Bible Study Course: Lesson 6 - What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?

The King of the Coming Kingdom

Was the birth of a messianic King revealed through the prophets?

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

The writings of the Hebrew prophets contain many references to the coming of this divinely anointed King, specifically identified in Daniel 9:25-26 as the Messiah. The Hebrew word for Messiah means "Anointed One." In ancient Israel kings and high priests were anointed with oil when they were selected for office. The Messiah is the divinely anointed King of kings (Revelation 17:14).

Will Jesus, the Messiah, rule over a literal, physical kingdom?

"I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14).

According to this prophecy, God will give Jesus Christ an eternal Kingdom in which He will rule over "peoples, nations, and languages"—physical human beings on earth.

Did Jesus acknowledge He was born to be a king?

"'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world . . .'" (John 18:37, NIV).