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is, it came nigh" (or approached, same Greek word)," when Jesus, the King, came. So much so, that the three favored disciples witnessed a foretaste of its glory and power on the Mount of Transfiguration.

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But the Jews rejected it and slew their King. They were not willing to have this man reign over them, and therefore the Kingdom did not "immediately appear." It became like a nobleman which "went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return." See Luke 19:11-27. By this parable Jesus distinctly taught that the Kingdom was in the future.

The Kingdom Still Future.

It was in the future when Christ said: "I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof (the passover) until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God," and again, "For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come." Luke 22:16-18; also Mat. 26:29; Mark 14:25.

(6) Luke 10:9. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

10. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

11. Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

(7) Heb. 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Also Luke 12:33.

(8) Mat. 17:1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart,

2. And was transfigured before them and his face did shine

as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.

6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus

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It was in the future when the thief cried, "Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." Luke 23:42. Joseph of Arimathea, who laid Jesus' body in the sepulchre, "waited for the Kingdom of God," which also indicates that it was still in the future. Mark 15:43.

It was still future when Paul exhorted the disciples to continue in the faith, and said "that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God." Acts 14:22. It was in the future while the persecuted Thessalonians suffered, that they might "be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God." 2 Thes. 1:4-5.

It was most assuredly future when, years afterward, Peter gave his exhortations as follows: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. 1:10-11. And it has been future during all the long, sad history of the faithful and godly Church, while she has suffered the terrible persecutions of fagot, inquisition, banishment, ridicule and false accusation.9

And it will be future until Jesus, "having received the Kingdom," "10 shall return to recompense tribulation to

charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Also Mark 9:1-10; Luke 9: 27-36.

2 Pet. 1:16. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory,

This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased.

18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.

(9) 2 Tim. 3:12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

(10) Luke 19:15. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

those who have troubled the Church11 and "sit in the throne of His glory."12

Then the Kingdom, which, for these centuries, has been hid in mystery,13 shall be manifested in power and glory.14 Then shall "the kingdom of the world become our Lord's and His Christ's,"15 and then shall the Kingdom be given

(11) 2 Thes. 1:6-10. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.

7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

8. 'In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that beHeve.

Also Luke 19:27.

(12) Mat. 19:28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(13) Mat. 13:11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Also Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10. (14) Mat. 13:43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Also Luke 13:25-29.

Rom. 8:17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and

joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope;

21. Because the creature it. self also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until

now.

23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

(15) Rev. 11:15. And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said,

The kingdom of the world
is become the kingdom of
our Lord, and of his Christ:
and he shall reign for ever
and ever.

Dan. 7:14. And there was given him dominion, and glory.

unto the Saints of the Most High.1 as Jesus taught us,

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Therefore we pray,

"Thy Kingdom Come.''

The Church militant, which was begun on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) ends at the Rapture, before the Tribulation.

The Kingdom begins with the Revelation, at the close of the Tribulation.

It is the personal reign of Christ on earth.

He was prophesied to be king of the Jews. Isa. 9:6.

He was born King of the Jews. Mat. 2:2.

He said he was the King of the Jews. Mat. 27:11.
He was crucified as King of the Jews. Mat. 27:37.

He came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, saying, "The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand." Mark 1:14-15.

He said the Kingdom was among them. margin.

Luke 17:21,

He came unto His own, but His own received Him not. John 1:11.

He would have set up the Kingdom (Mat. 23:37-39), but they rejected and crucified Him.

However, God raised Him from the dead and set Him on high.17

and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

(16) Dan. kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

7:27. And the

(17) Heb. 10:12. But this man, after he had offered one

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He sent the Holy Ghost into the world, and under His power and guidance the apostles went out preaching the good news of the Kingdom (Acts 2, etc.) to the Jews first,18 but they rejected it, and the disciples turned to the Gentiles.19 Thus the Kingdom came nigh unto the Jews, who spurned it, and while it waits*20 God visits "the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name" (Acts 15:14), breaking down the middle wall of partition to make of twain (all Jews and Gentiles who believe in His name) one new man,2 ,21 that is, the Church, or Mystical Body of Christ.22

*This we believe is the true explanation of this subject. The Kingdom did come "nigh" when Christ came, and had they received Him, it would have been manifested, but now it is in abeyance, or waiting until He comes again.

However the Greek word éyyisw = engizo, which is translated at hand in Mat. 3:2; 4:17; 10:7, and is come nigh in Luke 10:9-11, does not necessarily mean immediately near. For we find the same word used in Rom. 13:12: "The day is at hand," and in Heb. 10:25, "as ye see the day approaching" and in James 5:8, "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh," and in 1 Pet. 4:7, "the end of all things is at hand," each of which passages are yet unfulfilled.

So we see that the word engizo (is at hand) covers a period of more than 1800 years, and reaches unto the second coming of the Lord.

(18) Acts 3:26. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Rom. 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Also Mat. 10:6.

(19) Acts 13:46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Also Acts 18:6 and 28:28.

(20) Mat. 23:39. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

(21) Eph. 2:14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

(22) Eph. 4:12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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