2016 Sunday 9 30 am Adults Bible Class

2016 Sunday 9: 30 am Adults’ Bible Class Series: ABOUT THE Kingdom of God Lesson 6

Introduction • Overall Kingdom of God Timeline • Rebellion of Lucifer • The Fall of Man • Promise of the Kingdom – Patriarchs – The Kingdom of Israel

1. The Coming of the universal Kingdom of God Vision of Nebuchadnezzar’s 4 kingdoms – Babylon to Roman empires Daniel 2: 44 - And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

1. The Coming of the universal Kingdom of God Head of Gold Babylonian Empire (BC 606 -538) Breast and Arms of Silver Medo-Persian Empire (BC 538 -330) Belly and Thigh parts of Brass Grecian Empire (BC 330 -30) Legs of Iron Roman Empire (BC 30) Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay

1. The Coming of the universal Kingdom of God Vision of Nebuchadnezzar’s 4 kingdoms – Babylon to Roman empires in Daniel 2: 44 And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Mark 9: 1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

2. Isaiah 2: 2 -4 1. The coming of the universal Kingdom of God “And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and 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”

2. Isaiah 2: 2 -4 Under the Old Testament, only Jews could enter the “house of God. ” 1. The coming of the universal Kingdom of God Gentiles were restricted to the “court of the Gentiles, ” an outer region of the temple compound. Paul, symbolically alluding to this wall, called the law of Moses a “middle wall of partition” that separated the Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2: 14). By way of contrast, Isaiah indicated that “all nations would flow unto” the new house of God. This refers to the fact that the church would be open to both Jews and Gentiles.

3. John the Baptist 1. The coming of the universal Kingdom of God 2. Isaiah 2: 2 -4 Matthew 11: 11 -12 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. a. John was to prepare the way of the LORD as the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah. b. John's purpose was to prepare hearts for the Messiah, and to bring an awareness of sin among Israel so they could receive the salvation from sin offered by the Messiah - Matthew 1: 12 c. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand: John wanted people to know that the kingdom of heaven was near as close as your hand. This is why John was so urgent in his call to repentance and be baptised.

4. Jesus Christ Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom Matthew 16: 28, Mark 9: 1, Luke 9: 27 1. The coming of the universal Kingdom of God 2. Isaiah 2: 2 -4 3. John the Baptist Mark 15: 37 -38 And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. Ephesians 2: 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. The circumstances of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) perfectly fit the details of Jesus’ prophecy concerning the coming kingdom.

5. God’s Kingdom established in the Church The church was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world (cf. Ephesians 1: 4). 1. The coming of the universal Kingdom of God 2. Isaiah 2: 2 -4 3. John the Baptist 4. Jesus Christ It was prophetically announced - Daniel 2: 44, Isaiah 2: 2 -4; Joel 2: 28. The Old Testament Scriptures declared that the church would be international in scope; eventually, “all nations” would flow unto it - Isaiah 2: 2 In Acts 2, Peter identified the events of Pentecost: “This is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel” (v. 16).

Discussion Questions The Coming of the Kingdom of God 1. What are some of its features? 1. The coming of the universal Kingdom of God 2. Isaiah 2: 2 -4 3. John the Baptist 4. Jesus Christ 5. God’s kingdom established in the church 2. What deeply impresses you about it? End at 10: 30 am with a prayer.