Study 14: The Kingdom of God

(1) What prominence is given in Scripture to the Kingdom of God? Page 273, par. 1.

(2) What was the burden of John the Baptist’s message, of our Lord’s parables and the apostles’ preaching? Page 273, par. 2.

(3) What was the hope of the apostles and the early church? Page 274, par. 1.

(4) Had Jehovah given to Jesus the dominion of earth without redeeming mankind, what would have been the result? Page 274, par. 2.

(5) How were Jesus’ disciples affected by His explanation of the prophecies? Page 275, par. 1.

(6) What was the imperfect conception of the nature of the Kingdom as held by the disciples at first, and how do many today err in the opposite direction? Page 275, par. 2.

(7) What was the attitude of the worldly-wise among the Jews toward the wisdom, power and claims of Jesus and His followers? Page 275, par. 3.

(8) What was the question of the Pharisees, and our Lord’s reply, concerning when this Kingdom would appear? Page 276, par. to end of page, and footnote.

(9) Did our Lord refer to the earthly or to the spiritual phase of the Kingdom in replying to the Pharisees? Page 277, top.

(10) What was evidently Nicodemus’ attitude of mind in coming to Jesus by night? Page 277, par. 1.

(11) Paraphrase Nicodemus’ question regarding the “Kingdom of heaven at hand,” and Jesus’ reply. Page 277, par. 2 to page 279.

(12) Explain how the word “gennao” (translated “born” in this instance), is Scripturally How can we determine whether it should be translated born or begotten? Page 278, footnote.

(13) What is the significance of the Greek word “eidon,” here translated “see”? Page 278, footnote.

(14) What was Nicodemus’ question regarding the new birth? Page 179, par. 1.

(15) How did Jesus, in replying, explain the position of the Jewish nation with respect to Moses and Himself? Page 279, par. 2.

(16) What illustration was given by our Lord in describing the nature of beings who were “born of the spirit”? Page 280, par. 1 to page 281, top.

(17) What rebuke and exhortation was next given by our Lord? Why would it have been useless to tell Nicodemus about heavenly things? Page 281, par. 1.

(18) What was the chief reason for the failure of the Jewish nation to comply with the conditions and thus share in Messiah’s Kingdom? Page 282, par. 1.

(19) What has been the serious error of the nominal church’s teaching with respect to the Kingdom of God? Page 282, par. 2.

(20) In what sense is Christ’s Kingdom now reigning? Page 283, par. 1.

(21) How does this fact affect the promise of a future Kingdom of Heaven which shall be “from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth”? Page 283, par. 2.

(22) What parable of our Lord’s clearly locates the time of the establishment of the Kingdom? Page 283, par. 3.

(23) In what condition is the Kingdom of Heaven at present, and what are its experiences? Page 284, par. 1, 2.

(24) Explain Paul’s reference to the Kingdom in Romans 14:17. Page 284, par. 3.

(25) What is our conclusion in view of the foregoing? Page 285, par. 1.

(26) To the early church, what were the strongest incentives to faithfulness? Page 285, 2, 3.

(27) What false ideas concerning the Kingdom were corrected by the Apostle Paul? Page 286.

(28) What was the ultimate result of the false theories regarding the church’s mission? Page 287, par. 1.

(29) What is the Protestant claim with respect to the reign of the church? Page 287, par. 2.

(30) How does the popular view of the Kingdom harmonize with the teachings of our Lord and His apostles? Page 287, par. 3

(31) When fully established, of what two parts will the Kingdom of God consist? Page 288, par. 1.

(32) What class will constitute the spiritual phase of the Kingdom, and what is the order and nature of their resurrection? What will be the work of this class? Page 288, par. 2.

(33) How can we harmonize with the foregoing the statement in Revelation 20:5, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished”? Page 288, footnote.

(34) What will be the work of the earthly phase of the Kingdom of God, and of what class will this phase be composed? Page 289, par. 1.

(35) In what manner may the two phases of the Kingdom operate, and what will the work of the Millennial age necessitate? Page 290, par. 1.

