Part 19 of 24

 The Bride of Christ & The New Jerusalem

We need to rightly divide the Word, comparing Scripture with Scripture, in order to determine who the bride of Christ actually is. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…Rightly Dividing The Word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15). We must also apply the normal or literal method of interpretation, where applicable.

The term “the bride of Christ” does not appear anywhere in Scripture, but “bride” and “bridegroom,” “wife, and “husband” are addressed in the O.T., three of the Gospels, and the Book of Revelation.

“I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared AS a bride adorned for her husband.” “And he carried me (John) away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that Great City, The Holy Jerusalem, Descending out of Heaven From God.” (Rev 21:2, 10)

Notably, the words bride and bridegroom appear nowhere in Paul’s thirteen epistles to “the body of Christ.” So, let’s see if the marriage of Christ applies to “the body of Christ,” or does it apply only to faithful Israel?

I must first address a couple common false arguments. Many misapply Ephesians 5:25, saying this refers to Christ and His bride. The issue at hand was about husbands; “…Husbands, love your wives.” Paul goes on to tell the Ephesian husbands to what measure they are to love their wives; “… AS Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Paul used this comparative simile to describe the husband’s proper love for his wife, comparing it with Christ’s love in giving Himself for “the church, which is body of Christ” (Eph 1:22b-23a). The “body of Christ” is never anywhere referred to as the “bride of Christ.”

Some then may point to one other New Testament verse seeming to support their false notion that “the church, which is the body of Christ” is the Lord’s bride. Let’s look more closely at it. “I (Paul) am jealous (zealous) over you (the church) with godly jealousy (zeal): for I have espoused you (Gk, joined you as members of His body) to one husband (Gk., aner, “man”), that I may present you AS a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Cor 11:2 (KJV)

Here we have a translation issue. The word translated “espoused’ you” in the KJV can be translated “joined you”; and the word “husband” in the KJV is from the Greek “aner,” which is most often translated “man,” as in 150 other places. Paul is referencing the fact that it was he who taught the believers that they were joined to the Lord, now being “one spirit” with Him. We are joined to Christ because Christ is “the head of the body,” not its husband. Christ loves “His body” AS a husband would. Believers are literally joined to Christ by receiving “His Spirit” into their “spirit” (1Cor 6:17; Rom 8:9-10). Paul’s mystery gospel is “Christ in you” (Col 1:27). Paul declared that this intimate union of Christ and “His body” came about when we were “baptized into (Christ’s) one body” (1Cor 12:13). The Lord Jesus made the church chaste (spotless, sinless) by His shed blood, so He can later “present” the “church” to “Himself,” “unblameable,” soon after its Rapture in heaven.

“²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27) ²² …, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Colossians 1:22)

The “church” is not the Lord’s bride or counterpart, but rather, the church is literally and eternally “one with Christ,” as seen by the term His “One body” (Eph 4:4).

In contrast to these two verses, we’ll now explore some of the large number of Scriptures that clearly tell us that only the faithful of Israel are to be counted as Christ’s “bride.” The “New Jerusalem” is often equated with the “bride” because, as we will see, it will be the dwelling place of “the Lamb’s Bride.”

Christ’s bride, the faithful overcomers of Israel, will have made themselves ready by faithful waiting, while He was in “a far country (heaven) (Matt 5:14).” Christ will return with “the Kingdom” and eternally dwell with the faithful believers of Israel in the massive “New Jerusalem,” in the Kingdom on the New Earth.

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of The City Of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Rev 3:12)

How do we know that City called the “New Jerusalem” is a literal physical city?

Many falsely spiritualize the “city” called “New Jerusalem” because Paul said “the body of Christ,” in which Christ now dwells, is “the Temple of God.” They confuse the spiritual inheritance of “the body of Christ” with the literal City, the New Jerusalem. In Hebrews 11 the New Jerusalem is seen as a physical “city…whose builder and maker is God.” “¹⁰For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The New Jerusalem is described in Rev. 21:11-27 as having physical length, width and height, with twelve physical gates, being built of specific precious stones for its foundation and gates, etc. “¹⁶… He hath prepared for them a CITY” (Heb 11:10, 16).  Who are “they” for whom “He hath prepared…a city”? As we will see, New Jerusalem is the eternal abode of the faithful of Israel…Christ’s “bride.”

