The kingdom of God is [#1] the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and [# 2] righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost
· The church age: we are living in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God is in all who believe in Christ.
In 1Cor 13:2 Paul said “I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge” . . . .
· Unlike the Old Testament writers Paul was given understanding of all that he wrote, through Christ.
· 1Cor 4:1-2 The care and teaching of the mysteries have been passed on to us [2Cor 5:17-19]
The first mystery: Romans 11:25
>>>> In Romans 9:1 thru 11: 36 Paul is primarily writing to Gentile Christians about Jewish Christians.
Ro 11:25-27 The first mystery the church must know: Israel’s blindness will end.
· Acts 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
· The mystery is not that God would pour out His wrath upon Israel and they would be blinded because of their sin. The mystery is that their blindness will end. God will keep his covenant with Israel. They will be turned away from their ungodliness and their sin will be forgiven by the deliverer who will come out of Sion; Jesus Christ their Messiah. Jeremiah 5:21
· Rev 2:9, 3:9 the heresy and the blasphemy of replacement theology [the church has replaced Israel] is exposed
Rom 11:25b until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in
· Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
· Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
· Rom 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
· 2Tim 2:8 ¶ Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
· The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the scriptures [1Cor 15:1-4]
The kingdom of God is the period of time the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is preached
· Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Mat 21:42-43 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Ø Deu 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Ø 1Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
· The kingdom of God is primarily Gentiles witnessing of Jesus Christ through the preaching of Paul’s gospel. This is the time of the Gentiles Paul speaks of in Rom 11:25.
Ø Acts 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
Ø Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Ø 2Cor 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 2Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation
1Cor 15:51-54 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
· The rapture of the church from off this earth ends the Gentiles being the primary witnesses of Jesus Christ. This is the coming in of the fulness of the Gentiles.
· The end of the church age – the end of the kingdom Of God
Note: The blindness of the Israel does not end completely until the Son of God is sitting upon His throne on the earth in Jerusalem. Luke 21:24 – the times of the Gentiles – when Jerusalem is trodden under the feet of Gentiles.