When Jesus Christ was asked by the Pharisees as to when the Kingdom of God would come, he told them that it would not come with observation. He further said, “The kingdom of God is within (among) you.” (Luke 7:20, 21) He said so because he, the appointed King of the kingdom, was in their midst.
After Jesus Christ had risen from the dead he told his apostles that all power on heaven and earth had been given to him. (Matthew 28:18) He was on the earth for 40 days, and then ascended to heaven where his Father, Jehovah, asked him to sit at his right hand until he would make his enemies his footstool. (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44) Christ being an obedient son waited patiently. At the end of the waiting period he was brought before his Father, the Ancient of Days, and crowned as he King of God’s universal kingdom. (Daniel 7:13, 14) And in fulfillment of Psalm 110:2, his Father commanded him to rule in the midst of his enemies.
Then it was time for him to exercise his power as the rightful king of the promised New World, and to set in motion the process by which Satan’s rule would be brought to an end. War broke out in heaven between him and the devil. He, with his angels on one part fought against the devil and the angels who joined him in his rebellion on the other part. The result was that Satan and his wicked angels were driven from heaven to the earth, and God’s Kingdom was setup there amid great joy. (Rev. 12:7-12) A voice in heaven declared “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them”.
Turning to the earth, the voice said, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Verse 12:12.
On the earth, the devil, embittered by his defeat in heaven attempted to destroy mankind by causing World War of 1914-1918, but Jesus Christ stopped the war for the sake of his elect- the Anointed Remnant in particular, and the “other sheep” in general. (Matthew 24: 7,8,22) the anger of the nations expressed in that World War 1 was a clear physical proof that Jesus Christ has been crowned in heaven to reign with power and glory. (Revelation 11:17, 18) The global war was also a sign of the second presence or coming of Jesus Christ. – Matthew 24:3-8.
After World War 1, Christ returned in spirit and, according to his promise, raised the dead saints to meet him in heaven. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17) He then set up his kingdom on earth by choosing the remaining ones of the saints from different parts of the saints from different parts of the world through his angels to preach the gospel of the kingdom. (Matthew 24:31, 14; 2 Timothy 4:1) Jesus Christ is now gathering his “Other sheep” through the gospel, which is a weapon of judgement, into his kingdom fold or organization. The goats (meaning the wicked) for refusing to accept or support the gospel will be left outside the fold for destruction at the end. (Matthew 25:31-46) Any organization of Christ were the gospel of the kingdom is preached without lies, however small it may appear to be, in any part of the world, is the Kingdom of God in these last days.
From the fulfillment of Bible prophecies in our time it is evident that God’s Kingdom has come. The Bible shows that it is when all the kingdoms or world empires would have ruled in their turns as foretold (Dan. 2:36-43) and are still existing in one form or another God will set up His Kingdom. As it is written: “And in the days of these 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 kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” – Verse 44.
Daniel’s prophetic interpretation concerning the kingdoms of the world is corroborated by the vision of John the apostle of Christ. The Kingdoms or empires referred to are seven in number, and they were those of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes-and-Persia, Greece, Rome and Britain. The Bible shows that these world kingdoms at the end-time would come together, in form of a world-body which is the eight described as the “beast”. (Rev. 17:10-11) This fulfilled in the League of Nations was formed in 1919 after the World War 1. At the outbreak of World War II the league was dashed to pieces but came up again after the war in 1945 as United Nations Organisation. This is concrete proof to show that God’s Kingdom has also been set up on earth.
In Isaiah 2:2, it is written: “And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it.” The “Mountain of the LORD’S house” symbolizes the kingdom of God belonging to Jesus Christ as the head and king and his body-members who are also kings and priests, all of whom constitute the Lords spiritual house. (Luke 12:32; 22:28-30; 1 Cor. 3: 16; Hebrews 3:6; Rev. 1:6) Since the establishment of God’s Kingdom in heaven and casting down of Satan, it has been set up on top of the “mountains”. The “hills” means worldly societies, clubs or unions over and above which God’s Kingdom will be exalted. And “all nations”, meaning lovers of truth and righteousness all over the world, shall flee into the Kingdom of God for safety and protection.
There are proofs to show that we are now in the last days. The increase of knowledge and easy and fast ways of transportation everywhere that makes people to travel “to and fro” is a proof that the last days are here (Dan. 12:4) The rising of nations against nations as in World War I followed by the Spanish Influenza, famines and earthquakes in various parts of the world (Matthew 24:3-8) show vividly that we are now on the last days. Therefore, it is clear that God’s Kingdom which is the “Mountain of the Lord’s house” has been set up.
Furthermore, Jesus said “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand): Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.” – Matthew 24:15,16.
The “abomination of desolation” also fulfilled in the league of nations which was formed in 1919 with the objective of giving the world everlasting peace, and was described as “the political expression of God’s Kingdom”- the holy place. It was abomination because it was full of lies and hypocrisy and was highly esteemed by the world. (Proverbs 6:16-19; 11:20; Luke 16:15) Rather than bringing peace, the League failed woefully and could not prevent the outbreak of World War II which brought desolation or waste to many countries in Europe.
“Those in Judea” are persons of goodwill who praise or desire to praise Jehovah. The “mountains” to which people of goodwill should flee symbolizes or means God’s Kingdom Organisation all over the world where truth of Christ is preached without corruption. Jesus warned that whoever reads (the Bible, of course) should understand in order to teach the word of God aright for the winning of lost souls. The formation of the League of Nations is a proof to show that God’s Kingdom has come. Therefore all lovers of truth who praise God must now associate with God’s Kingdom Organisation because it is the only place of safety and deliverance.
The Bible does not say that God’s Kingdom will come with fanfare, and cover the whole world at once. Jesus Christ in his parable likened the kingdom to a “grain of mustard seed”, which is the smallest of all seeds but which grew to be the greatest among herbs and became a tree having branches on which he birds came and lodged. – Matthew 13:31, 32.
The “mustard seed” represents the Anointed Remnants collectively or individually. The “Sower” is Jesus Christ himself. The “field” is the world. The “herbs” are worldly societies, clubs and unions. The “tree” is God’s Kingdom on earth and the “branches” are the Kingdom organizations in various parts of the world. The “birds” symbolizes all lovers of truth and righteousness who on hearing the truth preached by the Anointed Servants of Christ join and support them, growing into a mighty organisation. As it is written: “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I the LORD will hasten it in his time.” – Isa. 60:22. Christ promised to be with his people and he said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, (in truth, of course- Psalm 145:18) there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) Obviously, where Christ the King is in spirit, there is the Kingdom. It is interesting to note that the parable of the “mustard seed” has fulfilled in St. G.M. Urhobo, one of the anointed servants of Christ.