(36) What will it mean to gain a place in the earthly  phase  of the Kingdom,  and what great reward will await the honored instruments of this work among mankind? Page 291, par. 1.

(37) What will be the glory of the heavenly and earthly phases of the Kingdom, respectively, and how are they Scripturally contrasted? Page 292, par. 1.

(38) Explain how God’s promise to Abraham is to be verified through these two phases of the Page 292, par. 2.

(39) What is the covenant-root from which these two branches grow, and what is the order of their development? Page 292, par. 3.

(40) Of what nature was the promise to Abraham, heavenly or earthly, and has it yet been fulfilled? Page 293, par. 1.

(41) What does the Apostle Paul reveal concerning the time when these earthly promises will be fulfilled, and the relation of the church to the Ancient Worthies? Page 293, par. 2.

(42) What say the prophets with respect to the Israelitish nature of the earthly phase of the Kingdom? And why should we expect the Jews to be the first to come into harmony with the laws of the Kingdom? Page 294, par. 1.

(43) Should the popular theory of the “lost tribes” be clearly demonstrated, what advantage would such nations enjoy under the heavenly or “high calling”?  Page 294, par. 2.

(44) What Jewish characteristics would prepare for their speedy harmony with the principles of the New Government? Page 295, par. 1.

(45) Explain how God’s Kingdom is symbolized by the New Will there be two cities or governments in the Kingdom? Page 295, par. 2, 3.

(46) After mankind have reached perfection at the end of the Millennial age, what will be their experience? Page 296, par. 1.

(47) What is the divine promise concerning the rebuilding of the literal city of Jerusalem, and what say the prophets about the future glory of the Kingdom of God, of which Jerusalem is a symbol? Page 296, par. 2, 3.

(48) How was the nation of Israel typical, in respect to the Law Covenant, the New Covenant and the blood of the Atonement? Page 297, par. 1, 2.

(49) In what respect only will the Jews have the precedence to God’s favor, and why? How will the first and second advents differ as regards the Jewish nation?  Page 297, par. 3.

(50) How does the apostle in Romans 11 describe the loss and recovery of natural Israel? Page 298, par. 1; page 299, par. 1.

(51) Is the fact that Israel lost the chief blessing any proof that the Jews are to have no future favors? In what manner were the spiritual favors kept hidden until the due time to be revealed? Page 299, par. 2.

(52) What are the words of Paul with respect to the two “elect” classes and their relation to each other? Page 300, par. 1.

(53) What does the Psalmist declare regarding the necessary qualifications of all who shall be permitted to enter into that Holy City? Page 301, par. 2, 3.

(54) Describe the two parts of the literal city of What did these symbolize? Page 301, par. 1.

(55) What are the requirements for all who would be heirs of the Kingdom of God, in either phase? Page 301, par. 4.

(56) What is the erroneous idea respecting the manner in which the world will receive Christ’s Millennial Kingdom? What will be the nature of the “iron rule” of that Kingdom? Page 302, par. 1.

(57) Why will many feel rebellious against the perfect rule of the New Government? Page 303, par. 1.

(58) However, what facts will the masses of mankind ultimately learn to appreciate? Page 303, par. 2.

(59) Give an illustration of the manner in which the Kingdom of Heaven will be under the direct control of Christ as God’s Vicegerent. Page 303, par. 2.

(60) Will the Kingdom, when delivered over to the Father, cease to be the Kingdom of God? Page 304, par. 1.

(61) What will be the difference between mankind now and at the end of the Millennial age, as respects standing before God’s law of exact justice? Page 305, par. 1.

(62) Explain how the Kingdom of God will be an everlasting Kingdom at the close of the Millennial Page 305, par. 2.

(63) What Scriptural distinction is made between the Kingdom prepared for mankind and the Kingdom and glory prepared for the church, as respects their time-location in the Father’s Plan? Will Christ’s glory and power cease with the Millennial age?   Page 305, par. 3.

(64) In whatsoever phase of the Kingdom our interests center, for what may all earnestly long and pray? Page 306, par. 1.