Word Up Ministries

The Kingdom is at Hand

In the Gospels we find that Jesus shared the message about the Kingdom. Jesus stated the Kingdom was at hand. Did Jesus just tweek His message like most preachers today to gain a better response? The sad thing is that most Christians have never investigated this truth. Instead they continue to wait to be spoon fed their gospel rather than seeking a truth that will set them free from their religious pursuits. I want to encourage you with this statement. Jesus did not come from the Throne of God to bring you another religion. No, He came to bring you a Kingdom.

The majority of Israelites were looking for the Christ. Christ is an untranslated Greek word that means Anointed King. Here is another interesting thought for you to consider. Even King Herod was looking for the Anointed King to arrive. We know this by his investigation into the 3 wise men and his subsequent murderous rampage on all the children in Israel from the age of 2 and younger. So, just by the actions of King Herod we know that he was not concerned of a new religion. No, in fact Herod probably would have welcomed that. Herod was concerned about a new Kingdom and a new King. He had fought many battles and had influenced many Roman officials just to get the throne in Israel. His concern was losing his throne to a new king.

Of course, we would rather leave the message of Christ to you must be born again, rather than Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Being born again is a prerequisite to entering the Kingdom, but being born again was never a message that Jesus preached. Being born again was a private conversation that Jesus had with one of His political adversaries in the middle of the night. He told the Pharisee, Nicodemus, that one could not even see the Kingdom unless he was born again. Here is a quiz for you. If you have rejected Kingdom teaching, Does that mean you are not born again? Well, it is certainly a gauge to judge by. But, back to our topic at hand. What did the message, the Kingdom is at hand, really mean? We know that the reference at hand literally and figuratively meant that it was closer to you than your own hand. Is there something for us to learn in scripture? Yes. The answer for this question lies in the Old Testament. It started in 1Samuel chapter 8.

1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Here we see a political gathering. The Leaders of Israel, self appointed, gathered themselves together in a rebellion of sorts to move themselves out from under the God appointed Judge of Israel, the Prophet Samuel and the Kingship of God. They wanted to have a King over Israel like the other nations had. They wanted a man type of rule. They wanted to get out of the God type rule that they had been living under. They got what they asked for as we study the Bible, Saul was made King over Israel.

King Saul was hailed as a great leader even before he began to lead, just on looks alone. Head and shoulders taller than anyone in Israel. He was hailed as a great leader even before he even began to lead. King Saul showed promise in the beginning walking according to the leadership of the Prophet Samuel. As time went on, we know that King Saul would rebel against the Prophet Samuel and the guidance of God. Here is where we will find the first Christ, Anointed King, in the Bible. God told the Prophet Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and Anoint the new King of Israel. We know the story, Samuel went through all the sons that Jesse had stood before the Prophet, but none were the one God had chosen. He asked if Jesse had anymore sons and Jesse replied yes David, but he is just a little boy. Samuel told Jesse to bring the boy and when David stood before Samuel, God said that is him. Samuel anointed David to be the King of Israel.

Of course, immediately we have a problem here. There was already a King in Israel, King Saul. However, there was a difference. Saul was appointed by men. David was Anointed by God. There was a King and there was an Anointed King. With David the Kingdom was near, yet it had to wait for an appointed time. What was the trigger that brought about that time? Persecution! When Saul began to persecute David, the Christ, the Anointed King, the Kingdom of David moved from being near to being at hand. His men that followed him grew from being whining, weak complainers in a Kingdom near, to being David's mighty men in a Kingdom at hand.

Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed King, at birth. The Kingdom of heaven was near. When He was baptized by John the Baptist, fulfilling all acts of righteousness He began walking in the Kingdom at hand. The first persecution came from the devil himself attempting to dissuade Jesus from His throne of the Kingdom. Then the persecution continued throughout the time He walked on the Earth preaching the same message over and over where ever He went.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

As Jesus preached this message of His Kingdom in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Then we read something very interesting in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath in the Synagogue in Galilee. That action infuriated the Pharisees. You might be saying, What? Now, the question for you to decide is did this action infuriate them because the were not doing the same thing? Or was it because it fulfilled prophecy concerning the Anointed King that was to come? Now, before you answer that question we must study a little history concerning King Herod and what he had done in Israel for 40 years before Jesus came on to the scene.

