The storyline of the Bible—from the time of Israel’s patriarchs, through the division into two nations, to their return as one nation—there had always been a promise of a blessing to the nations through Israel. There would be a coming King to whom all the nations would be subject. The New Testament plays a key role here being a product of the generation that saw the start of this long promised Kingdom.
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:11, said, “These things (i.e. events in Israel’s history) happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” Paul wasn’t talking about us as many today suppose, but his own generation. They stood at the end of the Temple Age and the beginning of the Kingdom Age. Much of the Old Testament’s prophecy focused on this period, making it fertile ground to test the Bible’s truth.
What Is the Eternal Kingdom?
The eternal Kingdom was a promise repeated many times in Israel’s history. It started with Abraham, then passed to Isaac and Jacob. God told Jacob:
[Gen 28:13-14 NASB20] 13 Then behold, the LORD was standing above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 “Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
This blessing narrowed to Jacob’s son Judah:
[Gen 49:10 NASB20] 10 “The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him [shall be] the obedience of the peoples.
“Shiloh” means peace, hinting at a future leader who would bring harmony to the world. Later, Judah’s descendant King David received another promise. The prophet Nathan told David:
[2Sa 7:12-13 NASB20] 12 “When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
This eternal throne raises a question: how could a human descendant rule forever? The prophet Daniel answered this in his vision:
[Dan 7:13-14 NASB20] 13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Honor, and a kingdom, So that all the peoples, nations, and [populations of all] languages Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.
Daniel foresaw a King ruling from heaven. Jesus confirmed this when He said:
[Jhn 18:36 NASB20] 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
After His resurrection, Jesus declared:
[Mat 28:18 NASB20] 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Jesus claimed to be this eternal King, holding authority over heaven and earth. He sent His followers to teach the nations, fulfilling Daniel’s vision of a kingdom that would be established during the Roman Empire – the fourth kingdom to reign over Judah following their Babylonian exile. We develop this in later articles.
[Dan 2:44 NASB20] 44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and [that] kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.
Questions from the Comments
1. What is this eternal Kingdom?
The eternal Kingdom is God’s promise of a ruler descended from David, who would reign forever. Prophets like Isaiah, Nathan, and Daniel described this King as someone who would bring peace, justice, and salvation. Jesus claimed this role, showing His kingdom is not a political one but a spiritual rule over heaven and earth.
2. How did Jesus prove He’s the King of the eternal Kingdom?
Jesus fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah. His teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection confirmed what the prophets said. After rising from the dead, He told His disciples that all authority had been given to Him, and He sent them to spread His message worldwide. He came at the exact specified time – just prior to the judgment on the nation of Judah.
3. What makes this Kingdom different from other kingdoms?
Unlike earthly kingdoms, this Kingdom is eternal and can’t be destroyed. It’s not based on armies or land but on Jesus’ authority and His followers living out His teachings. Its growth, starting with 12 disciples, has now reached people in every nation.
4. Why does the Kingdom start with judgment on Judah?
Judgment of national destruction was decreed because of sin under the Mosaic law. However, the prophets also spoke of a remnant—a group of faithful people who would be saved through the Messiah’s work. This judgment cleared the way for the eternal Kingdom to begin. However, Israel was to be later restored once their sentence of exile was over.
[Isa 49:6 NASB20] 6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the protected ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Looking Ahead
Jesus’ Kingdom is real and growing. From a small group of disciples, His followers now include people from every nation, just as the Bible predicted. This Kingdom, built on faith, points to the truth of Scripture and the reliability of Jesus as a foundation for our faith.
In the next article, we’ll explore Daniel’s vision of the Kingdom growing like a mountain. Stay tuned as we uncover even more evidence of God’s plan unfolding through history!