By Michael Harley
When Jesus was in the world, 2,000 years ago, He spoke, taught, and preached one thing – the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, or the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Two phrases with the same meaning. He spoke over and over about the coming Kingdom, when the Son of Man would sit on His own throne and reign over the world. [i]
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17)
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, (Matthew 4:23)
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. (Matthew 9:35a)
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14)
And He was preaching in their Synagogues throughout all Galilee (Mark 1:39a)
Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And, He preached the word to them. (Mark 2:2)
Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. (Mark 2:13)
And, again He began to teach by the sea (Mark 4:1)
And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. (Mark 6:2a)
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by al. (Luke 4:15)
Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching. (Luke 5:17a)
Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. (Luke 6:6a)
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1a)
But when the multitude knew it, they followed Him, and He received them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:11a)
Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. Luke 13:10)
And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. (Luke 13:22)
According to two verses, Jesus states that the very purpose He had come forth from heaven was to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of heaven/ the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
When they found Him, they said to Him, “
Everyone is looking for you.
But He said to them,
let us go into the next towns, that I may preach three also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” And He was preaching in their Synagogues throughout all Galilee. (Mark 1:37 – 39a)
Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him and tried to Keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them,
I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also because for this purpose I have been sent.” (Luke 4:42, 43)
Luke in his second book to Theophilus, The Acts of the Apostles, states that Jesus was speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and that this was “all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up.”
The former account I made, o Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given Commandment s to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)
Then referring back to the Gospel According to Luke, Zacchaeus and others thought the Kingdom of God would appear immediately, but Jesus taught them that this was not the case. Jesus would have to return to heaven and receive the Kingdom and then return.
Now as they heard these things He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the Kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said, “ a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a Kingdom and to return. (Luke 19:11,12)
Then in Acts, Jesus after speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God ascended into heaven to receive the Kingdom.
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And, while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 9-11)
Then in the book of Daniel, Daniel sees the same event in the verse above, but from a heavenly perspective, from the dwelling place of God.
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14)
When Jesus disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven as Jesus went up, two men suddenly appeared in white apparel, and stated: Jesus will return just as He went up. And this is what will occur when the Son of Man comes in His glory, He went up into a cloud, He will return with the clouds of heaven; two men in white apparel were present when He went up, two men in white apparel will be present when He returns. In both accounts of Luke and Matthew, when Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother and led them up on a high mountain they actually witnessed something that has not occurred to this day, the Son of Man coming in His glory. God transcends time and is able to take man and move him forward and back in time and this is what occurred in these verses. This explains Christ’s statement, “there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Kingdom of God. And when they went up on a high mountain, who was there? Two men in white apparel, Moses and Elijah!
“When He comes in His own glory, and in His Fathers, and of the holy angels, but I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Kingdom of God”…But Peter and those with Him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him (Luke 9:26b,27,32)
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (Matthew 17: 1 – 3)
Then Peter years later when writing his second epistle still had this event foremost in his mind and among other things stated, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY”. Peter and the others were moved forward in time and were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ return.
Jesus Christ spoke of one thing during His earthly ministry, from the time He began until the day in which He was taken up – The Kingdom of God. The whole of the New Testament is about the Kingdom of God. The whole of the Bible is about the Kingdom of God, If one is instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven, he will have the key to understanding ALL Scripture. The one not instructed concerning the Kingdom of Heaven will not understand Scripture.
And He said, “To you it has been given to Know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ … Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” (Luke 8:10,18)
Christian’s are to have their complete focus on the Kingdom of God. They are to have their minds set on Christ returning, teaching other Christians these things, and positioning themselves and others in positions of power and authority in the coming Kingdom. They are to have their complete focus on the same thing, the word of God has it’s complete focus, on the Kingdom of God. Christians are to take their focus off the present Kingdom, under Satan, and to focus on the coming Kingdom when the Son of Man Comes in His glory, with His Holy Angels, and sits on the throne of His glory.
[i] Verses used in this lesson are as follows:
Matthew 4: 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.;9: 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people
Mark 1: 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins., 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Mark 2: 2 Immediately[a] many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.’ 13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.; 4:1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.,; 6:2 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!, 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
Luke 4:15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all; Luke 5: 17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.; 8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,; 9: 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
