What are the Christadelphians belief about the kingdom and power of God?
The Christadelphians’ Belief About the Kingdom and Power of God: The Kingdom of God is mentioned throughout the Bible. The truth that God’s plan is to establish an everlasting kingdom on earth by the Lord Jesus Christ at his return is seen in the following verses:
“And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever…” (Daniel 2:44)
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom…” (2 Timothy 4:1)
The Bible is the primary document concerning God’s plan because it states that God is the author and it is truth.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
From these quotes, we understand that God indeed has a plan for this earth and life upon it. This plan will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns to establish his kingdom and reign over the entire earth. If we want to be part of that kingdom, we must believe in Jesus and be baptized in his saving name. Thus, we become children of Abraham and heirs of the eternal promise.
The Bible promises a time of enduring peace when Jesus returns as king. If we believe in Jesus Christ and strive to obey his commandments, we have the hope of salvation from death and receiving eternal life.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” How many times have you said or heard these words? They are part of a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, found in Luke 11:2-4. We know these words well—but do we fully understand their meaning? Look at them again. This is a prayer for God’s kingdom to come and for His will to be done on this earth, just as it is in heaven. So, we see immediately that the kingdom we pray for is meant to be here on this earth. And when God’s kingdom comes, men and women will do His will.
What do the Christadelphians believe about the kingdom and power of God?
Every kingdom has a place, and thousands of years ago, God chose a land to be the center of His kingdom. This land is Israel. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and will become the future capital of the world when Jesus Christ reigns as king. Jesus himself said, “But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.” (Matthew 5:34-35)
First, there will be rulers. These are the men and women from all ages who have been disciples and followers of Jesus, and now Jesus will give them eternal life at his coming. They will help Jesus govern the world as kings and priests. These people will be immortal (meaning they will never die).
“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood, you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.'” (Revelation 5:9-10)
There will also be Jews who have accepted Jesus as their king. Jerusalem will become the capital of the entire world. All nations will look to it because God’s law will be established there.
“At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.” (Jeremiah 3:17)
When Christ comes, God’s judgments will be strict, and many people will be destroyed. But the survivors around the world will learn to do what pleases God under Jesus’ rule—just as Isaiah 26:9 tells us, “When your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.”
Read more: Who is Jacob in the Bible and why did he wrestle with God?
The Christadelphians believe that Jesus Christ will physically return to earth to establish the kingdom of God, fulfilling the promises made to Abraham and David. This belief includes the understanding that the future kingdom will be a renewal of the first kingdom of God in Israel, under David’s rule.
The kingdom of God for which we are to pray will be an earthly kingdom. This kingdom is a renewal of the ancient kingdom of Israel, which will be re-established with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and under his governance. This kingdom will replace all current world governments. Ultimately, the world we live in will have one king—a king who is powerful and whom the entire earth will obey. This kingdom will finally bring peace to our tumultuous world.
