Hope: The Eternal Kingdom
(Supernatural, Physical and Political)
I. THE NECESSITY AND POWER OF HOPE
A. Hope is confidence in God’s promises related to our future as faith is confidence in God in the present. Hope is not
wishful thinking but it is future certainty based on revelation of the Word.
13 Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our…Savior Jesus… (Tit. 2:13)
3 God…has begotten us to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus…4 to an inheritance incorruptible and
undefiled…reserved in heaven for you… (1 Pet. 1:3-4)
B. Our hope in Jesus’ eternal Kingdom on earth has three vital facets. First, it has a supernatural heavenly dimension
as seen in the New Jerusalem coming to earth (Rev. 21:2, 10). Second, it has a physical paradise aspect in the
restoration of the Garden of Eden (Ezek. 36:35). Third, it has a political governmental facet in establishing the Throne
of David over every nation (Lk. 1:32).
C. These are three facets of the Kingdom of God that are incomplete when standing alone. Scripture begins and
ends with God dwelling with His people in the Garden of Eden (Gen 1-2; Rev. 21-22). Revelation weaves together
Heavenly Jerusalem with a restored Garden of Eden as the governmental capital of the earth. In Rev. 22:1-5, we see
the water of life and the tree of life without any curse from Genesis 3. God will restore His Genesis 1-2 purposes.
D. Israel has focused on the earthly dimension of the Kingdom without the heavenly. The Church has focused on the
heavenly dimension without the earthly. Jesus is King of the nations and Head of the Church. In Rev 21-22, John brings
together the Christian concept of heaven, the Israeli view of the Davidic kingdom and the utopian dream of a perfect world
in a physical paradise. We must understand all three facets to have our hope firmly established. To miss the restored
Garden of Eden is to fail to see Jesus as Creator and to miss the restored Davidic Kingdom is to fail to see Jesus as king
of the nations.
E. Hope is a clear picture of the future that purifies us in the present. Understanding the Millennium gives us hope
in these days and prepares the Church for victory during the Great Tribulation.
2 We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this
hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
F. To be firmly established in hope is to be equipped to be steadfast in our diligence and zeal.
11 Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit…12 rejoicing in hope… (Rom. 12:11-12)
18 To lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,
and which enters the Presence behind the veil… (Heb. 6:18-19)
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
II. THE CENTERPIECE OF GOD’S PURPOSE: BRING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER
A. The centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom rule over
all the earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. This is the interpretive key to understanding the
End-Times. Without this revelation, confusion is inevitable.
9 Made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will…10 that He might gather together in one ALL things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth. (Eph. 1:9-10)
B. Heaven speaks of the supernatural realm where God’s presence is openly manifest. It is the place believers go
to (last 2,000 years) as a “temporary holding place” for disembodied spirits. The saints do not have a resurrected body
in heaven because they do not need one to relate to the environment of heaven. When the New Jerusalem comes to
earth, it is referred to as heaven. Scripture says that our reward is in heaven, or in the New Jerusalem as “heaven on
earth.”
C. Earth speaks of the material physical realm as the place where natural process, human emotion and physical
sensation reach full expression, thus, requiring a resurrected body. The saints will need a resurrected body to relate
to the physical environment of the earth.
D. The challenge in understanding the Second Coming and the Millennial Kingdom is in getting the right paradigm. Jesus
will rule the earth with the natural human processes not suspended, yet significantly enhanced by the supernatural
dimension of the Spirit. We see aspects of this when Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days in His resurrected body
(Jn. 20-21; Acts 1). The properties of the earth will include tangible substances of gold, steel, wood, food, animals, etc.
E. As Gentile believers, our most natural paradigm is to think of worshipping Jesus as God in the supernatural
conditions of heaven. We emphasize Jesus’ deity as the Son of God. Whereas, the Jewish paradigm, thinks of reigning
with the Messianic King as a man in the natural conditions of the earth. They emphasize the Messiah’s humanity as
the Son of David. The full truth is only seen when these two paradigms are brought together.
F. God’s purpose has always been to live together with His people face to face in the natural realm on earth. God
doesn’t want to remain in heaven but has determined to live on earth forever.
