An Everlasting Kingdom Series

An Everlasting Kingdom

Griffith Baptist Church – 5/11/08

P.M. Service

Text: Daniel 6:25-28

Main Verse: Daniel 6:26 - I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

The Introduction

Explanation of Darius Decree – 6:25-27

Fortuneteller, gazing into crystal ball, to frog: You are going to meet a beautiful young woman. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you—you’ll fascinate her.”

Frog: “Where am I? At a singles club?”

Fortuneteller: “Biology class.” Source unknown

Our future as Christians is not as dismal as the frog.

Even though we don’t know the fine details of our futures, the Bible reveals enough to get us excited and keep us going.

Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that "more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy...Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the N.T., there are more than 300 references to the Lord’s return--one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event...For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s second coming." SOURCE: Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 40. Submitted by Guy Caley

Transition Statement: First, let us see the view of the future kingdom of God.

Body

1. The View of the Kingdom

A. Christ preparing for us – John 14:1-2 - 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

B. The Rapture of the Church – 1 Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

i. This is:

a. Instantaneous (twinkling of an eye)

b. Audible (the trumpet will sound)

c. Eternally transforming (we shall be changed)

ii. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

a. Hope of the resurrection (13-14)

b. Hope of the coming of the Lord in our lifetime (15)

c. Certainty of Christ coming for His church, the living and the dead (16)

d. Certainty of a reunion of Christ and our loved ones (17)

e. Comfort because of this promise (18)

C. The future eternal kingdom in the New Jerusalem – Read Revelation 21:1-22:5

i. Everything will be brand new – 21:1

a. The old heaven and earth are done away with – 2 Peter 3:10-13 - 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

b. It is a new beginning in every way

ii. The benefits of the New Jerusalem – 21:2-8

a. The awesome, holy presence of God among men (3)

b. The eradication of all separation and suffering (4)

c. Everything is new and alive (5-7

iii. The description of the New Jerusalem – 21:9-27

a. Beautiful and crystal clear (11)

b. 12 gates with the names of the tribes of Israel on each one, three on each side (12-13)

c. 12 foundations stones in the wall with each of the names of the apostles (14)

d. The city was 1500 miles high, 1500 miles wide, and 1500 miles deep (15-16). In modern day thinking this would stretch from New York City to Denver, CO and from Canada to Florida.

e. The walls are about 216 feet high (17)

f. The foundation is 12 layers thick each made of a precious and costly stone (18-20)

g. Each gate is made out of a single pearl (21)

h. The street of the city is made out of pure gold (21). Gold becomes transparent in its purest form. NOTE: This is where we get the term “pearly gates” and “golden streets” from. Actually it is the golden street.