GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN
Lesson 15

The Kingdom of Christ

THE kingdom of Christ is a very prominent topic of the Bible. It is sometimes referred to as the kingdom of God, which is appropriate, because it is God who provided for his Son to set up the kingdom in the earth. It is also sometimes referred to as the kingdom of heaven, which emphasizes that this world government of promise is not of human planning and origin but is set up and empowered by the God of heaven.—Dan. 2:44

Some of the promises and prophecies of the Bible pertaining to the kingdom refer to its rulers, while others pertain to its subjects, those who have an opportunity to be blessed through the administration of its righteous laws. Jesus Christ will be the great King, or Ruler, in that kingdom.—Zech. 9:9,10; Rev. 19:16; John 18:37

Associated with Jesus as rulers in his kingdom will be those who, during the Gospel Age, have denied themselves and faithfully taken up their cross to follow him, willingly drinking of his cup of suffering. These are spoken of in the Scriptures as those who suffer and die with Jesus and as being raised from the dead to live and reign with him.—Rev. 20:4

Jesus and his followers will not rule as human kings but as Divine, and they will be invisible to human eyes. (Col. 1:13-15) The assurance is given the followers of Jesus that they shall be like him.—I John 3:1-3; II Pet. 1:4

One of the illustrations the Bible gives of the change of nature from human to Divine is being “born again.” Jesus explained to Nicodemus that those who are born again are invisible and powerful, like the wind. (John 3:6-8) The birth from human to spirit nature takes place in the resurrection; and when Jesus was raised from the dead he was able to go and come invisibly, appearing to his disciples only when he wished to do so.

In the kingdom of Christ these invisible and powerful kings, or rulers, will be represented on the earth and among men by the faithful servants of God who suffered and died for righteousness’ sake prior to the first advent of Jesus. These are referred to in the Bible as the “fathers,” and the promise is that they are to be made “princes in all the earth.”—Ps. 45:16

The Apostle Paul explains that these faithful servants of God in ancient times will be brought forth from death perfect, in what he describes as a “better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35,39,40) Paul mentions the names of a few of these ancient worthies, but the Scriptures indicate that there are many others of those former ages who proved their loyalty to God and will be used in the kingdom. Jesus also referred to the ancient worthies and to their place in his kingdom.—Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:28,29

“It is through these two phases of the kingdom that the promise to Abraham is to be verified—‘In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ‘Thy seed shall be as the sand of the sea, and as the stars of heaven’—an earthly and a heavenly seed, both God’s instruments of blessing to the world. … This root-covenant [Rom. 11:17] bears these two distinct kinds of branches, each of which in the resurrection will bear its own distinct kind of perfect fruitage—the human and spiritual classes in kingdom power.” (A)

STUDENTS’ HELPS

Questions

Mention different ways in which the messianic kingdom is described in the Bible, and explain.

Who will be the subjects in the kingdom, and who will be the great King?

Who will be associated with Jesus as kings in his kingdom?

Will Jesus and his joint-heirs rule in the earth as humans?  Explain.

What is one of the illustrations the Bible gives of the change from human to spirit nature?

Who will serve as the human and visible representatives of the spiritual rulers in Christ’s kingdom?

Will the ancient worthies be imperfect when they are raised from the dead?

Reference Material

(A) “The Divine Plan of the Ages,” pages 288-292; “The Battle of Armageddon,” page 625, par. 1,2

Summary of Important Thoughts

There will be rulers and subjects in the kingdom of Christ. The principal rulers will be spiritual and invisible to men, but they will have human representatives.