Page 33 - TH130 Kingdom of God A4 Final

The Present Aspect of the Kingdom

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began
to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after
giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had
chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and
gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to
them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of
God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave
them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift
my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For
John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with
the Holy Spirit.” So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord,
are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He
said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father
has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:1–8, emphasis added)

Note how in the passage above Jesus gave orders to the apostles
“through the Holy Spirit” (v. 2). He also “spoke about the kingdom of
God” (v. 3). What were the Kingdom issues Jesus spoke about? He spoke
of the importance of being baptized in the
Holy Spirit and of being His witnesses to the
ends of the earth (vv. 4–8). When the disciples
asked about the coming Kingdom, Jesus called The apostles’
their attention back to the present work of work was to
the Kingdom. While the future coming of the
Kingdom is an important issue, their present preach the
work was to preach the gospel to all nations gospel to all
in the power of the Holy Spirit before He
returns (vv. 7–8). nations in the

power of the
At Pentecost Jesus transferred His kingdom
power to the church. He once prophesied that Holy Spirit.
the kingdom of God would soon come in power
(Mark 9:1). He also promised His followers
power to do the same works He had done (John 14:12, 16). Later, He
commanded them to not begin their Kingdom ministry until they had

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