September 22, 2004

PLAINER WORDS … THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM

The dispensation which follows the Dispensation of God’s Grace will be a dispensation of Divine Government. Ever since He suspended His work with Israel, at the end of the Book of Acts, His present method of dealing is entirely by means of grace, and nothing, but grace, enters into his dealings with the world and His own. This limits the activities and works of Him at this present time, but it is a self-imposed limitation. It will result in a full demonstration of the graciousness of His character; a demonstration that will stand as a witness throughout the ages to come (Ephesians 2). While grace is all that the Lord is dispensing today, it is not all He can do, or will do. His resources are unlimited. In the coming dispensation, He will bring all of His resources to bear in His relationship and dealings with man.

We cannot fully comprehend all that He can and will do when the Kingdom comes. It is really beyond our comprehension. If we take a close look at what the coming dispensation will bring, we are struck with the fact that it will result in a world in which we cannot really relate to. It will be such a different heaven and earth than we now know.

We can only imagine what it will be like when the curse is removed, and when the human race no longer has death working in them. The Kingdom of God could truly be referred to as the Dispensation of Life. The chief characteristic will be Life. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Today, Pentecostal preachers thunder out that believers can have the “abundant life,” now, by following their directions on sowing seed (money) to their ministries. These “peddlers” are referred to as “Prosperity Preachers.” The abundant life that Jesus Christ spoke about is to be enjoyed in resurrection. Death has reigned from Adam until now. But, when the heavens rule Life will reign. Babies will not be born, dying, as they are today. They will be born with life working in them.

It will be an age in which man is totally responsible for his own actions. Every transgression and disobedience will receive a just recompense of reward. No longer can someone blame the society for their transgressions.

In the coming dispensation, men shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. His speech and that of the heavens (heavenly host) will be gently broadcasting throughout the earth day unto day and night unto night.

As it was pointed out in a previous study, when David penned the 19th Psalm, he wrote as if he were present when these things will transpire.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4).

Their “voice” and their “words” go out to the “ends of the world.” If this be true, and we’re convinced that this prophecy will be sure and certain—there will be no need for man to have in his hands the written Word of God. This statement, we’re sure, will cause some to have a “knee-jerk” reaction, insisting that the Bible will stand forever.

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89)

“Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89; NIV).

Everything individuals, families, tribes, and nations need to know under the Divine Administration will be spoken from heaven.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest” (Hebrews 8:10-11).

This knowledge is not acquired by reading and studying the Bible but by direct revelation from God.

During the Kingdom of God, as the heavens rule the earth, prayer is answered so speedily that it can be said, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). In plainer words, prayer will be answered before the prayer is even offered up. Instant answer to prayer!

How can this be possible? Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Paul alludes to this in Romans 8:26-27, “ …for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

While that was true for the Acts period, it will be even more profound during the eon to come. The “Acts of the Apostles” covered a time-frame in which believers had a foretaste of the coming Kingdom of God. They had tasted the heavenly gift, and the good Word of God, and the powers (i.e. the miraculous power) of the age to come (Hebrews 6:4-5).

Men will not have to search out the will of God during the times the heavens rule. They will be instructed in which way they should go. There will be Divine direction.

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

If they follow the Divine instructions, it means they will “walk after the Spirit” and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1, 4). If they walk contrariwise to the Divine direction, it can result in death due to their own disobedience.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

This life and death principle was at work among believers during the Acts period to a certain extent, but it will be in full force for all men when God administers His Government from His heavenly Throne (Ezekiel 18:4, Jeremiah 31:30, 1 John 5:16). The Apostle Paul referred to this principle in Romans 8:2, as being at work during Acts; “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Acts was a microcosm of what the coming Kingdom will be like when it is fully manifested in the earth.

Throughout the greater part of the Kingdom Administration, the Heavens will speak to men, individually, and they will also speak to families, tribes, and nations. In Matthew 13:19-23, the speech uttered to men from the heavens is referred to as “the word of the Kingdom.” We’ll select one example from Matthew 13:19-23 for your consideration (the student should study the other verses).

“When any one [living under the rule of Christ] heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side” (Matthew 13:19).

The “word of the Kingdom” is the message delivered from the Heavens [the Heavenly hosts] through the radio waves of outer space and falls upon the ears of men. Whatever the context of the message is, it is heard by mankind. During the Kingdom of God, notice that Satan is active. If the Kingdom of God is the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, then Satan would be chained in the “bottomless pit.” During the millennium, he is unable to deceive men. Towards the end of the millennium, he will “be loosed for a little season” and will go about deceiving men and nations.

Being fully persuaded that as a member of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head, we will be a witness to the marvelous events which will transpire as a result of the blazing forth of the glory of the Kingdom of God (Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 6:14, 2 Timothy 4:1).

Tom L. Ballinger