Our subject this afternoon is the Kingdom of God. We will read the 145th Psalm, from 8th to the 17th: "The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all His works. All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord, and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; 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. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. They eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works."

We want to call attention, again, to the middle of the tenth to the last of the twelfth verse-"And Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." This is the object of our meeting, this afternoon, to speak of His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

The subject we have selected is an important one. It was evidently considered important by the Author of this Book. It was evidently esteemed important, also, by that heaven-sent founder of Christianity.

That this subject was important to the Disciples is evident by the numerous references to it all through their writings. We have heard of the scarlet thread that runs through the Bible, but there is also a purple thread. While scarlet is the emblem of Christ's blood, purple is the emblem of royalty and power. We find that this subject has a prominent place in the songs of the Psalmist, in the Prophets, and in the discourses of the Master. It also has a place in all the discourses of the followers of the Master. [PE2]

That it is important, might also be concluded from analogy itself. We find that the greater any kingdom is, the more important is the study of it. The kingdom of Bogodo, in South Africa, is of very little importance, but when we come to the kingdom of England we find it more important, for it is the greatest of all. But the kingdom of God is far greater than any of these earthly kingdoms, and so should be most important of all. We find much profit in the study of earthly kingdoms. If there can be profit, benefit or pleasure derived from the study of man's kingdoms, how much more should we find in the study of God's kingdom? We realize that there is often considerable difference regarding the histories of earthly kingdoms, and we find the same in the history of God's kingdom. The Roman Catholics write and tell us one view of it; the Presbyterians tell us another.

Nevertheless, if man makes blunders, how reliable it would be if we could get a history from the King Himself.

We have a Book that was written by the King Himself, and this is what we are going to refer to this afternoon. We find the general view prevalent among Christian people is, that God never had a kingdom until about eighteen hundred years ago. But that is a mistake. Away back, whether one million or ten billion years ago, there was a time when God alone existed, and away back there God created the first being. That is where God brought into existence His only begotten Son.

Many entertain wrong ideas about this subject; they have an idea that the Son existed as long as the Father. But the very words, that He is the Son of God, is proof that this idea is wrong. When God created His Son-that was when He created His kingdom. It take three things to constitute a kingdom-first, the King; secondly, the realm, and thirdly, the subjects. If either one of these three are lacking you do not have a kingdom. As long as our Heavenly Father had not created an intelligent being He was without a kingdom. God's realm was very large, but as yet, it was very thinly populated. But God had plans for populating His realm, and He set His Son at work creating. So we see the kingdom was growing with the creating of Heavenly hosts. It was a part of God's realm; there was not a corner in all the great universe that was not a part of the great realm of Jehovah.

When man was created he was in God's kingdom. So now we can see God's kingdom including every corner of the universe, and every being upon it; God held undisputed sway over all creation. So we can see that there has not been any age when God's kingdom has not been in existence. This, we can see, is why Paul says, in 1 Tim. 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever," and why we see, in Jer. 10:10, "But the Lord [PE3] is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlasting king."

However, about the beginning of the time of man's creation, there was one great being who began to desire to exalt himself. This was Lucifer, as we see in Isa. 14:13-14, "For thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high."

Lucifer should have crushed these rebellious thoughts, but he did not, and by and by these thoughts let to actions and he tempted Adam to rebel too. Satan, and the beings God created on earth, rebelled against God.

God could have instantly put the rebellion down, but He evidently had a wiser plan than that. You remember how Cuba rebelled against Spain? Spain sent over ships to put down the rebellion. Suppose that Spain had adopted a different course; that the King of Spain had said, "They think that they can get along without me, but they can't. I am the one who has been assisting and helping them. Now I am just going to let them be, and I will declare a blockade against their island. I will just show them how hard they will fare when they try to get along without me. After a while they will be glad, of their own free will, to lay down their arms and declare allegiance to me." This feebly illustrates God's plan. "For six thousand years," He might have said, "I will leave the earth to itself, in a large measure, and when the time comes to send My representatives, then they will be willing for Me to reign over them." We remember that He says in the 103 Psa., 10th verse (Psa. 103:10): "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."

And thus it will be, that in due time, at the second advent of Jesus Christ, this evil king of the present world will be brought to an end and God's kingdom will once more illumine the earth. It has only been this little globe, the earth, that has rebelled-not the entire kingdom of God. God has kept Satan here on this earth, and blockaded this part of His realm to all blessings of the Heavenly Kingdom. God's kingdom has existed ever since the creation of His Son, but God's kingdom has not been here; this has been a foreign country.

During the early portion of time following the fall God had some "friends" who were not rebellious like the rest. You remember Abraham was called the "friend of God." However, we follow on down the pages about nineteen hundred years ago, and there read how God sent the highest subject in His realm. He sent His Son, not only with a message, but to live here, and to die here. The purpose of sending His Son here was to break down a certain barrier that existed.

What was the barrier? [PE4]

Justice. It was necessary that this justice be satisfied; and this is just what Jesus did. That penalty of death imposed upon Adam had to be satisfied. There was no hope for man if he had to satisfy it himself; but Jesus came down to earth among a race of rebels and died to remove that barrier. Jesus didn't come to earth to become a citizen of Satan's kingdom. He openly confessed that His kingdom was not of this world. On that account He refused to bow the knee to that arch enemy of righteousness, as we read in Matt. 4:8. We see here, that Jesus refused to render allegiance to Satan; refused to recognize him as His king. The same thought is brought out again in John 14:30, "For the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." He has not a subject in me; Jehovah is my king. And in His own life He expressed the same thing, John 15:18-20. Our Savior, here, would have us understand, that if we are following in His steps we will hold the same position to the world that He did.

