| When he was on earth, Jesus taught his followers to pray for God's Kingdom. A kingdom is a government that is headed by a king. God's Kingdom is a special government. It is set up in heaven and will rule over this earth. It will sanctify, or make holy, God's name. It will cause God's will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven. (Matthew 6:9, 10) |
Matthew 6:9, 10 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...'" |
It is set up in heaven and will rule over this earth. The passage quoted does not imply this. As stated in previous lessons, while the Jehovah’s Witness belief is that this earth will last forever, there are many scripture passages that speak of a new heaven and a new earth. The relationship between these two new worlds is not clearly stated in this passage. It will sanctify, or make holy, God’s name. It will cause God’s will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven. The phraseology of the prayer breaks these statements apart from each other. Jesus does not say, "You name will be hallowed by your kingdom," nor does he say, "The kingdom will cause your will to be done on earth." What Jesus does say is, "May your name be hallowed. May you kingdom come. May you be exalted by having your will done on this earth now as it is now being done in heaven." The tract text implies that the action of the phrase "your kingdom come" is shown through the behaviors of the phrases "hallowed be your name" and "your will be done". However, nothing in the scripture supports this theory. |
| God promised that Jesus would become the King of His Kingdom. (Luke 1:30-33) When Jesus was on earth, he proved that he would be a kind, just, and perfect Ruler. When he returned to heaven, he was not enthroned as King of God's Kingdom right away. (Hebrews 10:12, 13) In 1914, Jehovah gave Jesus the authority He had promised him. Since then, Jesus has ruled in heaven as Jehovah's appointed King. (Daniel 7:13, 14) |
Luke 1:30-33 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Hebrews 10:12, 13 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool... Daniel 7:13, 14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." |
When he returned to heaven, he was not enthroned as King of God’s Kingdom right away. The scripture reference implies that Jesus was immediately made king: he sat down at the right hand of God. The "waiting" that occurs (Since that time he waits) is not a wait to for the time when he will rule, but a "wait" for the end of time when the kingdom of God will be set in place. As pointed out in earlier studies, however, to say that these things have not occurred yet is to say that God (and Jesus, since Jesus is God) is bound to Time the way humans are bound. God exists outside of time. God is also unchanging. The image of Jesus waiting is a human perception, since we see time occurring with a start and a finish. The same is true in the quotation to Mary: He will... For God, Time is like a solid thing He looks at, not something that He travels through and changes through. Outside of it, God’s kingdom is established and Jesus is its king. In 1914, Jehovah gave Jesus the authority... Since then, Jesus has ruled... Aside from the issue of temporal binding that I mentioned above, what makes the year 1914 significant? How has it been determined that this year was the pivotal year of the reign of Jesus? The reason this assertion is suspect is because the Jehovah’s Witness religion was founded in 1879. 1914 may have been a significant year of change in the world, but it is not the first such year and has not been the last such year. To claim it as the pivotal year seems rather close-minded when it comes to world history. |
| Jehovah has also selected some faithful men and women from the earth to go to heaven. They will rule with Jesus as kings, judges, and priests over mankind. (Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 5:9, 10) Jesus called these corulers in his Kingdom a "little flock." They number 144,000. (Luke 12:32; Revelation 14:1-3) |
Luke 22:28-30 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Revelation 5:9, 10 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Revelation 14:1-3 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. |
...to go to heaven. The nature of the new heaven and the new earth is unknown to us. We will be resurrected into new bodies. The distinction between living on the new earth and in the new heaven is also not clear to us. Many times in the Bible, it is implied that the Kingdom of God is currently in existence in this world. It is something we experience when we come into the realization of our salvation through Jesus. Some scripture reference supporting this: Matt 12:28 (Also Luke 11:20), Mark 9:1, Mark 12:34, Mark 14:24-25, Luke 17:20-21, Romans 14:17-18. Also note the past tense in Luke 12:32: for your Father has been pleased... ...selected some faithful men and women ... They will rule with Jesus... The scripture references do not imply "levels" of salvation. The tract text states that there will be some people that are placed higher in the ranks in heaven than others. This is not a Biblically supported theory. Jesus talks about those who are saved and those who are not. The reference in Luke (so that you may ... sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel) does not mean that a select few will be sitting on thrones and judging. Everyone onto whom he conferred the kingdom (which can be interpreted as everyone who has been saved) gains this privilege. The Revelation passage (You have made them a to be a kingdom and priests to server our God, and they will reign on the earth.) also does not imply that a select few among those that are saved will gain this privilege. Jesus called these corulers in his Kingdom a "little flock." When Jesus says, "little flock," it is not implied that he means a sub-group of the saved. It is likely that He is referring to all who are saved with this phrase, as that group is small in number in the eyes of God. They number 144,000. The scripture from Revelation may or may not be stating a literal number of people who have been redeemed. There are many times in the Bible that numbers are used symbolically (see Matthew 18:22 for an example). Numbers that are multiples of 7 or 12 are often used to symbolize completeness. 144,000 is 1000x12x12. This could simply be implying that the complete number (12x12 = complete) of saved people will be present, and that the number of these people will be large by human standards (x1000). |
