Faith & Reason Nexus

The establishment of the Kingdom and the Church is a significant event in Scripture, marked by several prophecies and fulfillments. Below are the key verses that highlight the establishment of the Kingdom of God through Christ.

Prophecies about the Kingdom and Church:

• Isaiah 2:2-3 (700 B.C.):
  “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established… Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob.’”
• Daniel 2:44 (580 B.C.):
  “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed… It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

Fulfillment in the New Testament:

• Matthew 16:18 (A.D. 29):
  Jesus says, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
• Ephesians 1:22 (A.D. 30):
  “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body…”
• Acts 2:47 (A.D. 30 – Pentecost):
  “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The Kingdom and Church are Identified as:

• The Kingdom:
  • Matthew 16:18 (Christ as Head of the Kingdom)
  • Colossians 1:13 (Christ’s Kingdom, where we are transferred into His kingdom)
• The Church:
  • Ephesians 5:23 (Christ as Head of the Church)
  • Colossians 1:18 (Christ is the Head of the Body—the Church)
• The Body of Christ:
  • Ephesians 1:22-23 (The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is the head)
  • 1 Timothy 3:15 (The church is the house of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth)

When and Where:

• When:
  The Kingdom/Church was established A.D. 30, with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2).
• Where:
  The Church was established in Jerusalem, as foretold in Isaiah 2:2-3 and confirmed in Acts 1:4-8. The church grew and spread from Jerusalem to the rest of the world.

Spiritual Blessings through the Church/Kingdom:

• Forgiveness of Sins:
  • Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
• Salvation:
  • Ephesians 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
• All Spiritual Blessings:
  • Ephesians 1:3: The church, as the body of Christ, is the place where all spiritual blessings are received.