The Kingdom of God

[Guest]

THE

KINGDOM OF GOD.

BY WILLIAM MILLER.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOSHUA V. HIMES,

14 Devonshire Street.

1842.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD..

DANIEL ii.44: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."** {1842 WiM, TKOG 3.1}

MUCH has been said and written on this by different commentators. Different sects and partisans have seized this text, and applied it to their sect, and proved, as they verily believe, that their sect is the true kingdom of God, which will stand forever. The Catholics say it was set up in the days of the Roman Caesars, and thus claim for the Pope St. Peter's chair and the kingdom, and that to the Bishop of Rome were the keys of this kingdom given at the demise of St. Peter, and the popes have been the successor and earthly head of this kingdom ever since. The Baptist writers, many of them, say the same, and claim a descent from the apostles for the Baptist church, making the church what the Catholics do the Pope; and try to show a regular succession of the church, as the Catholics do their popes. They

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also claim believers' baptism (immersion,) as an initiatory rite into the kingdom, and that none are citizens of this kingdom until they comply with this requisition. The Episcopalians, or some of them, claim this same kingdom to have been set up in the days of the kings of England; and therefore the kings or queens of England are the accredited head of the episcopacy, and rulers over the visible church. The Presbyterians say it was set up in the days of Luther, among the German kings; the Quakers, in the days of Fox; the Methodists, in the days of Wesley; the Shakers, in the days of Ann Lee; and the Mormons, by Joseph Smith. {1842 WiM, TKOG 3.2}

All writers seem determined to have an earthly kingdom, and an earthly head to that kingdom. 1Cor.iii.3,4: "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" Or, as is properly said by James, (iii.14-16,) "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not; and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." {1842 WiM, TKOG 4.1}

And now permit me to show that this kingdom is neither "earthly, sensual, nor devilish;" but I shall show -

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I. WHAT IT IS;

II. WHOSE IT IS;

III. WHEN IT IS; and,

IV. WHERE IT IS. {1842 WiM, TKOG 4.2}

I. WHAT IT IS

It is heavenly; for the God of heaven sets it up, that is, exalts it. It is evidently a holy kingdom; for the will of God is to be done in it as in heaven. Luke xi.2: "And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." It is a righteous kingdom. See Romans xiv.17: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." {1842 WiM, TKOG 5.1}

It is an everlasting kingdom - "shall stand forever," says our text. Psalm cxlv.12,13: "To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations." Dan.vii.14,27: "And there was given him dominion, and glory, 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." "And the 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,

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whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Heb.xii.28: "Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." 2Pet.i.11: "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Rev.xi.15: And the seventh angel sounded: and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." Rev.xxii.5: "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever." {1842 WiM, TKOG 5.2}

As there cannot be two kingdoms, and both stand forever, we must naturally suppose, by the texts which I have quoted, that it must be a glorified kingdom: and, indeed, the last text quoted proves it to be in the New Jerusalem state. See also Psalm xxiv.7-10: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. . . Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory." Ps.cxlv.10,11: "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord;

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and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power." Isa.ii.10,19,21: "Enter into the rocks and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the rugged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." Isa.iv.2-5: "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem; when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence." Isa.xxiv.23: "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the

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Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." 1Thess.ii.12: "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." {1842 WiM, TKOG 6.1}

If it is a glorified kingdom, and an eternal kingdom, it cannot be consistent to say it is an earthly kingdom, or a mortal kingdom. It is an immortal one. Christ says, John xviii.36: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence." It cannot be an earthly kingdom. And again, 1Cor.xv.50: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." If this be true, it cannot be in a mortal state. But I will prove it immortal. Matt.viii.11,12: "And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Luke xiii.28,29: "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from

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the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God." {1842 WiM, TKOG 8.1}

