The Advent of the Everlasting Kingdom
The birth of the Son of the Most High God is our commemoration at Christmas. The eternal Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Lk 1:35), was enfleshed and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). The divine Author of our faith (Heb 12:2) entered His own story. He came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21), which is why His name is, “Jesus (Heb. Yahweh saves).”
The birth of the Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11), has another dimension to it. This is rarely spoken of in our Christmas memorial celebrations. Yes, Jesus was born to die, but as the angel Gabriel preached to Mary, “…and He will reign over the house of Jacob, forever; and His kingdom will have no end (Lk 1:33).”
The kingdom of God’s beloved Son commenced at Christmas, with the incarnation of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son (Jn 3:16). Later, the wise men appeared in Jerusalem, following His special star, from the east. They were looking for the newborn King of the Jews (Mt 2:2). This title would carry through to the day of Jesus being crucified by both Jews and Gentiles (Mt 27:11, 29, 37).
From these small beginnings, Jesus’ royal titles would expand because He is not just the King of the Jews, for the Gentiles would also come to see the Light of this revelation, which would be the glory of the Israel of God (Lk 2:32). The prophet Isaiah foretold of the One called, “Israel,” who would gather His people, “Israel (Is 49:3, 6).” These chosen people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 5:9), would be transferred from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13).
During His earthly ministry, Jesus preached that the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Heaven was at hand (Mt 3:2; 4:17; 10:7). The kingdom, not of this world (Jn 18:36), had come near. The Prince of life (Acts 3:15), Jesus, had come into the world, ruled by the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2). The god of this world, Satan, the great deceiver (Jn 8:44), had spiritually blinded humanity from seeing the Gospel of God (2 Cor 4:4), who is true (Rom 3:4).
With the whole world under the dominion of Satan (Acts 26:18), one rogue nation rebelled against the devil…”Judah became His sanctuary, Israel, His dominion (Ps 114:2).” The clash of cosmic kingdoms was now in full view. Satan had lured the Jews into idolatry in days gone by. Still, God kept a faithful remnant in every generation. Just as numbers had dwindled in the days of Noah (Gen 6–9), so it was in the days of Elijah (1 Kgs 19:18).
King Jesus came to His own (Jews), and those who were His own did not receive Him (Jn 1:11). The sunrise (Lk 1:78), that is, the sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2), who is the Light of the world (Jn 8:12), was rising like the morning star (Is 14:12; 2 Pet 1:19; Rev 2:28; 22:16). Men, however, loved darkness (Jn 3:19), and this included the Jews, who did not comprehend Jesus’ identity (Jn 1:5), nor did they believe the works He performed (Ps 78:32; Jn 10:25, 37–38; 14:11–12), which had the surety of being finished from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3).
Hope for King Jesus’ everlasting dominion waned for a moment, in the eyes of the beholder. He was crucified, died, and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. The light flickered, but Jesus had prophesied of this perceived end that only proved His identity and God’s approval of all His works. God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 13:30; Rom 10:9; Gal 1:1), and gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18). Following His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, and His coronation, as was recorded in Psalm 110, was conducted just as it was written.
Friend, the kingdom of this world has its days numbered, until defeat and destruction (2 Pet 3:10–12). The rebellion of humanity and devils, against God, will soon end, with the second advent of the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16). Who is this dread champion (Jer 20:11), blessed and only Sovereign (1 Tim 6:15), with whom the world will wage war (Rev 17:14)? It is the victorious Lamb of God, and those who are with Him at His coming, who are the called and chosen and faithful (Rev 17:14).
Are you ready for war? In that day when the King of glory comes in (Ps 24:7–10), to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5), will you be with Him or stand against Him? His salvation of those He called, “wheat,” will be great (Heb 2:3), as the angels are sent to the four winds to gather His harvest into His eternal storehouse (Mt 24:31; Mk 13:27). Likewise, the judgment of the, “tares,” will be awful, a day of terror like the world has never known.
Today, the Holy Spirit, indwelling the church (Rom 8:9, 11), is calling all men everywhere, to repent of their sins and rebellion against the Lord and His Anointed (Ps 2:2; Acts 17:30). May, today, be the day of your salvation (Ex 14:13; Lk 19:9), from the wrath of God to come (1 Thess 1:10; Rev 6:16). Place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, while it is yet called, “today.” Believe in God and believe in the Son of God sent into the world (Jn 3:16; 6:29), to lay claim to what rightfully belongs to Him (Acts 4:24; 14:15; 17:24). Do you belong (Jn 10:26–30)? If you do, have a very Merry Christmas in the kingdom of God, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, today (Rom 14:17), and from this time forth and forevermore.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 2, 2022
