The Development of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ covers it's announcement, it's nature, it's inauguration, it's establishment, and it's continuation.

The Announcement of the Kingdom

John the baptizer (the cousin of Jesus and the last Old Testament prophet) was the first announcer of the Kingdom's arrival that is recorded in the New Testament.

Not only was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, the Forerunner of the Messiah (John the Baptist) was prophesied by Isaiah as well.

Isa. 40:1-10

[1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
[9] O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
[10] Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Malachi proclaimed this Messenger as well.

Mal. 3:1-6

[1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
[2] But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
[3] And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
[4] Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
[5] And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
[6] For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Matt. 3:1-6

[1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
[4] And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
[5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
[6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven was at hand meant that the kingdom was near because John the Baptist was announcing the coming of the King! John was born about 3 months before Jesus but they were born in different places and apparently John did not know that his cousin was a Messiah until he baptized Him.

Remember the question of the wise men that came to seek Jesus: "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship Him."

Jesus Christ was The King even before his birth. He just was not in a human body on the earth yet. He was King before His birth. He was King at His birth. He was king after His birth. He is King now!

John was announcing the arrival of their Messiah soon.  Soon and very soon they were going to see the king!

John the Baptist began his public Ministry before Jesus. John was having a big impact.  He was a prophet.  Jesus was aware of him.  John was aware of Jesus, but he did not know that his cousin was the Lamb of God that would take the sins of the world away ... yet. John was a straight- shooting prophet that spoke the truth to power, and like so many of the Hebrew Prophets, the Jewish leadership killed him. Judah's King Herod had first put him in the prison and then later had him beheaded.

Jesus Christ Himself carefully announced that the kingdom had arrived.

The King of Heaven had brought heaven's Kingdom to Earth!

Luke 17:20-21

[20] And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
[21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Within you means in your midst or among you. Jesus was not addressing a single person but a group and he told them that the kingdom was right there in their group. The King was among them!  

The King was no longer on His way as John prophesied, He was there, and with The King comes His kingdom!

Matt. 12:41-42

[41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
[42] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

John 18:32-37

[32] That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
[33] Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
[34] Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
[35] Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
[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.
[37] Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Jesus was their King. He was their Messiah, but the leaders of the nation of Israel rejected Him. Pilate, the Roman governor, wanted to release Him but they cried, "Crucifiy Him!",  "We have no King but Caesar!" -- and asked for a murderer to be released instead.

The Nature of the Kingdom

Slowly, the followers of this Rabbi Jesus began to see Him as more than just a Rabbi, more than just a prophet, they begin to see Him as the promised Messiah or Anointed King.

Their Scriptures prophesied of both a suffering servant as well as a ruling sovereign.  However, they did not realize that they were going to be one in the same God In the flesh.  

They did not understand how the prophecy recorded in Isaiah chapter 53 could refer to their promised King!

They were taught that they were two different prophets. Just like us, they believed what they had been taught mostly. The disciples were no different.  Even once they had recognized Jesus as the Messiah they had expectations of Him that to them were disappointing.

Jesus Christ had not come to crush the Romans, He wanted to save them along with all of humanity. T hank God for the love of God and the love of the Son of God, Jesus Christ!

The Mercy of the King

Luke 9:51-56

[51] And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
[52] And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
[53] And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
[54] And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
[55] But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
[56] For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Overwhelming generality and truthfully, the Jews hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans weren't so fond of the Jews either.  T he Samaritans said,  "Well, if Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem why don't you just guys just pass on by", they asked Jesus, "Should we call on the fire of God to fall on them and consume them?" Of course, they expected their ruling King to say, "Torch 'em."  But instead He corrected them.  He told them they were not carrying His spirit.  He had come to seek and save the lost, not destroy them.

A "Not of this World" Kingdom

John 18:36

[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.

An Rightside-Up Kingdom

This King was going to rule with absolute righteousness - in so many ways, opposite of what they were thinking.

From the beginning, God was to be the king of the nation of Israel and would speak to them through prophets. Moses was the first prophet that God provided for them so they could know his will and this prophet lead them, too.  God would raise up judges to deliver them when needed. God provided for them priests to intercede for them and assist them in worship. However the people of Israel saw that all the other kingdoms had kings that ruled them and they wanted to have a king just like all the other nations did. T his was a slap in the face to God who had been their King.

God warned them of the difficulties and hardships that would come upon them because of having an Earthly King other than Himself. They didn't care -- they wanted a king!

