PULPIT MESSAGES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 55, 29 November 1937, Page 5

PULPIT MESSAGES

Wellington Churches THE KINGDOM OF GOD What The Bible Teaches The ninth lecture of the series on “The Return of Christ to Earth” was recently delivered in the 1.0.0. F. Hall, Allen Street, the subject being "'The Kingdom of God Set Up On Earth.” The speaker directed attention briefly to what had been advanced by the previous lectures of the series and showed bow they were gradually leading up to the subject for that evening. The object of the previous lectures had been, first, tp establish the fact that Christ was coming; secondly, to show that Ills coming was now near; and, thirdly, to direct attention to some oi the first things that would.occur after Christ had returned to earth. That evening the real objectives of Christ’s return would be considered. If, as had been shown by the previous lectures of the series, there were in the Bible hundreds of references to the fact that Christ would return it was, but reasonable to believe that the Bible would also disclose th e purpose of His return. Investigation showed that this was so, and the title of that evening’s lecture—- “ The Kingdom of God Set Up on Earth” —indicated what the Bible revealed as the real objective of Christ’s return. No kingdom of God existed on earth at the present time, the speaker said. The existing kingdoms were described in the scriptures as “The kingdom of men” (Dan. iv, 17). Men ruled, making laws for their fellows, and animated by ambition and lust of conquest endeavoured to extend their, territories and increase the prestige of their own particular country. But in the great purpose of God the kingdom of men—- “ The kingdoms of this world” —were destined, at the return of Christ, to pass away to be superseded by a universal kingdom of God, thereby fulfilling Rev. xi, 15, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever.’’

Nebuchadnezzar’s Image.

What had been advanced was also clearly taught in the second chapter of the book of Daniel. Therein was recorded a remarkable dream, Divinely impressed upon the mind of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. In his dream the King saw a great image composed of different metals. The destruction of the image was brought about by the falling of a stone upon its feet with the result that the different elements of the image were “broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them, and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” The God-given interpretation of this dream was also on record in Daniel, chapter ii. Nebuchadnezzar was informed that each metal represented a human kingdom that the golden head -of the image represented his own kingdom and that after Babylon three successive human empires would exist. History showed these were the Persian, Greek and Roman empires. The King was further informed that the fourth kingdom, the Roman Empire, would “be divided” and that the separate kingdoms would “not cleave one to another." History again revealed an accurate fulfilment, the decline and fall of the Roman Empire producing the separate kingdoms as existing to-day. What, then? The King was informed that “in the days of these kings (the divided state of the fourth Roman Empire) shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed ... it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand for ever.” This could not be fulfilled until Jesus Christ returned to earth, for He was “The Stone” of the prophecy (Luke xx, 18), and the Scriptures revealed that the very object of His return was to “break in pieces and consume” all the existing kingdoms of men and establish the Kingdom of God on earth, thereby fulfilling the Lord’s prayer, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth” (Matt, vi, 10).

It was stated that not only did the

Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ would establish the Kingdom of God on earth at His return, but many details were revealed in the Scriptures concerning the Kingdom. It was clearly revealed that Christ would be the King thereof (Zech. 14:9, Acts 17:31), that the Throne He woull possess and reign from would be David’s restored (Luke 1:32, Eze. 21:27), that the territory of the Kingdom would consist of the whole earth (Zech. 9:10, Psa. 2:6-8, Psa. 72:8), that Jerusalem would be its capital (Matt. 5:35, Jer. 3:17, Isa. 24.23), that Christ’s co-rulers would be his true followers throughout the ages resurrected and immortalised (John 5:28-29, Phil. 3:20-21, Rev. 5:910, Rev. 2:26-27), that the most favoured nation of the Kingdom would be the chosen nation, the Jews restored from their dispersion among the nations to Palestine (Roms. 11:2, Jer. 33-24-26, Jer. 31:28, Eze. 37:21-22, Jer. 31:10, Mic. 4:6-8, Matt. 19:28), that the subjects of the Kingdom would be the mortal inhabitants of the whole earth (Dan. 7:14, Zech. 14:9), that the laws of the Kingdom would be God-given (Isa. 2:3, Rev. 19:15), that provision had been made for worship (Zech. 14: 16-19, Zech. 8:20-22, Isa. 2:1-4, Isa. 56:7), and, finally, that the ultimate result of Christ’s administration would be that indicated in the words the angels sang at His birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). In this connection other passages sueh as Gen. 22:18, Numb. 14:21, Psa. 72, Isa. 2, Isa. 11 :l-10, Jer. 23:5-6, Matt. 19:28, Acts 3:19-21, were referred to. In conclusion, it was submitted that what hqd been advanced was nothing more nor less than “The Gospel of Christ.” The Scriptures revealed that the Gospel Jesus preached was “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 4:23, Matt. 9:35, Mark 1:14, Luke 8:1, Luke 4:43, Luke 9:2, Acts 19:8, Acts 20:25), and investigation would show that this gospel was the grand theme of the whole Bible. Salvation could not be received unless this Gospel of the Bible was understood and believed (Mark I 6:15-16, Roms. 1:16. I Cor. 15:1-2, Mark 10:15, Gals. 3:6-9). CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES “Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced,” was the subject of the lesson-sermon in all Churches of Christ, Scientist, yesterday. The golden text was Prov. xiv, 22, “Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.” 'Among the citations which comprised the lesson-sermon were the following from the Bible: “Thus saith the Lord God: Woe unto the foolish prophets. . . . They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, the Lord saith; and the Lord hath not sent them; and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore. behold I am against you, saith the Lord” (Ezek. xiii, 3,6, 8). Also cited were the following passages from the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to tiie Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy: “Knowing that the claims of animal magnetism, that all evil combines in the belief of life, substance and intelligence in matter, electricity, animal nature, and organic life, who will deny that these are the errors which truth must and will annihilate? Christian Scientists must live under the constant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from the material world and be separate” (page 450).