| As soon as Jesus became King, he threw Satan and his wicked angels out of heaven and down to the locality of the earth. That is why things have become so bad here on earth since 1914. (Revelation 12:9, 12) Wars, famines, pestilences, increasing lawlessness—all these are part of a "sign" indicating that Jesus is ruling and that this system is in its last days. (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8, 12; Luke 21:10, 11; 2 Timothy 3:1-5) |
Revelation 12:9, 12 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." Matthew 24:3, 7, 8, 12 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" ... Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. ... Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold... Luke 21:10, 11 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. |
As soon as Jesus became King... See notes on temporal binding, above. ...he threw Satan and his wicked angels out of heaven and down to the locality of the earth. The passage in Revelation 12 may be one of three things: 1) A prophecy of something that has already happened - Satan was driven from Heaven at his first sign of disobedience, 2) A prophecy of literal times and events that will occur - there will actually be a time when Satan and his demons roam the physical earth (but note that you in heaven will not suffer from this - perhaps this is symbolic of the suffering that will come to the wicked at the time of judgement), or 3) A non-literal prophecy using human imagery to describe how Satan has been cast or will be cast out of heaven and what sort of experience that will be for him. The tract text assumes possibility 2, but assumes two other things as well: 1) We have seen the time when this occurred, and 2) We are currently suffering the aftermath of this occurrence. To assume these 3 things about our current existence flies directly opposite to the statement that Jesus made that you will not know the time or the hour. That is why things have become so bad here on earth since 1914. ... Wars, famines, pestilences, increasing lawlessness... As also stated previously, this is a very historically close-minded viewpoint. There are many times in history (before and after 1914) when the world has gone through turbulent change into an age of wars, famines, pestilences and increasing lawlessness. It seems to me that this date was chosen because it was the first such date that occurred after the founding of the Jehovah’s Witness organization. One could say the same about World War II or the Gulf War or the war in Iraq. ...all these are part of a "sign" indicating that Jesus is ruling and that this system is in its last days. These signs have been occurring since the time of Jesus’ life. He points that out in later passages in Matthew 24. He also clearly states there that, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, ... but only the Father." (See also: Matt 25:13, Luke 21:7-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2) |
| Soon Jesus will judge people, separating them as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The "sheep" are those who will have proved themselves his loyal subjects. They will receive everlasting life on earth. The "goats" are those who will have rejected God's Kingdom. (Matthew 25:31-34, 46) In the near future, Jesus will destroy all goatlike ones. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) If you want to be one of Jesus' "sheep," you must listen to the Kingdom message and act on what you learn. (Matthew 24:14) |
Matthew 25:31-34, 46 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’ ... Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power... Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. |
The "sheep" are those who will have proved themselves his loyal subjects. ... If you want to be one of Jesus’ "sheep" you must listen to the Kingdom message and act on what you learn. None of the referenced passages imply either of these statements. The sheep are blessed and will go to eternal life. God will give relief to you who are troubled. These passages to not speak to how people have become sheep as opposed to becoming goats, however. There is no implication that they have proved themselves his loyal subjects or that they must listen to the Kingdom message and act on what [they] learn. I’m not trying to argue whether those things are true or not - I’m simply trying to point out the fact that the scripture references do not support or even apply to these assertions. I’ve stated before and I’ll state it again: 1) We cannot "prove" ourselves to God. (Romans 3:23) 2) Our works will not save us. |
| Now the earth is divided up into many countries. Each has its own government. These nations often fight one another. But God's Kingdom will replace all human governments. It will rule as the only government over the entire earth. (Daniel 2:44) Then there will be no more war, crime, and violence. All people will live together in peace and unity. (Micah 4:3, 4) |
Daniel 2:44 "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." Micah 4:3, 4 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. |
The only issue I have with this point is that it is still implying that this earth is the final resting place for the kingdom of God, as opposed to the new heaven and new earth referenced by scripture. |
| During Jesus' Thousand Year Reign, faithful humans will become perfect, and the whole earth will become a paradise. By the end of the thousand years, Jesus will have done everything God asked him to do. Then he will hand the Kingdom back to his Father. (1 Corinthians 15:24) Why not tell your friends and loved ones about what God's Kingdom will do? |
1 Corinthians 15:24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. |
During Jesus’ Thousand Year Reign... This is, again, a literal translation of the passages of Revelation - the accuracy of such interpretations is not something we can judge. ...faithful humans will become perfect... Note again the opposition to the statement in the Bible that all things will be made new in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52) ...the whole earth will become a paradise. Again, this earth as opposed to new earth. By the end ... Then he will... Again, the issue of temporal binding. These things are described in human terminology because we do not have a clear vision of things that are not bound to Time. It seems to me that the facts are these: 1) Jesus is full man and full God. In human terms, "He is, He always has been, and He always will be." 2) Jesus is king over creation and king of the Kingdom of God. 3) Jesus does what He is meant to do. 4) Jesus, as mediator, hands the Kingdom back to the Father, justifying the saved through the facts of His existence and work. What God’s Kingdom will do... Again, temporal binding. Furthermore, based on the arguments stated earlier, what is it really that God’s Kingdom "will do"? |