All will agree that faithfulness is a key requirement for any good relationship. Hebrews 11 is about all the “faithful,” speaking of the Old Testament faithful ones, including Abraham who “looked for a city.” The New Jerusalem is prepared for all the Old Testament faithful ones to enjoy, but the resurrected faithful of Abraham’s seed will not only dwell therein, but they also will “reign with Him (Christ)” (Rev 20:6).

By contrast, the “church, which is His body” has no such promise of a city; rather we have been promised our home “eternal in the heavens” – not on earth. “For our conversation (our citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philip. 3:20). “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, We Have A Building (Gk. Oikodome, Home Built) of God, an House (Gk., Oikia, home) Not Made With Hands (non-material), ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. (2 Cor 5:1)

When we “rightly divide” the word of truth, dispensationally we can then clearly see and differentiate the Lord’s eternal plan and intent for “the body of Christ” versus that which He has for Israel. Let’s apply Paul’s right dividing principal to interpreting these Scriptures below in order to dispel some false notions.

We must begin by acknowledging that Jesus of Nazareth came in His earthly ministry specifically to minister to Israel ONLY.

“… I (Jesus) Am Not Sent But (exclusively) Unto the Lost Sheep of the House of ISRAEL.” (Matthew 15:24). Paul wrote; “… Jesus Christ Was a Minister of the Circumcision (Israel)…to confirm the promises made unto the fathers (of Israel)” (Romans 15:8)

Matthew’s Gospel is mainly about Christ as the “King” and His “Kingdom” that is to come to earth, as was long promised to the faithful of “Israel.” Christ will ultimately come and occupy King David’s throne (Luke 1:32-33) in the literal city of “New Jerusalem” in Israel. Recall the prayer Jesus gave His Israelite disciples. “Thy KINGDOM COME. Thy will be done IN EARTH, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

“When” does the eternal “New Jerusalem” appear as coming down from heaven?

Many would say the New Jerusalem will appear after the Millennium, in the “eternal kingdom.” Actually, comparing Scripture with Scripture seems to make clear that the New Jerusalem will appear in the Millennial Kingdom on earth, not long after physically Jesus’ 2^nd Coming. Much of what we read of in Rev 20-22 applies to the Millennial Kingdom, and you will see that there’s reasonable Scriptural proof.

We need to realize that Revelation 20:7-15 is parenthetical, it was inserted by John to carry on his discussion of the ultimate destiny of Satan, his cohorts, and all the unsaved who are all headed for “the lake of fire.”

“⁷And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, ⁸ And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle (Armageddon): the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints (of Israel) about, and the beloved city (Jerusalem): and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ¹¹

And I saw a Great White Throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their (insufficient) works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And Whosoever Was Not Found Written In The Book Of Life Was Cast Into The Lake Of Fire.” (Rev 20:7-15)

Rev 21 then returns to the beginning of the Millennium, describing the “New Jerusalem” on the New Earth.

“¹ 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. ² And I John saw The Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared AS a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, The Tabernacle (habitation) 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. ⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. ⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. ⁷ He that Overcometh SHALL inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ⁸ BUT the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)

Compare Revelation 21:1 (above) with Isaiah 65:17 (below). It is well known that Isaiah 65 describes the conditions on the earth during the Millennium wherein the “sinner” (v 20 below) will still be present. These sinners of course are those born during the Millennium with the Adamic “sin nature” (Eph 2:3).

“¹⁷For, behold, I Create New Heavens and a New Earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. ¹⁸ But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. ¹⁹ And I will rejoice IN Jerusalem, and joy IN my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. ²⁰ There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but The Sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isa 65:17-20)

Isa. 65:20 (above) clearly indicates “sinners” (unbelievers) will still be around on the “New Earth” (v17) so this must be in the Millennium, not yet the eternal Kingdom wherein nothing defiled shall exist.

