In Bare Roots 17.1 we saw that John the Baptist dressed exactly like the prophet Elijah in order to identify himself as the new "Elijah" promised by Malachi. In 17.2 we saw that, as "Elijah," John performed the function of a forerunner or "advance man." He prepared the way for the coming of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.

What message did the Lord's forerunner proclaim? Matthew tells how John moved about the Desert of Judea announcing, "The Kingdom of Heaven is near" (Matt 3:2, NIV).

The Greek term translated "kingdom" (basileia) does not refer to a place, but to the action of ruling as a king.

The Greek term translated "heaven" (ouranos) sometimes refers to the sky. However, it can also refer to what we call the supernatural realm -- that is, the realities beyond the natural material world we perceive through our senses, the invisible "spirit" world of God and angels and demons. To illustrate: Biblical writers distinguish between our "earthly" or "natural" fathers and God, our "heavenly" or "supernatural" Father.

Accordingly, the term "Kingdom of Heaven" does not refer to a Kingdom located in Heaven. Instead, it refers to the Kingship exercised by God, the "Heavenly One," or God, the "Supernatural One." For this reason, Matthew uses the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God" interchangeably:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God ." (Matt 19:23-24)

The idea of the "Kingdom" or "Kingship of God" appears throughout Scripture. For example, both Moses and David declare, "The LORD reigns" (Ps 97:1; compare Exod 15:8).

The term "Kingdom of God" came into widespread use late in the Old Testament Era, when prophets began to anticipate the great Day when God would break into history, end all evil, and exert His "Kingship" or Lordship over the whole universe. To illustrate: Daniel 2 presents the history of the world as a series of "earthly" human kingdoms symbolized by the various parts of a statue. The prophet foresees that "a rock cut out, but not by human hands" (v. 34), will one day smash that "statue," putting an end to those kingdoms. In verse 44, Daniel interprets the vision, showing that the "rock" symbolizes a "supernatural" Kingdom, the long-awaited Kingship of God:

In the time of those [human] kings, the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom/Kingship that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms/kingships and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

Against the background of such promises, John the Baptist arrived on the scene bearing stunning news: The time had come. The Lord would soon fulfil His word. "The Kingdom of God is near."

Reflect...

After reading Daniel 2, most Jews of the first century expected God's Kingdom to come very suddenly in all its fullness. However, through his Parables of the Yeast and the Mustard Seed (Matt 13:32-33), Jesus explained that God would establish His Lordship more gradually. His Kingdom would have a small beginning, but a large end.

1. Read Matthew 12:22-28. Where in this story do you see small beginnings of the Kingship of God?
   
   
2. Read Luke 19:1-10. Where in this story do you see small beginnings of the Kingship of God?
   
   
3. Read Matthew 24:29-31. Where in this story do you see the large end of the Kingship of God?
   
   
4. Read Matthew 11:2-6. Why did John the Baptist himself doubt that Jesus was God's Messiah and the bearer of God's Kingdom? What was Jesus' reply to John, and what did it mean?
   

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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