This can never be in a mortal state, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, together with all the prophets, have passed from the mortal state. Then we may well conclude that the kingdom spoken of in our text is a heavenly kingdom, holy, righteous, and everlasting: an eternal kingdom, where the subjects of the kingdom will shine as the sun, and all the heirs be glorified, and corruption be changed into incorruption, and the mortal to immortal. Then death will be swallowed up in victory. {1842 WiM, TKOG 9.1}

How foolish, and ridiculous the idea, that "it shall not be left to other people," if the subjects are not immortal! If deaths and births continue as now, in one hundred years death would conquer the whole kingdom, and in process of time would change every subject from those who received it at the beginning, to their descendants; and in the fulness of time, according to the temporal millennial doctrine, the devil will be let loose and conquer a large number of children, which have been literally born in the kingdom, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea-shore, and transplant them out of the eternal and everlasting kingdom of God into the kingdom of the devil, and there excite them to make war against their sires in the beloved city. See: "Dowling's Reply to Miller," pp.217,218. If our learned men can reason

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no better than this, I would advise them to go where they can get a little common sense, before they undertake to teach people who know their right hand from the left. And were it not for the influence they obtain by newspaper puffs, for which the editors make them pay well, they would obtain no more influence than their writings deserve. But let us now inquire concerning this kingdom. {1842 WiM, TKOG 9.2}

[Guest]

All writers seem determined to have an earthly kingdom, and an earthly head to that kingdom.

[Guest]

William Miller was right on this. I do believe.

[Dr. Rich]

Good post Richard. Can you find the book that James White wrote about the Kingdom of Heaven? I loaned out mine, but James wrote his own book about the KOH and it was his understanding that the Seventh-day Adventist church was the Ten Virgins, just as what I have come to believe. The only difference, he thought that the SDA church was the bride instead of the servants for the bride.

[Guest]

I'm sure I have it. I'll see if I can find it.

[oldsailor29]

What we have on Earth is analogous to the ancient city state with the ancient Suzerainty covenant.

[Guest]

Huh?

[Musicman1228]

The principle defining feature of the Kingdom of Heaven is that it is IN the world but not OF the world. The world is by it's very nature disobedient. The K of H by it's mandate/covenant is to be obedient. My question then is: Obedient to what? What is it that set the K of H apart from the kingdom of the world?

[karl]

The principle defining feature of the Kingdom of Heaven is that it is IN the world but not OF the world. The world is by it's very nature disobedient. The K of H by it's mandate/covenant is to be obedient. My question then is: Obedient to what? What is it that set the K of H apart from the kingdom of the world?

Somebody told me we were already redeemed from the curse of the law. There is no need to obey that old letter anymore. The Spirit makes it so that whatever we do will be OK.

I didn't believe him, but that's what he said.

[Musicman1228]

Karl,

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." Matt.5:17-18.

Jesus spoke these words. His words are truth and life. Anyone that says anything that is different from these words is a liar. You will here many Christians say that the law no longer applies because they are saved by grace through faith; and that because Jesus did away with the Law and the Prophets when He was crucified. The above statement is directly counter to that idea. If the law has been done away with in favor of grace then Jesus Christ was a liar, and that cannot be.

It is a very simple choice; you must choose between the words of Jesus Christ and the words of others who seek to change His words to mean something else.

[karl]

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

It is a very simple choice; you must choose between the words of Jesus Christ and the words of others who seek to change His words to mean something else.

I agree. I have found that the red letters in my Bible cut through a lot of theologisms.

[skyblue888]

The Lord said, "The kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21. "The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Rom.14:17. It is the same as saying, "Christ in you the hope of glory." Col.1:27. "It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." John 3:16.

In giving us Christ the Father gave us the Kingdom! "Giving thanks to the Father... who has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." Col.1:13.

For now this kingdom is in the form of grace. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." 2 Tim.4:22.

When Jesus comes this grace will burst into glory. It will then be the kingdom of glory.

"We receive Christ--the kingdom of God--through His word," "not merely written, but spoken." M.B.112; M.H.122.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God (Christ) and His righteousness..." Matt.6:33.

