Great Themes of the Bible
Kingdom of God 147 some read. You inquire when it will come and are not aware that it is already begun to be set up in the midst of you. The Gospel is preached, it is confirmed by miracles, it is embraced i multitudes, so that it is in your nature, though not in your earts.
10. OPPOSITION TO THE KINGDOM
The setting up of Christ's kingdom was a work that would meet with a great deal of opposition and interruption (Luke xvii. 22). The disciples thought they should carry all before them, and expected a constant series of successes in their work.
Christ tells them it would be otherwise. ''The days will come," before you have finished your testimony and done your work, "when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man;'' one such day as we now have, of the prosperity and progress of the Gospel, "'and shall not see it."' At first, indeed, you will have wonderful success. So they had, when thousands were added to the Church in a day. But do not think it will always be so. No, you will be persecuted and scattered, silenced and imprisoned, so that you will not have opportunity of preaching the Gospel without fear, as you now have. People will grow cool to it after they have enjoyed it for a while. But we must not think that Christ's Church and cause are lost, because not always alike visible and prevailing.
11. THE KINGDOM Is NOT LOCAL
Christ and His kingdom are not to be looked for in this or that particular place, but His appearance will be general in all places at once. They will say here is one who will deliver the Jews out of the hands of the oppressing Romans, or there is one who will deliver the Christians out of the hands of the oppressing Jews. Here is Messiah, and there is His prophet. Here in this mountain, or there at Jerusalem, you will find the true Church. "Go not after them, or follow them." Do not heed such suggestions. The kingdom of God was not designed to be the glory of one people only, but to give light to the Gentile—"for as the lightning that lightens out of one part under heaven, shines," all on a sudden, irresistibly, "'to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day"'.
The judgments that are to destroy the Jewish nation, to lay them waste, and to deliver the Christians from them, shall fly