The New Jerusalem will come down to the “New Earth” in the Millennium. The “New Earth” is the Greek, kainos, which means “the refreshed earth” (Rev 21:1-2, cf. Isa 65:17). To make the earth habitable again, the earth will need refreshing. There will be the awful pollution of the chemical and nuclear weapons likely to be used in the Tribulation wars, and the “bitter waters” of the earthquake and volcano judgments.

Christ will takes His “throne” (Rev 20:11, above) in the “New Jerusalem,” and then also the twelve Apostles (Not Paul) will sit on their “twelve thrones” (Matt 19:28) of authority during the Millennial Kingdom. The resurrected faithful of Israel will be the “priests” and “servants of God.” They will function as co-regents with Christ in the Millennium and eternal state. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in The First Resurrection, they Shall Be Priests of God and of Christ, and Shall Reign with Him a Thousand Years” (Rev 20:6).

The “New Covenant” will be God’s standard of righteousness in the Millennium, being based upon the riches of the cross that are derived from Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as “the life-giving Spirit” (1Cor 15:45). There’s only one New Covenant. The “body of Christ” was the first to enjoy the spiritual blessings of “the cross,” which is also the core truth of the New Covenant for Israel. The same cross blessings will be applicable to all believers living in the Kingdom age.

Israel will have added benefit of the New Covenant relative to reigning on earth as a blessing to all the families of the earth. Rev. 22:14-15 references the New Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom, in which there is “the river of life and flowing from the Throne of God” and the “Tree of life” for the healing (restoration) of the Nations (Gk is ethnos, Gentiles).

“¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates Into THE CITY. ¹⁵ For WITHOUT (Outside the City) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Rev 22:14-15) It’s possible that the reigning ones of Israel will likely be governing the “New Jerusalem,” making sure no sinner enters the City during the Millennium.

Now, setting aside the matter of the New Jerusalem on the New Earth, let’s look into the marriage of Christ and His bride. Christ is “betrothed,” to the faithful of Israel. Jesus gave His followers parables related to this, including the parable of the “ten virgins.” This parable states the requirements of Christ’s “betrothed” for their ultimate union in “marriage” in the Kingdom. That parable may be summarized by these few verses.

“Then shall the Kingdom of (from) Heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ²And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” (Matt 25:1-4)

“And while they (the foolish virgins) went to buy (oil), the Bridegroom came; and They That Were Ready Went In With Him To The Marriage: and THE DOOR WAS SHUT.” (Matthew 25:10)

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. For the kingdom of (from) heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them His Goods.” (Matthew 25:13-14. cf. v15-30) 

This (above) is the context of the 2^nd Coming of Christ, as the bridegroom of believing Israel, as His betrothed. Of the ten virgins, only five are said to make themselves “ready” to “meet the Bridegroom.”  The requirement of making herself “ready” is in keeping with Israel’s prophetic program insofar as they were required to “overcome, seek,” and “endure to the end, etc. (Matt. 6:33; 24:13; I John 4, 5).” This contingent requirement corresponds to James’ “faith without works is dead,” as he wrote to “the lost sheep of Israel.” (James 1:1). In making herself ready by remaining faithful to the coming bridegroom, many of the bride no doubt will die as martyrs during the Tribulation.

In the “Parable of the Talents” Jesus is seen metaphorically as the “man travelling into a far country” (Mat 25:14). This speaks of Christ returning to heaven. Recall that Jesus said, “…I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2b). Before leaving, He “delivered to” His people “His goods” (v14), which is the “gospel of the Kingdom,” and also sufficient “talents” (v15, et al) to carry out His instruction. Then, “After a long time” (v19) He’ll return to receive the return on His “gospel of the Kingdom” that He invested with them. He will expect a return on that “Gospel of the Kingdom” that He deposited with His “servants.” We know the record is that Israel soon failed; but in the Tribulation they will preach the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” Many will believe and receive the “gospel of the Kingdom” and then be martyred before His return to earth, but they will be raised to “reign with Him.”

