 15:7-9, 12
D. Isaiah 55:3
VI. Are the different viewpoints irreconcilable?
A. The current dispensation brings in a certain sense of fulfillment of many prophecies of the old covenant.
B. The prophecies have often a double and three-fold fulfillment.
C. Christ is ruling over the lives of believers today and there will come a day when He will establish an earthly reign over all men.
VII. The Decisive Ground for Expecting a Millennial Reign
A. The definite statements of the prophets concerning a future national reuniting of the two-tribed and ten-tribed kingdoms in the time of Messiah (Ezekiel 36:15-24; Hosea 1:11; Jeremiah 3:18; Zechariah 10:6)
B. The definite testimony of the prophets that in the time of Messiah, Israel will again dwell in the land of their fathers (Jeremiah 16:25), in their own land (Ezekiel 28:25), in this land (Jeremiah 32:41), in the land of Gilead and in Lebanon (Zechariah 10:10).
C. The equally clear announcement that this will be affected only by its being associated with the glorious appearing of Messiah (Zechariah 14:4; Daniel 7:13, 14; Matthew 26:24; 24:30; Revelation 1:7) and with the inward renewing of Israel (Josea 3:5; Isaiah 4:4; 11:9; Ezekiel 36:26; Zechariah 13:1).
D. The announcement that there would be a conversion and renewal of the other nations (Isaiah 2:3-4; 19:23-25; Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 14:9; Malachi 1:11).
E. The God-given, inspired interpretation of the dream visions in the Book of Daniel.
F. The unmistakable answer of Jesus to His disciples (Acts 1:6-8).
G. The testimony of the Revelation (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:4-6, 9-11).
Practical Application
I. The Kingdom of David to be Restored
A. II Samuel 7:8-16
B. Psalm 89:27-37
C. Isaiah 11:1-12
D. Jeremiah 23:3-6
E. Jeremiah 33:14-17
II. Jesus Christ will rule on David’s Throne
Luke 1:30-33
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from 45 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your ministry.]
[You may also be interested in more recent studies we’ve written about Christ’s Kingdom — God’s Judgment: How It Works and The Great Reveal: Our Epic Journey Through Time, Space and Eternity. These are links to the first parts of each series. You can link to other parts in each of the series by searching for them by name on the GraceLife site.]
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Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts