God’s Kingdoms – Part 1 – Mark and John :: By Mark A. Becker
Introduction
This article is part of a five-part study series on God’s Kingdoms as revealed to us in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) using the keyword “kingdom” as our guide.
Below are the keys to the three Kingdoms we will be assessing – with a brief definition of each – as outlined for us in the Scriptures. Thorough and expanding definitions of each Kingdom will be enhanced as we move along in our study.
Two Kingdoms are linked: The Salvation Kingdom will eventually culminate in the Eternal Kingdom. The Millennial Kingdom is for Israel and her Messiah, fulfilling God’s precious promises to His chosen people made throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament).
God’s Kingdoms Series
God’s Kingdoms – Part 1 – Mark and John
God’s Kingdoms – Part 2 – Matthew
God’s Kingdoms – Part 3 – Luke
God’s Kingdoms – Part 4 – Acts Through Revelation
God’s Kingdoms – Part 5 – Summary and Conclusion
Keys:
Salvation Kingdom – From personal salvation, to being in heaven with Christ, through the Second Coming, the gathering of Israel, and preparation for the Millennial Kingdom.
Millennial Kingdom – The 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth.
Eternal Kingdom – The Everlasting Kingdom – that follows the Millennial Kingdom of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment – with a New Heaven and a New Earth.
The All-Encompassing Kingdom – Inclusive of the three Kingdoms above, from personal salvation through to the Eternal Kingdom.
Greek Words and Phrases Used in the Study
The Greek word for “kingdom” is 932 βασιλεία “basileia” and means kingdom, sovereignty, royal power, kingship, dominion, rule, royalty, rule, a realm.
The Greek word for “heaven” is 3772 οὐρανός “ouranos” and means heaven, heavens, heavenly, air, sky.
The Greek word for “God” is 2316 θεός “theos” and means God, supreme divinity, godly, a god.
The Greek for “kingdom of heaven” is “basileia τοῦ ouranos.”
The Greek for “kingdom of God” is “basileia τοῦ Theos.”
The Greek for “My Father’s kingdom” is “Mou (3450 – μοῦ) Patér (3962 – πατήρ) basileia.”
The Greek for “gospel of the kingdom” is “euaggelion (2098 – εὐαγγέλιον) τῆς basileia.”
The Greek for “My kingdom” is “Emos (1699 – ἐμός) basileia.”
The Greek for “Thy kingdom come” is “Sou (4675 – σοῦ) basileia erchomai (2064 – ἔρχομαι).”
The Greek for “… Thine is the kingdom” is “Sou esti (2076 – ἐστί) hé (3588 – ἡ) basileia.”
The Greek for “children (sons) of the kingdom” is “huios (5207 – υἱός) τοῦ (3588 – τό) basileia.”
The Greek for “word of the kingdom” is “logos (3056 – λόγος) τοῦ basileia.”
The Greek for “His kingdom” is “Autos (846 – αὐτός) basileia.”
The Greek for “kingdom of their Father” is “basileia autos Patér.”
The Greek for “kingdom of Christ and of God” is “basileia τοῦ Christos (5547 – Χριστός) kai (2532 – καί) Theos.”
The Greek for “His kingdom and glory” is “heautau (1438 – ἑαυτοῦ) basileia kai doxa (3191 – δόξα).”
The Greek for “His heavenly kingdom” is “Autos epouranios (2032 – ἐπουράνιος) basileia.”
The Greek for “sceptre of Your kingdom” is “rhabdos (4464 – ῥάβδο) Sou basileia.”
The Greek for “kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is “basileia hémón (2257 – ἡμῶν) kurios (2962 – κύριος) kai sótér (4990 – σωτήρ) Iésous (2424 – Ἰησοῦς) Christos.”
The Greek for “the kingdom of our God” is “basileia hémón Theos.”
The Gospel of Mark
“… Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Context: Self-evident.
Parallel Passage: Matthew 4:17, where “kingdom of God” is rendered “kingdom of heaven.”
Analysis: Jesus, as He began His ministry, called people to “the gospel of the kingdom of God,” which is the Salvation Kingdom.
“And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables… And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how… And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?”
Context: Mark 4:1-34.
Parallel Passage(s): Matthew 13:11, 19, 24, 31-33, where “kingdom of God” is rendered “kingdom of heaven.” Luke 13:18-20.
Analysis: The Parable of the Sower and The Parable of The Mustard Seed are the context of these passages. Most of Christ’s parables are centered around the Salvation Kingdom – primarily from Christ through the church age – and these particular parables are no exception.
“And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”
Context: Mark 9:1-8.
Parallel Passage(s): Matthew 16:28, where “the kingdom of God come with power” is rendered “see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.” Luke 9:27.