Jesus disciples were looking for this kind of worldly king. T heir King was going to rule firmly but lovingly and mercifully, too.  

The King was going to rule with tenderness.   He did not inflict wounds, He healed wounds instead.

Matt. 12:1-21

[1] At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
[2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
[3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
[4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
[5] Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
[6] But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
[7] But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
[8] For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
[9] And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
[10] And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
[11] And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
[12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
[13] Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
[14] Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
[15] But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
[16] And charged them that they should not make him known:
[17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
[18] Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
[19] He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
[20] A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
[21] And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Jesus was going to be the perfect King he would be the most powerful and most loving of all. he would be the most patient and most compassionate and most forgiving King that is ever lived or ever will live. What a King is our King! There is none like Him.

Matt. 18:1-5

[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 23:8-12

[8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
[9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
[10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
[11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
[12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luke 22:24-30

[24] And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
[25] And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
[26] But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
[27] For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
[28] Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
[29] And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
[30] That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Kings in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ would not be seeking to exercise the lordship over other people, but in love would be serving them. Jesus Christ Himself was the example.

The Inauguration of the Kingdom

The death, burial and bodily resurrection of the King had to happen before He could begin his ruling with a rod of iron over the Earth.

This is their King that would live and reign forever!  

Jesus was precise about doing things at the right time. His disciples were still anxious for this Kingdom, so after His resurrection as he was Spending time with them and preparing them, they asked Him, "Is it time now?"

Acts 1:1-11

[1] The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
[2] Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
[3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
[4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
[6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
[9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
[10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
[11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Jesus gave them this answer: "It is not for you to know the time." Then He told them to get busy preaching the gospel to the whole world. There was a world that needed to hear the good news and be saved before Jesus would return to reign in power on the Earth.

So, no it was not time yet!

But the time would come within one generation as he told them often. They often were not the best of listeners. They had selective hearing, too.

The four gospel writers give us the history of the ministry of the king. Luke provided the history of the beginning ministry of the Apostles. It is generally historically agreed that the book of Acts covers about 30 years. Jesus was around 30 years old during his ministry up until the point of His crucifixion -- before His Human life ended -- before his glorious resurrection. Therefore, about 10 years following the closing of the events recorded in the book of Acts, He returned and set up His kingdom on Earth.

• I know that this is a part of his story that most of you have not been taught. I certainly was not taught it. Even after Decades of devoted Bible study, I still did not see it. The passages that are in the Bible, in the gospels and in the epistles of the Apostles contain the record that should have sent me straight, but it had always been explained away for me and to me.

• See the section on the great deception.

The Establishment of the Kingdom

Jesus Christ was the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but he came as the Lamb of God first. He was going to be returning as the Lion. He was going to rule all of the nations of the Earth upon His return. This was to happen within one generation, and it did! the Lamb of God died on the cross about 30 AD. within one generation around 70 AD God destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and the Roman Empire as well. that last Gentile Empire Rome of which Daniel prophesied was going to be taken over by Christ and the Saints of the Most High.

• Read Daniel 2 and Daniel 7

The four Gentile world powers would be:

1. The Babylonians

2. The Medes and Persians

3. The Greeks

4. The Romans

Then the Rock that was cut without hands would smash the feet (the Roman Empire) and would fill the Earth.

Christ the King did as he was prophesied and established his Kingdom. for a . of 1,000 years on Earth his word was law and his saints were running the Earth.

There are records of the things that transpired during this Kingdom but they were not canonized, which means they were not added to the Bible.

It was a millennium of relative peace. There were no major national wars during this time. The swords of the nations were transformed into implements for agriculture. Lands had Kings and they were all loyal to the King of Kings. This happened. For 1,000 years the devil was chained in the bottomless pit.

Then the enemy was released from his prison, and immediately began his work of deception.

Has his deception worked on you?

• See the section on the great deception.

The Continuation of the Kingdom

The kingdom of Jesus Christ continues ... is he your King?  

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He is still the KING of Kings and Lord of lords at this present hour.

We know what happened at the end of the Thousand Year reign of Jesus on the Earth-- the devil was loosed out of his prison. The Scriptures do not say that the rule of Jesus over the Earth would cease! You may not see him as the current King and the world may not recognize him as their King but that doesn't change the fact that HE IS THE KING!

As present day Saints of the most high God we are still his priests and kings on this Earth.

Are you fulfilling your charge?

• See His Priests

• See His Kings