Most in Christendom believe that Jesus was the Son of God who came in human form to do the will of His Father. They believe that He arose from the dead and shortly afterwards ascended into heaven. What is often overlooked is what impact He had while on this earth, and what His plan was after He ascended.
Even a casual reader of the New Testament will immediately discover that He so often spoke of the kingdom. In the four gospel accounts of His life, the kingdom is mentioned over 130 times. Far too many have overlooked this truth repeated so many times, and in doing so, they fail to see just how that kingdom is related to what was involved in His plan after He ascended.
Have you ever considered just how many individuals announced that the kingdom was about to be established? John the Baptist taught that the kingdom was at hand (Matt. 3:2). When Jesus first began teaching, He told those who heard Him that the kingdom was at hand, it was about to be established (Mark 1:15). As He lived on this earth, He sent the twelve apostles out to teach every Jew in every city that the kingdom was about to come (Matt. 10:7). Later, He sent another 70 individuals to go among the Jews and promised them that the kingdom was about to become a reality (Luke 10:9). That’s 84 messengers sent by God in a period of about three years who were telling everyone that God’s new kingdom, led by the King of all kings, was about to become a reality.
Look at how specific Jesus was in telling those who listened to Him about the precise time that kingdom was to be established. His words are so easy to understand. “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” (Mark 9:1). Imagine that you had been standing there and heard Him say these words. What would you believe about when that kingdom would come into existence?
The reason some struggle with the words of these 84 prophets sent by God is because they have heard so many teachers talk about the fact that when He comes the second time at the end of the world He would finally establish the kingdom. If that is true, you cannot reconcile this with the clear teaching of heaven’s 84 messengers. Common sense says we should first listen to these witnesses instead of some televangelists and pastors today who say the kingdom is yet future.
What is that kingdom like? Take time to read the book of Acts telling what happened just days after He ascended. When He left the earth, what did He leave on the earth?