During all our Savior's ministry He taught along this line, and continued to say, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." But He did more than this; He said, "The time is coming when I shall set up my kingdom." Notice while Jesus preached the kingdom, at the first advent, He did not set up His kingdom then. He came to remove the barrier. But, some may not be satisfied on this point, and may say that God's kingdom was set up at the first advent. But it wasn't. If so, why do you pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?"

Oh, some may say, I never understood that it was a real kingdom, but merely the preaching of the Gospel.

Did you never read the words of the Apostle Paul, where he says, "The kingdom of God is not in words only, but in power?"

If earthly kings have such power as they have what great power must God have? And then again I want you to notice that the word Kingdom is always in the singular. Different denominations do not consist God's kingdom.

We see the same thought again in Rev. 11:15. We would understand that to be at the time of the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet; and at the second advent of our Lord. And in John 18:36, Jesus speaks very emphatically to Pilate, when He answered: "My kingdom is not of this world, etc." We can see by our Lord's own words to Pilate, that as long as this world exists His kingdom will not be set up.

At the first advent the Lord taught us to seek the kingdom, but at the second advent every one will find himself in the kingdom. It will then be a case of striving to obey the laws of the kingdom instead of striving to get into the kingdom.

God has made provision for some of us to get into the kingdom now, [PE5] as we read in Col 1:13. You know that if you desire to become a citizen of a place you must live there first, but God has made provision whereby we can become citizens of His kingdom without having to first live there. We must renounce allegiance to Satan, and consecrate our lives to God. In reality we are in Satan's kingdom, but.in the spirit of God's kingdom. We can see that this is the thought expressed in Acts 14:22.

Now, in the sixth chapter of first Corinthians, 9th to 10th verses, Paul has something peculiar to say respecting that kingdom. Notice that word "Inherit;" he shows us that in some sense we are going to inherit this kingdom. How can we inherit it? The same thought is expressed in Jas. 2:5, when the Apostle says: "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?" So, you see, the same thought is expressed by James that Paul has, previously expressed. That means just this-to say that we had entered the kingdom of England would mean that we had become citizens of that country, but to say that we had inherited would mean that we had been placed on the throne. Those who have accepted Christ are counted as citizens of God's kingdom, and then He invites them to His throne, as we read in Rev. 3:21, and as the Master said again in Luke 16:16. In Matt. 11:12 the Lord again makes reference to this glorious kingdom and to this class. The promise is that we shall be raised in the first resurrection, and shall be given a seat on His throne. But there must be a change of nature first. We read in 1 Cor. 15:50, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.

This does not say that flesh and blood cannot be in the kingdom, for Adam was flesh and blood, and he was in the kingdom.

For eighteen hundred years God has had a people in the world who have been praising and honoring Him, and trying to do His will.

These are the people who are going to reign with Him; and you remember that the promise was "those that suffer shall also reign."

See, also, Matt. 19:28, 1 Cor. 6:2. and Rev. 20:4, and 6. This is the class referred to in Rev. 5:9. In the 72nd Psalm, Psa. 72:6-13, this class is referred to. We would understand that there is a time when the Lord will establish His kingdom, when He will oppose Satan, and then Christ and His Church will possess the kingdom and reign. But notice, dear friends, I don't say that we will find ourselves citizens of the kingdom of God, but of the kingdom of heaven; there is a difference. At the second advent men will find themselves in the kingdom of God, but not in the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven will consist of those who possess the spiritual nature only, while the kingdom of God will consist of all those upon [PE6] this earth. Since the fall, the kingdom class, the citizens of the kingdom of God, have been upon this earth, whether they have been prospective human, or prospective spiritual members, and thus the "kingdom of heaven" and the "kingdom of God" have been used interchangeably. John the Baptist was said to be the greatest of all the prophets, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven will be greater than he. John the Baptist will be in the kingdom of God, but not in the kingdom of heaven. This, we see, is the reason why in Matthew Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees, "Verily I say unto you, the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."

Notice He didn't say, "You are not going into the kingdom," no, but that they would not go in then. A man cannot be tried outside of the kingdom. For eighteen hundred years God has not been trying the whole world, but only those who have become citizens. When the time comes that God's kingdom annexes this earth, then the world will have their trial and their opportunity.

We can see that a man's life here may affect his life in the kingdom times, by developing a wrong or a right character.

Adam's probation ceased and he was out of the kingdom as soon as he disobeyed. Jesus was on trial while He was on earth, but He still remained a citizen of God's kingdom.

The whole world of mankind, those that are dead, and those that are dying and those that are yet to be born, will be put on probation, to be tried by Christ and His Church. "Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?"

Then, at the end of the millennium, when all evil has been put down, will our prayers have been answered-the kingdom will have come, God's will will be done. Then will the prayer of the thief on the cross be answered, and then will have been accomplished the saying of Dan. 7:27, "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." And then we will find our text will have its fulfillment. No wonder the Psalmist should say, "They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power."

The Lord has been keeping His hands closed, as it were, for the last six thousand years, and God has allowed men to rebel; but in that glorious age of blessing He is going to open His hands once more, and all those that will come into harmony with Him will be blessed, and all who will not, will be destroyed from the presence of the Lord.

Amen.