3 Behold, the Tabernacle (House) of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God
Himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev. 21:3)
G. In the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus’ primary mandate is to prepare the earth for the Father’s coming by bringing
the nations to mature righteousness (1 Cor. 15:24-28). Righteousness will be substantial in the Millennium and perfect
afterwards in the New Earth.
H. The End-Time message is focused on Jesus preparing His people and the nations so that He might fully established
His Kingdom on earth. Jesus is raising up a “Millennial leadership team” to prepare the way for the Father. The earth will
be purged with fire at the end of the Millennium to fully prepare it for the Father (2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 20:11).
III. THE RESTORATION OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN
A. The point of the restoration of the Garden of Eden is so that God and man live together in a physical paradise
(Ezek. 34:26-29; 36:8-11, 30-35; 47:6-12; Isa. 35:1-8; 51:3; Rev. 22:1-3).
30 I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach
of famine…33 I will enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt…35 They will say, “This land that was
desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified…”
(Ezek. 36:30-35)
3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her
desert like the garden of the LORD... (Isa. 51:3)
B. Jesus will rule the Millennial earth that has both natural and supernatural dimensions.
20 No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child
shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build
houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22…For as the days of a tree, so shall be the
days of My people…25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox…they shall not
hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD. (Isa. 65:20-25)
C. Isaiah describes animals with animosity toward each other as removed.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the
fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down
together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned
child shall put his hand in the viper's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6-9)
D. When God cast Adam out of the Garden then God also left and all the physical creation was defiled. God
gave people authority over creation, thus, it is deeply connected to people.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; but the earth He has given to the children of men. (Ps. 115:16)
E. When Adam fell, Creation came under a curse.
18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation
was subjected to futility…because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation
groans and labors with birth pangs until now. (Rom. 8:18-22)
IV. THE THRONE OF DAVID: JESUS GOVERNING ALL NATIONS FOREVER
A. Jesus will sit on the throne of David as He rules all the nations from Jerusalem.
6 Unto us a Child is born…a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful,
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government...there will be no end,
upon the throne of David…to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.
(Isa. 9:6-7)
B. In the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus fulfills the OT prophecies of God establishing Him on the Throne of David to
bless all the nations (2 Sam. 7:13, 16, 23:5; Isa. 9:6-7; 55:3; Ps. 89:3-4; 34-37; Jer. 23:5-6; 30:8-9; 33:14-17, 20-21;
Ezek. 37:24-25; Hos. 3:4-5; Amos 9:11).
32 The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (Lk. 1:32)
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory...then He will sit on the Throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be
gathered before Him... (Mt. 25:31-32)
C. The Millennium is a literal 1,000 year period in which Jesus will rule the whole world from Jerusalem in
righteousness and peace. Millennium is from the Latin “mille” (a thousand).
4 I saw thrones, and they (saints) sat on them…they reigned with Christ for 1000 years… 6 They shall be priests of
God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him 1000 years. (Rev. 20:4-6)
D. At this time the Kingdom of God will be openly manifest worldwide affecting every sphere of life (political, social,
agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, law enforcement, family, media, arts, technology, athletics, environment,
social institutions, etc).
E. The result will be a 1,000 year period of unprecedented blessing for the whole earth as Jesus establishes righteousness
and prosperity, and restores the agriculture, and animal life (Rev. 20:1-6; Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:1-16; 51:1-8; 60-62;
65:17-25; Ps. 2:6-12; 110:1-7; Deut. 8; 28; Mt. 5:5; 6:10; 17:11; 19:28; 28:19; Acts 1:6; 3:21). This will be initiated by
Jesus' Second Coming.
F. Jesus as King of Kings, will personally govern a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem in partnership with resurrected
saints who rule with Him (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5; Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30;
1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom 8:17).
17 Jerusalem shall be called the Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the
LORD, to Jerusalem. (Jer. 3:17)
G. In the Millennium all the kings of the earth will be saved and worship Jesus (Ps. 72:11; 102:15; 138:4; 148:11;
Isa. 62:2; Rev. 21:24) and base their national governments on God’s Word.
11 All kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Ps. 72:11)
H. The message of the Kingdom is that Jesus will rule every sphere of life. The NT makes clear that the kingdom is
‘already here’ (limited expression) but is ‘not yet’ fully here until Jesus returns.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:10)