Monday, December 3, 2007

The Son of Man Coming in His Kingdom

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. (Matthew 16:28)
Mark 9:1 has “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Luke 9:27 says, “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” In all three Gospels, the next event that follows is the Transfiguration. Clearly, the evangelists view it as a fulfillment of Jesus’ words. Peter, James and John were the ones privileged to go with Jesus upon that mount and see Him present in His kingdom, and His kingdom present in power.
And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:2-5)
Moses and Elijah appeared with the Lord Jesus there. The revelation of the Old Testament had ended with the admonition to remember the law of Moses, and the promise that God would send Elijah before the great “day of the Lord” would arrive. Now Moses and Elijah had come upon the scene — and here was Jesus shining with the glory of heaven!

The disciples were stunned. Mark notes that Peter did not know what to say (Mark 9:6), but that did not keep him from saying it. “Let’s make three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He royally missed the point. This was not about Moses and Elijah, but about Jesus alone. He was the fulfillment of what the Law-giver and the Prophet stood for, and when the fulfillment has come, the type is no longer needed. That is why the voice of the Father came from heaven and answered, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

It is all about Jesus — His kingdom, His power, His glory. His disciples saw it and experienced it for themselves, and it would not be their last time. The other disciples would also see further manifestations of Jesus in His kingdom.
  • At the Resurrection, when Jesus was raised by the glory of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • At the Ascension, forty days later, when Jesus returned to heaven and took His throne at the right hand of the Father, where He now rules and reigns forever as King over all. Before He ascended, He announced that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him, and then commissioned His disciples to proclaim it in all the world.
  • At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they received the very power by which the kingdom operates, to manifest that Jesus is King. The book of Acts is a chronicle of the kingdom, power and glory of Jesus being put on display. Indeed, the history of the Church is full of such things.
  • At the Second Coming, when the King returns and the fullness of His kingdom is made known, and heaven and earth become one. Then every eye shall behold Him, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
Do you see Jesus coming in His kingdom — the kingdom of Heaven on Earth? If is the fulfillment of all God promised in the Law and the Prophets, and it has already begun.



The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
Keys to the Kingdom of God
in the Gospel of Matthew

by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

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