Jesus’ title in Matt 25:13 (above) is the “Son of Man,” indicative of His humanity. He will appear physically as “a man” to reign eternally on the physical earth. By contrast, Jesus is NEVER once referenced in Paul’s epistles as the “Son of Man” because He is not to be seen by the church as “the man, Jesus of Nazareth.” Paul wrote to the heaven-bound “the body of Christ.”  Saying;

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, Though We Have Known Christ After The Flesh (as Jesus of Nazareth), Yet Now Henceforth Know We Him No More” (2 Cor 5:16).

Paul’s epistles never references Jesus of Nazareth’s words or doings. Rather, Paul preached Christ; crucified, risen, and coming again. Paul wrote “NOW The Lord (Jesus) Is That Spirit” (2Cor 3:17), and that Christ is the unprophesied “Head of the body, the church” (Col 1:18) that is heaven-bound, to dwell with Him “eternal in the heaven” (1Cor 5:1, Phil 3:20-21).

The “bride” is determined conditionally, based upon “enduring (faithful) to the end” (Matt 10:22). This conditionality proves the “bride” can’t be “the Body of Christ.” We as grace believers are saved “by grace through faith” alone. We’re eternally saved and secure, being “sealed by the Spirit” (Eph 1:13, 4:30). We possess the indwelling “Spirit of Christ” (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9-10) and have the inner assurance that we are His children. Our salvation relationship today has no contingency other than believing (Act 16:31). As “His body” we are all immediately “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph 1:6) and “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10).

Yet many Christians today wrongly believe “the church, which is body of Christ” is “the bride of Christ.” Our relationship is with “(Christ) the Head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18). As members of His “One body” (Eph 4:4a) our relationship” is more intimate than one of marriage – we’re literally One With Him.

How can we say Israel is “the Lambs Betrothed, Bride and Wife? Pay attention to these Scriptures.

“… behold, I will allure her (Israel) ... ¹⁶it shall be at that day saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi (husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (master)... ¹⁹And I Will BETROTH Thee Unto Me For Ever.” (Hosea 2:14, 16, 19) “Return thou backsliding Israel ... Turn O backsliding children, saith the LORD, for I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU.” (Jer 3:12, 14) “For Thy Maker Is Thine (Israel’s) Husband; The LORD Of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” (Isa 54:5) “Thou (Israel) ... shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For THY MAKER IS THY HUSBAND. The Lord of hosts is His name.” (Isa 54:4-5) “⁹ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee THE BRIDE, THE LAMB'S WIFE.” Revelation 21:9 (KJV)

Sound Biblical interpretation says we must realize Jesus of Nazareth spoke to Israel, about Israel. Each of Jesus’ parables has one main point; in this case of the “Ten Virgins” it is the required preparedness of the faithful of Israel. The necessary “oil” is at the center of understanding the meaning of this parable. Among several significant things, the “oil” represents holy consecration, dedication. This is seen in the Exo 40:9-16, which deals with consecrating the Tabernacle and the priesthood. All ten virgins were called to wait for the bridegroom, yet the lack of oil among five of the virgins does not suggest forgetfulness but willful neglect, unfaithfulness, thus breaking the betrothal. Every genuine believer of Israel will has the oil of the “anointing” (1Jn 2:27).

The Bible is clear that Israel is “Betrothed (engaged)” to Christ. Yet Israel must meet the requirement of making her self ready by being faithful to the Lord while He is away. To better understand, let’s look into faithfulness in the matter of betrothal. Isaiah and the other prophets wrote of Israel as the Lord’s “betrothed” and also His “wife” at the same time, thus needing some explanation.

Being betrothed was similar to our present day engagement, except though betrothal took place before the actual marriage ceremony, it also was considered binding as being “married.” In ancient Israel a woman who was “betrothed” was then considered the “wife” of the man she was “betrothed” to; she was bound to be faithful to him. If she had sexual intercourse during this period she was considered an adulteress as if she was married, and was to be “stoned to death” (Deut. 22:23-25). If she was not caught in the actual act, but found not to be a virgin, the husband could dissolve the marriage by quietly by signing a bill of divorce.