First, Herod was known by the Jews as only being half Jew. You see Herod was an Edomite. What is an Edomite? Of course, they come from the land of Edom. Edom is where Esau lived and reigned, the brother of Jacob. Edomites were related to Israelites, but continuously attacked Israel and caused them trouble. Edomites resented everything about Israel, believing one thing that they were thieves and had stolen from them what had rightfully belonged to Esau all along, the Kingdom. After Herod fought and dethroned the King of Israel he bribed Roman officials to become the New King of Israel. His first actions was to rid himself of those pesky Rabbis that were always bringing up his theft of the throne. Herod murdered over 4400 Jewish Rabbis and replaced them with his Edomite brethren. Wow! Then for 40 years they began changing the rules and doctrines of the Torah and making following the rules of the Law completely impossible.

Herod's henchmen commercialized the religion and charged for animal sacrifices at the Temple. They put money changers in the Temple to change Roman currency for the Temple Currency, of course with a small fee included. In everything they did they made the worship of Jehovah a religious business and raked the money in. However, Jesus was a fly in the ointment that Herod had believed he had solved some 30 yrs previous when he murdered all the children in Israel. Now, prophecy concerning the Anointed King was being fulfilled that the Pharisees could not even deny. And what did they do after the man with the withered hand was healed?

Mar 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.


They immediately met with the Herodians. Who were the Herodians you may ask? The Edomites. They were Herod's political advisers. What were they doing in Galilee? Following Jesus. Now, you see the political influence that Herod had over the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and Rabbis.

If Jesus had just been like the Essenes at the time, just introducing a stricter religion, Herod would have ignored Him. However, Jesus did not bring a religion. He came as a King of the Kingdom of Heaven. This was something that was a threat to Herod's throne. This message and belief is what united all believers. They walked in the Way of the Kingdom. The persecution moved the Kingdom from near, to at hand and the finished works at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and brought it here to you and I.

Jesus is the door to the Kingdom. Most people have experienced some form of a born again experience through their local church. Whether it was a Pastor or Evangelist, you went down to the altar and confessed Jesus as your Savior. They brought you to the door, but never told you how to open the door and enter inside. They never taught you how to live in the Kingdom where Jesus is Lord and King. That was the same thing that the Pharisees were doing 2,000 yrs ago.

However, there is a Way to the Kingdom. Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me, the door. What is through the Door?

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

You were born again to be partakers of an inheritance. When Peter and John walked into the synagogue after the ascension of Jesus they were partakers. They had an inheritance. Peter said silver and gold have I none, but what I do HAVE I freely give unto you. What did he have? An inheritance. Peter and John had been translated into the Kingdom and were giving from it.

When Jesus sent out the 12 disciples He explicitly instructed them to preach only one message. Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! When He sent out the 70 He instructed them about the message to preach. Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! When asked about what would bring about the end of the age, Jesus told them the following;

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Why did the Romans continue to crucify believers? Because, of the Kingdom. Because born again believers who could not only see the Kingdom, but were living in the Kingdom and were giving from their inheritance and recruiting other believers. This was the unity, this was the accord, The Kingdom of Heaven.

And in the Kingdom there was a New King. What was placed above the head of Jesus on the cross? A plaque identifying Jesus as the King of the Jews. It was close, but not correct. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. Come on in! The water is fine! However, this King is about to split the heavens of this planet one more time. Once more, will the children of Israel see the King!

Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

However, before that occurs there is a rapture of His church that will occur. Why? Because, His Kingdom will pour out judgement on the Earth.

The Anointed King is soon to return for the citizens of the Kingdom, not a religious pious people. In fact, in His letter to the Churches in Revelation, He warned Ephesus.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

What was their first love? The Kingdom. They had worshipped His name and exposed liars and deceivers, Ephesus abounded in a work for religious traditions, but not His Kingdom. Jesus is soon to return for a people in the Kingdom. Jesus did not come as a teacher, He did not come as a Prophet, Apostle, Pastor or Evangelist, though He did all of these things. Jesus came as a King. He came with His Kingdom and opened the door once more for mankind to have dominion in this Earth and replenish His Kingdom.

Believers you have a work to do. An inheritance to give to others. Dominion has once again been returned unto you. Work. Be fruitful and multiply. Replenish the Kingdom. Share the Good News of the Kingdom today. Let's keep Jesus High and Lifted up in this world as a witness as a testimony. There is only one King! There is only one Kingdom! Word Up!