How often is the kingdom of God preached today in the large denominations and the many smaller churches? How many understand what this is all about? We know that the kingdom of God was the core of Jesus' message. Mark 1:14-15 tells us: "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." In the short time on earth after His resurrection Jesus continued to talk with His disciples about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

How many denominational Christians really believe that Jesus Christ will come back to earth and establish the kingdom of God here? This is found in many prophecies of the Holy Scriptures, such as Revelation 11:15: "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!"

We know that the kingdom of God will be an real kingdom that rules the world and replaces every human government and authority, as we read in Daniel 2:44: "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

The first Christians had their eyes firmly fixed on the future kingdom of God. And Acts 8:12 explains that this was a major reason why people believed God's truth and wanted to be baptized: "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."

If we remain faithful to God all our lives, we will be kings and priests with Christ in His coming kingdom (Revelation 5:10). We can look forward to being transformed into spirit beings and to living forever (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54). We will inherit everything as God's transformed spirit children (Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:1-7; Hebrews 2:6-8).

Why are we able to understand all this when some who profess to follow Jesus have no clue about it? It is not because of our own mental capacity! We are able to understand it because God has opened our minds to his truth: "Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it" (Luke 10:23-24). Let's be thankful for the blessing of knowledge!

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!