The Timing of God’s Apostolic Kingdom
The community of the followers of Yeshua experienced a shocking transformation at the time of Yeshua’s death and resurrection. For forty days after the Passover and before Pentecost (Shavuot), during the “counting of the Omer” (Leviticus 23), Yeshua gave instructions to His disciples about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).
This was more than just teaching the values of the kingdom as He did in the Sermon on the Mount. These were instructions from a king to his servants on how to spread and establish his government on the earth.
He tried to explain to them that the first step was for them to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–5). However, they were so excited about Him being the Messiah and establishing the Messianic kingdom that they could hardly hear what He had to say. They asked Him, “Will You restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?” (Acts 1:6). Restoring the kingdom to Israel is one of the primary themes of the whole Bible. They were stating what should have been obvious:
“You are the Messiah. You have died for our sins and risen from the dead. Now must be the time You will fulfill the covenant with David and the vision of the prophets. You will reform the religious system. You will drive out the tyrants from the land. You will bring peace, prosperity, and righteousness. You will fulfill all the basic promises of the Bible.”
What could be clearer than that? What could be more central? What could be more comprehensive? This is the heart of the entire plan of God. Isn’t it?
Well, Yeshua surprised them once again. Here is the commission of the apostles: “It is not for you to know the times and the seasons set by the Father in His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of Me in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7–8).
When Yeshua said they could not know the times set by the Father, He made a clear declaration that there is indeed a time at which the kingdom will be restored to Israel that will come at some point in history. In fact, that date has been set and pre-determined by God. The disciples did not make a mistake about the topic; they made a mistake about the timing. In retrospect, it is easy for us to see that the restoration of the kingdom to Israel comes at the end, not at the beginning.
Perhaps it would have been more logical for the kingdom to be established first in Israel and then go to the ends of the earth. However, Yeshua reversed the order. Timing sets an alignment. Yeshua is reversing the expected order. They were expecting Israel (totally), then the nations. Yeshua changed this to Israel (partially), then the nations, then Israel again at the end. (Or more exactly: Israel partially, Israel dispersed, gospel to the nations, Israel restored, Israel saved.) We need to conform ourselves to this timing and direction.
Today the kingdom message is coming full circle. All of us as followers of Yeshua are called to complete the apostolic commission. What they started, the believers in the end times are to finish. We also have to make a huge adjustment, to recalculate. The first century was the time of the destruction of Israel. The twenty-first century is the time of the restoration of Israel. There is a reversal of strategy, a massive paradigm shift.
When Yeshua told His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, this meant that every individual from every nation would be invited to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Every human being is welcome in the kingdom of God. Every human being is to be warned of judgment and offered salvation before the day of judgment comes.
His kingdom will not only be in Judea and Samaria like King David’s, but it will extend all the way to the ends of the whole earth. It will be bigger than the Greek empire of Alexander the Great and bigger than the Roman empire of Julius Caesar. The background to the mission of Acts 1:8 to the “ends of the earth” is the vision of Isaiah and the other Israelite prophets.
Yeshua returns to take up His kingdom on earth. He comes to conquer planet earth. As He came the first time as a sacrificial Lamb, He will return as a roaring Lion. We are to spread both the message of personal salvation by grace and the message of Yeshua’s kingdom authority throughout the whole world right up to the time He returns.
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