"Let Us Beat Swords Into Plowshares" (based on the prophecy of the Kingdom of God in Isaiah 2:4), a sculpture by Evgeniy Vuchetich at the United Nations (Wikimedia Commons).
The biggest news story on the horizon is rarely taken seriously. But it is our only hope—and it will revolutionize everything. The Kingdom of God is real!
On the Interstate freeway between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, there are many billboards, but one set of them stands out in my mind. On one side are the 10 Commandments. On the return trip, drivers see on the reverse side in giant letters: “HELL IS REAL!”
Some make fun of the signs, but it’s hard not to notice them. I appreciate the sign maker’s sincere attempt to share his beliefs. I agree that the 10 Commandments are vitally important, and I even agree with the statement about hell (though probably not exactly in the way the sign maker intends. All three types of hell discussed in the Bible are real, but not the nonbiblical ideas popularized by Dante and others. For the real story, see “What Is Hell?”).
But my real point in mentioning this is to tell you what I would put on such a sign. There’s an even more important theme of the Bible that many relegate to fluffy spiritualism. It also ties in with the 10 Commandments and is much more positive. In fact it’s the best news you could hear:
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS REAL!
Neglected good news
Not only do we not hear this important news from the secular news media, the reality of the Kingdom of God is rarely discussed in religious circles either.
Some teach that the Kingdom of God is in your heart or that the Church is in some way the fullness of the Kingdom of God.
But to Jesus Christ and the apostles and prophets of the Bible, the Kingdom of God was a solid, down-to-earth reality. The disciples even wanted to know if Christ was setting up His Kingdom then (Acts 1:6).
Their timing was off, but their concept was correct—of a real King ruling over real, earthly territory with subjects and laws. Consider these real predictions of the peaceful, utopian Kingdom that God promises:
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15).
“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:2-4).
Jesus Christ’s servants are to prepare to help Him restore and refresh this ravaged world.
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21).
His followers should be preparing now to help govern people in a way that truly benefits them (Matthew 20:25-28).
Our only hope
This new government—the Kingdom of God—is desperately needed. Current trends match the warnings Jesus gave of a world rushing toward self-destruction:
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
Will you be among those elect followers of Christ who will be fervently praying for the Kingdom of God to come (Matthew 6:10)?
Will you prepare for it diligently and yearn for it urgently as the apostle John did?
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20, emphasis added).
Mike Bennett is editorial content manager for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in the Dallas, Texas, area. He coordinates the Life, Hope & Truth website, Discern magazine, the Daily Bible Verse Blog and the Life, Hope & Truth Weekly Newsletter (including World Watch Weekly). He is also part of the Personal Correspondence team of ministers who have the privilege of answering questions sent to Life, Hope & Truth.
by Mike Bennett
