The Glorious Kingdom

Introduction

After Solomon was established as the new king of Israel, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give thee." 1 Kings 3:5. The young king could have requested money, fame, or long life, but he didn't. Instead, he asked for wisdom to justly govern God's people. In answer to that humble and heartfelt prayer, the Lord gave Solomon tremendous wisdom and perception surpassing every other human. On top of that, God also blessed him with fame, riches, and long life.

During Solomon's reign, Israel enjoyed unparalleled peace and prosperity. Precious metals were so abundant in Jerusalem during his time that silver was considered as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27). In addition to the magnificent temple of marble and gold that Solomon built for God, he also constructed a lavish palace and courtyard plus entire cities to house his chariots and horsemen. Splendid flowering gardens with rare trees graced every town. Monarchs, nobles, and royalty came from around the world to visit and bring gifts. They longed to hear the profound wisdom that God had put in Solomon's heart (1 Kings 10:24).

Among the many regal visitors was a rich and beautiful queen from the far-away land of Sheba. She wanted to see firsthand if the reports about Israel's king were true. The Queen of Sheba tested Solomon with many hard questions and was stunned by his brilliant answers. Everywhere she looked, her senses were dazzled. But even Israel at its zenith was as nothing compared to the glorious kingdom God has prepared for you!

1. What did Jesus promise His people?

John 14:2. In my Father's house are many mansions: ... I go to prepare a __________ for you.

Answer

place

2. What do we know about this place Jesus is preparing?

Isaiah 65:17. For, behold, I create ______ heavens and a new earth.

Hebrews 11:16 For he hath prepared for them a city.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Isaiah 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them.

Answer

new

NOTE

Talk about amazing! God has prepared for His people new heavens, a new earth, and a new holy city. The righteous will inherit a glorious mansion in the city built by Jesus (John 14:2), plus a fabulous country home on the new earth that they will build themselves (Isaiah 65:21).

3. What more do we know about the holy city?

Revelation 21:16. And the city lieth _______________, ... and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.

Revelation 21:10, 12 The holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ... had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates.

Revelation 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper.

Revelation 21:21 The street of the city was pure gold.

Answer

foursquare

NOTE

The holy city is square, and the distance around it is 12,000 furlongs, or 1,500 miles (a furlong is one-eighth of a mile). It comes down from heaven to the new earth and will land where the Mount of Olives now stands (Zechariah 14:4). Each of its 12 gates are made of a single pearl (Revelation 21:21), and the city's jasper walls are 144 cubits (Revelation 21:17) or 216 feet wide (a cubit is 18 inches).

4. What does the Bible say about the city's water and food supply?

Revelation 22:1. He shewed me a pure __________ of water of life.

Revelation 22:2 On either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Answer

river

NOTE

An inexhaustible, pure river of water flows out of the throne of God, and the tree of life yields a different fruit crop each month. This fabulous fruit and its leaves provide the antidote of death and perpetuate eternal life. In addition, God's saints will raise their own food at their country homes (Isaiah 65:21). The diet of God's people will be what it was before sin entered the world--fruits, grains, and nuts (Genesis 1:29, 31). The taste will be indescribably delicious, and the nutritional value will be perfect.

5. How will living in heaven be different than living here on earth?

Isaiah 35:5. The eyes of the __________ shall be opened.

Isaiah 35:5 The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.

Isaiah 65:25 They [the beasts] shall not hurt nor destroy.

Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, ... and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 35:1 The desert shall ... blossom as the rose.

Isaiah 33:24 The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.

Revelation 21:4 There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.

Answer

blind

6. What kind of bodies will the saints have?

Philippians 3:20, 21. The Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his _________ body.

Answer

glorious

7. Is Jesus' body real, or is He a spirit?

Luke 24:39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not ______ and bones, as ye see me have.

Answer

flesh

NOTE

Jesus' body after His resurrection was real, with flesh and bones that you could touch and feel. The disciples at first thought He was a spirit when He appeared suddenly to them, but after they felt Him and watched Him eat (Luke 24:40-43), they knew that He was real. Forty days later, Jesus led them out to Bethany and ascended to heaven (Luke 24:50, 51). The angels who appeared to the disciples said to them, "This same Jesus [of flesh and bones] ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. Since His incarnation, Jesus is forever linked with the human race, as well as being divine.

8. What other encouraging promise is found?

Acts 3:20, 21. And he shall send Jesus Christ, ... Whom the heaven must receive until the times of _____________ of all things.