"One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other, Christ and His righteousness." RH Dec.23, 1890.

Christ is "the word of the kingdom." Matt.13:19) which is "the word of His grace." Acts 4:32.

"The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be to you. Amen." 2 Thess.3:16.

"They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character." F.W.38. "They--wise virgins--had received the grace of God, the regenerating and enlightening power of the Holy Spirit." G.C.394

This kingdom of grace was established before the foundation of the world.

sky

[karl]

The Lord said, "The kingdom of God is within you." Lukce 17:21.

"One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other, Christ and His righteousness." RH Dec.23, 1890.

This kingdom of grace was established before the foundation of the world.

Who do think has entered into this joy of the Lord, Sky? Do you think anyone who is not Christ's disciple has entered into life?

[skyblue888]

"Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." Daniel 12:10.

"Wherefore, be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is... Be filled with the Spirit." Eph.5:17,18.

"Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ--kingdom of grace--he is not His." Rom.8:9.

sky

"Our Lord Himself has given the command, 'Be filled with the Spirit.' (Eph.5:18), and this command is also a promise of its fulfillment." M.B.21. For "He speaks and it is done! He commands and it stands fast." Psalm 33:9. "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Rom.5:2; Heb.12:28.

[Dr. Rich]

Hold your horses--Have you forgotten about Dan. 2's rock cut out w/o hands, Matthew 21:43 prophecy and Matthew 25's prophecy where the words used was AT THAT TIME? Sure, God's kingdom has been forever, but from what have read, Israel was also God's kingdom here on this earth and when they rejected God, God withdrew so there was no more Kingdom of Heaven at that time. However, in Daniel (9:24) we see that once more God's Kingdom, here on this earth, was given another chance during a specific time period--but failed again. (Babylon has fallen, fallen)

Therefore, when Jesus was talking about the future, at the time of His coming back like a thief, He described what the Kingdom of God would be like so the wise could know who they were and what was going to happen.

You are confusing the many times God's Kingdom was here. So did Paul and the unknown writer of Hebrews.

If you want to get down to earth about this, the whole bible is basically a history of God's Kingdoms. That is why there is not much information on anything prior to Adam and Eve, for they were to be the witnesses for the world about God and His Kingdom. (My view of course)

[skyblue888]

It was the same kingdom of grace. "The grace of God has appeared to all men." Titus 2:11.

The kingdom spoken of in Daniel 2 is not the kingdom of grace but the kingdom of glory at the coming of Christ but that kingdom of glory on the new earth is only after the 1,000 years.

sky

[karl]

"[

"Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ--kingdom of grace--he is not His." Rom.8:9.

sky

OK that's right on.

Seemed like you veering off toward universalism earlier.

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

""Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ--kingdom of grace--he is not His." Rom.8:9.

sky

OK that's right on.

Seemed like you veering off toward universalism earlier.

How?

[karl]

Originally Posted By: karl

[

OK that's right on.

Seemed like you veering off toward universalism earlier.

How?

God speaking life into everyone. You weren't veering off, and it is a fact that God speaks life into His disciples.

Some people, though, will not look when He says look, will not open when He knocks, will not cooperate. They cannot be His disciples.

[skyblue888]

That's right. God speaks to everyone but not everyone inclines the ear to hear His voice that they may live, even forever more.

"Out of Zion God has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore." Psalm 133:3.

"I know that His commandment is, Live forever." John 12:50.

"We see in the midst of throne we see One bearing in hand and feet and side the marks of the suffering endured to reconcile man to God. We see a Father, infinite, dwelling in light unapproachable, yet receiving us to Himself through the merits of His Son. The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and despair, in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing (the blessing) of God: Live, sinner, live! ye repentant, believing souls, live! I have paid a ransom." A.A.333.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  John 18:37.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Rev.3:20.