The betrothal period usually lasted 6 months and sometimes one year; it was a binding promise between the bridegroom and bride to marry. Often the betrothed woman would not see her betrothed husband until the day of the actual marriage ceremony. Upon completion of the betrothal ceremony, the couple usually returned to their respective family’s homes for one year. This period was to give the husband an opportunity to prepare a home for his bride. This sounds like the Lords saying, “I Go and Prepare A Place For You (Israel, His betrothed), I Will Come Again, and Receive You Unto Myself…” (John 14:3)

This time before the marriage ceremony was also to ensure that the woman had been faithful, and she was not with child. The Ten Virgins parable is was near the end of the Olivet discourse. Jesus addressed faithfulness, teaching His disciples the importance of prudence in the betrothal relationship.

After her betrothal to Joseph, Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent 3 months with Elizabeth (Luke 1:56), then returning to her home, not yet seeing Joseph. Of course, it was during this time of betrothal that Mary was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Mary returned to Joseph pregnant. This was all before she and Joseph had come together in the intimacy of the marriage (Matt 1:18, below). Joseph thought to “put her away privily (v19),” but “the angel of the Lord” intervened, revealing “that which is conceived in her (Mary) is of the Holy Ghost (v20).”

“¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused (betrothed) to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. ¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. ²⁰ But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (Matt 1:18-20).

It’s in this regard of betrothal that Christ, as the committed Bridegroom of Israel, has temporarily returned to heaven to “prepare a place” for His bride in the Kingdom to come to earth. Since this is the “kingdom of heaven,” when it is brought to the earth, it will be like heaven on earth in the Millennium. As the Tribulation period runs its course, those of Israel will be observed to determine who among them has been “faithful” to “the commandments of God” (Rev 12:17) contained in the “gospel of the Kingdom” (John 14:1-3 cf. Luke 19:11-27). These faithful believers of Israel’s “gospel of the Kingdom” will have thereby made themselves “ready” for the coming of Christ, their “Bridegroom.”

“while they went to buy (oil), the Bridegroom Came; and They That Were Ready went In With Him To The Marriage: and The Door Was Shut. Afterward came also the OTHER VIRGINS, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not (I’m not intimate with you).” (Matt 25:10-12)

Who are the “other Virgins” of Matt 25:11? They are the bridesmaids, the saved believing Gentiles who as proselytes received “the gospel of the Kingdom” during the Tribulation. They are saved to the Kingdom but they are not of the “bride.”

“The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold (divinity). ¹⁴She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. ¹⁵With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: They Shall Enter Into The King’s Palace.” (Psalm 45:13-15)

The Virgin bride also has Gentile “companions that follow her.” These “companions … follow her (Israel)” in her ministry as “kings and priests” in the King’s Palace of the Millennial kingdom. The Millennial Kingdom is the world-wide “Kingdom of God.” The people of the believing Gentile nations will follow Jews to the “House of the God of Jacob.” The nation of Israel is God’s chosen elect (Isaiah 41:8-9) and as His “priests,” they will give instruction to ALL nations (Gentiles) in “the Word of the Lord” (Mic 4:2)

“(God) hast made us (Israel) unto our God Kings And Priests: and We Shall Reign On The Earth.” (Rev 5:10) “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations (Gentiles), even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We (the Gentile proselytes) will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech. 8:23)

“In days to come the mountain (kingdom) of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains (kingdoms), and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples (Gentiles) shall stream to it, ²and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the House Of The God Of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths.’  For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-2)

The ultimate goal of O.T. prophecy was ALWAYS the eternal Kingdom “under… heaven (Dan7:27, below), and recovering dominion over the whole earth. “he (Jesus) said unto them, When ye (you of Israel) pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so IN EARTH” (Luke 11:2). After Jesus’ resurrection He proceeded to teach His disciples for “forty days,” speaking almost exclusively of “things pertaining to the Kingdom Of God” (Acts 1:3).

Daniel wrote prophetically of Israel’s long sought “kingdom” to come “under the whole heaven,” wherein the faithful of Israel are “the people of the saints of the most High” (v27 below).

“And in the days of these (Gentile) kings shall the GOD OF HEAVEN SET UP A KINGDOM, which Shall Never Be Destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these (Gentile) kingdoms (on earth), and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44) “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 (other) dominions shall serve and obey him…” (Dan 7:27-28)