Analysis: This statement by Christ was fulfilled when Peter, James, and John witnessed Christ in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Clearly a vision of Christ in “the kingdom of God” and a reference to the Salvation Kingdom when those who have put their faith and trust in Messiah Jesus will be with Him in heaven.
Obviously, Moses and Elijah, as representatives of all Saints before Christ’s first advent, will be there as well.
“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”
Context: Mark 9:42-48.
Analysis: This illustrative teaching is found within the teaching of sin, and of offending children who believe in Christ. Clearly, this is speaking of the Salvation Kingdom.
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
Context: Mark 10:13-16.
Parallel Passage(s): Matthew 19:14, where “kingdom of God” is rendered “kingdom of heaven.” Luke 18:17.
Analysis: This event was when Yeshua blessed the children, teaching His disciples the importance of coming to Christ as a little child. This is the Salvation Kingdom.
[For more on this passage and others regarding children, please see QFTBOC:‘Age of Accountability’.]
“And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
Context: Mark 10:17-27.
Parallel Passage(s): Matthew 19:23-24. Matthew’s first clause is the only mention of the “kingdom of heaven.” Luke 18:24-25.
Analysis: This is the occasion where Christ met the Rich Young Ruler. The kingdom referenced is the Salvation Kingdom.
“Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”
Context: Mark 11:1-11.
Analysis: This occurred when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as the Messiah of Israel. The shouts from the crowd of “the kingdom of our father David,” in addition to the past and current Israeli kingdom, would necessarily refer to the Millennial Kingdom promised to Israel throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament).
“And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”
Context: Mark 12:28-34.
Analysis: This discussion of Yeshua with one of the Scribes revolved around “the first commandment of all,” with Jesus giving him the answer of loving God and loving others.
Our Lord’s response to the Scribe that he was “not far from the kingdom of God” is a reference to the Salvation Kingdom.
“Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Context: Mark 14:22-26.
Parallel Passage(s): Matthew 26:29, where “kingdom of God” is rendered “my Father’s kingdom.” Luke 22:18, where “kingdom of God” is rendered “the kingdom of God shall come.”
Analysis: This statement occurred at the institution of Communion, given to His church through His disciples, at The Last Supper. That Jesus “will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God” would have to be referencing our celebration in heaven in the Father’s presence at The Marriage Supper of the Lamb, just prior to Christ’s Second Coming to earth.
This is the Salvation Kingdom.
[Please see Revelation 6: Our Marriage and The Gap for more on this topic.]
“Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”
Context: Mark 15:37-47.
Parallel Passage(s): Luke 23:51.
Analysis: This followed the death of Jesus and is the account of Joseph of Arimathaea pleading for the body of Christ to lay Him in his own tomb.
Joseph of Arimathaea, “waited for the kingdom of God,” which is the Salvation Kingdom that Christ taught his counterpart, Nicodemus, in depth (John 3:1-21, John 19:38-42).
Obviously, Joseph of Arimathaea was a convert to the Messiah. As a believer in Yeshua as his Lord and Savior – and Luke’s noting that Joseph “himself waited for the kingdom of God” – is expressing that the Salvation Kingdom could not fully come until Christ was resurrected.
Once Christ was resurrected, Joseph, along with every believer in Jesus Christ, had essentially entered into the Salvation Kingdom upon conversion and would experience the fruits of their conversion into the Salvation Kingdom upon death and/or at the resurrection/rapture of the church!
The Gospel of John
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Context: John 3:1-21.
Analysis: This famous encounter of Jesus with Nicodemus, which also includes the beloved verse of John 3:16, is the setting for this portion of Scripture and obviously is referring to the Salvation Kingdom by being converted or, as Christ said, being “born again” and being “born of water [even] of the Spirit.”
“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.”
Context: John 18:33-40.
Analysis: The setting, of course, is the sham trial of Yeshua in front of Pontius Pilate.
When it comes to Messiah’s claim that His “kingdom is not of this world,” we should be able to recognize that the Salvation Kingdom that will culminate into the Eternal Kingdom is not of this fallen world.
Though the Millennial Kingdom is Messiah Yeshua’s kingdom where He will personally fulfill all of God’s promises to His chosen people Israel and will be on a renovated earth, under a renovated heaven, that kingdom will have a tragic end.
We could, however, suggest that Messiah Jesus was referring to the All-Encompassing Kingdom in general, and that He surely had in mind the Salvation Kingdom that would result from His sacrifice on the cross and the subsequent Eternal Kingdom in the future, in specific.
Thank you, Jesus, that Your kingdom is not of this fallen world.
You have delivered all who put their faith and trust in You and Your selfless sacrifice for our sins from this fallen world and transferred us into Your Salvation Kingdom that will eventually give way to the blessed Eternal Kingdom in the New Jerusalem, on a new earth, and under a new heaven, when God will dwell with mankind for all eternity!
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” – Revelation 21:1-3
Praise be to our mighty God, Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King!!!
May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”
Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!
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