THE KINGDOM HERALD

Three weeks ago I wrote about the invitation given to John on Patmos, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter .” As we learnt, he went on to see a heavenly scene comprising One that sat on a central throne, twenty-four crowned Elders and four Beasts (likened to a lion, an ox, a man and an eagle). These characters, as we discovered, were a symbolic representation of the composition and organization of the “Armies of Heaven,” the Royal Priesthood of Christ and His redeemed saints, that will “reign on the earth” as “kings and priests” in the millennial kingdom ( click here to read KINGS AND PRIESTS ). John’s experience wasn’t a new thing but only an announcement of the next stage in the evolution of a divine purpose that was first unveiled in a similar way. Yes, when Moses was to build the Lord’s Tabernacle in the wilderness, he was charged to “make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount”

Last week I wrote about the TIMES AND SEASONS of the promised earthly kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. I noted that, while there were some who expected the kingdom to be established around the turn of the 21st century, it didn't happen that way. Nevertheless, we still didn't right them off, considering that the Lord had actually predicted a delay. But as I also noted in closing, something providential actually happened at that time that went unnoticed by the world. A remarkable testimony about the kingdom that was expected to be established at that time was given – by none other than “the keepers of time.” Now, I have always felt that the very name of the globally renowned TIME magazine is significant. The Lord said of the “signs of the times” that lead up to the establishment of His kingdom, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for [the time of] your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). How would I at one end of the earth be

There was a time when “Jesus is coming soon” was a slogan of sorts in Christian circles. Saying something like that these days might be considered narrow minded and old fashioned, if not offensive. Nonetheless, the coming of the Lord and the establishment of His kingdom is something that every believer should constantly keep in sight. It is our “blessed hope.” The apostle wrote, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). According to the Genesis account, God created Heaven and Earth in six days and entered a seventh day Sabbath. Whether these were seven literal days or seven symbolic days of a thousand years each (see II Peter 3:8), is a matter to be debated. There, however, is – or perhaps, used to be – a popular opinion that in as many “days” as it took God to finish that creation, in so many thousand years would He redeem His saints from it and usher in another thousa

During the Revelation on Patmos, the apostle John was given the invitation, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” He went on to write, “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne ... And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting... and they had on their heads crowns of gold... And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts ... And the first beast was like a lion , and the second beast like a calf , and the third beast had a face as a man , and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle . And they [elders and beasts] sung a new song, saying... For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests : and we shall reign on the earth ” (see Revelation