Why Did Jesus Say THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR?
Both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ preached that the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God was near:
1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 3:1-2
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The Kingdom of God was near because the King was near, who introduced God’s plan of salvation and He is the central figure. Christ’s life, death and resurrection paved the way for reconciliation with God (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and obtaining eternal life (2 Timothy 1:10), which starts with spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, 3:6 & Titus 3:5). John the Baptist preached this before the Messiah did because his mission was to “prepare the way for the LORD” (Matthew 3:1-3 & Isaiah 40:3).
Can This Be Connected to Revelation 21:3 & 21:7?
Let’s look at these verses:
And I [John the apostle] heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
Revelation 21:3
6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
Revelation 21:6-7
Yes, these verses can be connected to the kingdom of God being near because spiritual regeneration is the first stage of what the Bible calls “the restoration of all things” (Matthew 19:28 & Acts 3:21). There are four stages to this restoration with the last one being what these verses in Revelation are specifically referring to. For important details, go here.
Related Topics:
Why is this World so Messed Up?
The Fall of Man (Humanity) and Slavery to Satan
REDEMPTION — God’s Plan of Liberation for Humanity & Creation
KINGDOM OF GOD — What Does It Mean?
Being an Heir to the Kingdom of God, Inheriting It and Seeing It
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