Answer

restitution

NOTE

Praise God, every glorious thing that was lost by the entrance of sin will be restored in God's new kingdom. All people will genuinely love, trust, and support each other. As a result, there will be no more violence (Isaiah 60:18), and no more betrayal, abuse, disloyalty, dishonesty, backbiting, insecurity, depression, danger, disappointment, or heartache. It will be joyful, happy, contented, abundant living for eternity.

9. Will sad or painful memories from this life trouble people in heaven?

Isaiah 65:17. The former shall ____ be remembered, nor come into mind.

Answer

not

NOTE

The words "come into mind" are better translated "move upon the heart." The Lord is here promising that the sorrows of earth will not bring sorrow to His saints in heaven.

10. Will people from earth recognize each other in God's new kingdom?

1 Corinthians 13:12. Then shall I ______ even as also I am known.

Answer

know

NOTE

We will indeed recognize each other by our appearance, walk, mannerisms, speech, etc. Our abilities to discern each other will be improved in heaven. Heaven will be an utterly fantastic family reunion.

11. What other thrilling promises does God give us regarding His coming kingdom?

Isaiah 35:10. The ransomed of the Lord shall ... come to Zion with songs and everlasting _____.

Psalm 16:11 There are pleasures for evermore.

Zechariah 8:5 The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

Isaiah 40:31 They shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 They shall mount up with wings as eagles.

Answer

joy

NOTE

The saints will be able to fly like angels at speeds faster than light. Since they inherit all things (Revelation 21:7), they may visit other worlds, taking only moments to get there. According to Scripture, God has made other worlds that are unfallen (Job 1:6; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3).

12. Can we adequately describe God's new kingdom with words?

1 Corinthians 2:9. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the _______ of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Answer

heart

NOTE

You and I in our present state are not able even to imagine the wonderful things God has prepared for His children. No words, thoughts, or even dreams can truly picture the fantastic joys and bliss of heaven. No matter what we may suffer on earth, being in heaven will outweigh all of earth's trials (Romans 8:18).

13. What is the highest reward of God's new kingdom?

Revelation 21:3. God himself shall be ________ them.

Answer

with

NOTE

Believe it, and stand in awe! God will actually live in the new earth with His people. Nothing can compare to this for sheer delight and glory.

14. What will exclude people from God's heavenly kingdom?

Revelation 21:27. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that ________________.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things.

Answer

defileth

NOTE

Sin defiles and cannot be allowed into heaven, else rebellion might start all over again. (See Supplement entitled "The Kingdom of God.")

15. What can I do about sin?

1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to ________ us from all unrighteousness.

Answer

cleanse

NOTE

If I ask Jesus to forgive my sins, He forgives me and cleanses me from sin and makes me His child.

16. What did Jesus say is the formula for success in this life and the next?

Matthew 6:33. But seek ye first the ______________ of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Answer

kingdom

NOTE

This is exactly what King Solomon did when God asked, "What do you want?" His first thought was for God's kingdom and His righteousness. In return, the blessings of a glorious kingdom followed. This will happen for us too when we seek first God's kingdom.

17. Recognizing that God is in full control of earthly events, are you willing to let Him have full control of your life?

Answer

Supplemental Study

The Kingdom of God

The Bible is a record of two kingdoms in constant conflict, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Jesus made the kingdom of God central in His preaching. There are over 100 references to the kingdom of God in the New Testament alone, and many are contained in Jesus' parables. From His teachings we learn that God's divine kingdom is divided into two different categories, the spiritual and the literal.

Citizens of the spiritual kingdom of heaven have God ruling and reigning in their hearts. Before conversion, the throne in our hearts is occupied by Satan, sin, and self. But after we accept the forgiveness and power of Jesus, that bondage is broken. This is why Paul says, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. ... For sin shall not have dominion over you." Romans 6:12, 14. "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." Luke 11:20.

As soon as a person accepts Christ, he instantly becomes a citizen of God's spiritual kingdom. This is why both Jesus and John the Baptist began their ministries by urging people to repent, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2 4:17. "At hand" means available or accessible now. This is why Jesus said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20, 21. As soon as a person is baptized, he leaves Satan's kingdom of darkness and joins God's kingdom of light.

Every true follower of Christ is an ambassador to this world from God's spiritual kingdom. Ambassadors from other countries often speak a different language, wear different clothes, eat different food, use different currency, and have different customs. In the same way, as Christian ambassadors we should be very careful to rightly represent our Lord's kingdom by the way we eat, talk, dress, and spend our time and money.

Someday God's people will inherit the literal, physical kingdom of God that is discussed in this lesson. It is this kingdom we are longing for when we pray in the Lord's prayer, "Thy kingdom come." Matthew 6:10. God's literal kingdom will be fully and finally established after the post-millennium judgment and battle described in Revelation 20.