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The peoples of the world are organised into nations, with
their appointed leaders, who are sometimes called 'kings'.
There are records of nations and their kings in the early
books of the Bible. God promised the fathers of Israel that
their descendants would be kings. He said to Abraham: "…your
name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many
nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations
of you, and kings will come from you." (Genesis 17:5-6).
This did not happen until many years later, when the people
of Israel asked God to give them a king to rule over them,
and Saul of the tribe of Benjamin was chosen and appointed
the first king of Israel: "So all the people went to
Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the Lord."
(1 Samuel 11:15).
With some exceptions, Saul and the kings who succeeded him
were not faithful to God. Because of their unfaithfulness
God allowed the kingdoms of Israel and Judah to be overthrown.
But in faithfulness to the promises He had made to the fathers
of the nation, God made a further promise of a future restoration
of the kingdom under a king who would be obedient and would
rule for God. This king would be the Lord Jesus Christ.
"O profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has
come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax, this
is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove
the crown…. It [the kingdom] will not be restored until
he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; to him I will give
it." (Ezekiel 21:25-27).
Jesus, before his birth, was appointed to be the rightful
heir to the throne of Israel. In his lifetime he live a humble
existence, although his kingship was acknowledged by the people,
and by the Roman governor who sentenced him to death. "Pilate…summoned
Jesus and asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'…Jesus
said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants
would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews, but now my kingdom
is from another place.' 'You are a king then!' said Pilate.
Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact,
for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world.'"
(John 18:33-37).
"Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross.
It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." (John
19:19).
After his resurrection, the disciples asked Jesus if he would
at that time restore Israel's kingdom, as God had promised.
They were told he would not, but that this was something God
would do when He was ready (see Acts 1:6).
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King
Kingdom of God
Kingdom of Heaven
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