Abstract: Our Destination
Have you ever wondered about the Messianic Kingdom we hear so much about? I have too. In some of our churches, we hear people speaking about “the growth of the kingdom,” of “kingdom authority,” and of “doing kingdom business.” What’s behind this lingo? In the course of my reading and research for answers about the Messianic Kingdom, I became aware of steps, or stages, of God’s program—His Messianic program, which would lead to the Kingdom.
Aspects of this program would be revealed throughout the Old Testament (a.k.a., the Hebrew Scriptures). We are told that the Messiah would fulfill each of the three offices in Israel that required anointing: prophet, priest, and king.
As we become familiar with the Messianic message of the Old Testament, we will be prepared to view Jesus through a different lens, even though it has been present for thousands of years, hiding in plain sight, in the Bible.
In the Gospels, we will see Jesus as the anticipated—and ultimate—Prophet, of whom Moses was a model. With His Ascension and to the present, as we explore the rest of the New Testament, we will see Jesus as our great High Priest, similar to Melchizedek. We will also see that at His Second Coming, He will come as our long-anticipated King. Finally, as we give attention to this Kingdom, many of our questions will be answered with the goal that this subject, which has been plagued by confusion and division, may find greater clarity.
In the process, we will gain a greater appreciation for the “big picture” of the Bible, gain deeper insights into the words and actions of Jesus in the Gospels, discover the current ministry of Jesus and how it is intended to impact our lives in the present, and we should gain a deeper sense of confidence and assurance about the coming Kingdom where those who are the disciples of Jesus will reign with Him for a thousand years.