Jesus has been very specific as to the voice to whom we are to listen, and it is critical for our salvation that we don't let the voice and words of ANYONE other than Jesus affect our understanding. It is the words of Jesus that are truth and life. Many other people have made the claim that they speak for Jesus Christ and we should listen to them, and sadly many of us have. This plays right into the deceptive hands of Satan, because he wants nothing more than to get us to believe that this other apostle or that other prophet is actually speaking the same truth as Jesus. If he can accomplish this he wins another soul to take with him to destruction.

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matt.24:4-5.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:1-5.

It is tragic that today that there are many who listen to these stranger's voices believing with all their hearts that they are listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd, when in fact they are being deceive by a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is to these people that Jesus will say, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ And this because they thought that THEY could not be deceived, that is was impossible for them to be that badly mistaken. 

[skyblue888]

The ten commandments spoken by Christ on Sinai are the voice of God speaking to the soul in promise. Accepted by the will, received into the soul, that word imparts power, it begets life. Every command is a promise. It brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God. The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained, by every word that proceeds out of the MOUTH of God. Matt.4:4.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Right on, Sky.

[Guest]

II. WHOSE IT IS

1. I answer, it is God's kingdom. Acts xiv.22: "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." 2Thess.i.5: "Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer."

Both of these show that the kingdom of God was not then come; but believers were exhorted to be faithful, and endure sufferings and tribulation, that they might be counted worthy to obtain the kingdom of God when it should come. Therefore, none will pretend that a temporal millennium is here alluded to, or that the gospel church is here meant; for these brethren were already counted worthy to belong to the church.

Again, Luke xiv.15: "And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." Now, I ask, is every one blessed who eats bread in the church, or in the gospel day? If so, what can the text mean, (Luke xiii.20,) "Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets?" Every unbiassed mind must see at once that the kingdom of God of which our text speaks, is not temporal, but eternal; not earthly, but heavenly.

2. It is a kingdom given unto Jesus Christ, the Son of man, when he leaves the mediatorial seat, gives up the redeemed church to God the Father, and the mediatorship becomes subject to God. Christ having performed all the work which the Father gave him to do as Mediator, the mediatorial kingdom, or kingdom of grace, is given up, and the kingdom of God set up, and Christ now sits on the throne of his father David, having put down all enemies, and all authority and power, against his rightful reign on earth, having dashed the kingdoms to pieces like a potter's vessel, burned up the wicked, cleansed the earth, and raised the saints. Then the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

Then Jesus will be God blessed forevermore; and his kingdom will fill the whole earth, and his tabernacle will be with men, and he will dwell with them, and be their God, and they shall be his people. Now you will ask for my proof. This is right; and in my soul I wish you would be as particular with all who preach the gospel, and demand their evidences. We should have less error in our world, and more truth.

First; see Daniel vii.13,14: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, 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." This proves the kingdom given to the Son of man.

Second; see 1Cor.xv.23-28: "But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." Also, Psalm ii.9:

"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Psalm v.3,6: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Thou shalt destroy them that speak teasing; the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man." 2Pet.iii.10: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up."

Also, verse 13: "Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Rev.xi.15: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." Psalm xlvii.2,9: "For the Lord Most High is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth." "For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." Zech.xiv.9: "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one." Rom.ix.5: "Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever.

Amen." Rev.xxi.3: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." These texts prove the remainder of what I have stated above; and we may further inquire, To whom is the kingdom given? Third; I answer, it is given to the saints. See Dan.vii.21,22,27: "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."

"And the 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." Luke xii.32: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Matt.xxv.34: "Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." James ii.5: "Hearken, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" 2Pet.i.11: "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly

into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." These texts prove abundantly that the saints are to possess and inherit the kingdom, and the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ.

[Guest]

It was the same kingdom of grace. "The grace of God has appeared to all men." Titus 2:11.

The kingdom spoken of in Daniel 2 is not the kingdom of grace but the kingdom of glory at the coming of Christ.

sky

Exactly.

Some people tend to confuse the two.