Watchman Radio Hour

David Shuldt: Welcome to the Watchman Radio hour. Coming to you from Portland, Oregon, here in the beautiful Northwest. This is David Shuldt, your announcer. The Watchman Radio hour is a production of Watchman Radio Ministries International, an evangelistic ministry reaching out to the peoples of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And now here's our speaker, Alex Dodson, to bring you this week's message from God's word.

Alex Dodson: For our scripture reading today, let us turn to the Gospel of Luke. And we'll begin reading the Gospel of Luke chapter 22 and we will begin reading in verse 24. Let us hear the word of God. Also, a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, the kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them call themselves benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest and the one who rules like the one who serves.

For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the Bible that you have given to us.

We thank you that it's your infallible word and that we can put our full confidence in everything that it says. And our Father, as we come to study your word, we pray that you will send forth your Holy Spirit in great convicting power. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. When does Christ's kingdom begin? Are we awaiting the kingdom age to begin at Christ's second coming, or has the kingdom age already begun? When Jesus says, thy kingdom come in the Lord's prayer, is he referring to the present age or the age that is yet to come?

These are both good questions. In a sense, there is a kingdom age now and a kingdom age yet to come. When Jesus said, thy kingdom come, he wasn't necessarily talking about only the eternal kingdom of the future. In a sense, the kingdom is here now. And as Christ's reign in this present age increases, so does his kingdom in this age. So whether we ascribe his kingdom to this age or to a future age, both are correct. One problem in modern evangelical teaching is that we often put so much emphasis on a future kingdom age that we neglect to consider that the kingdom is already present in Christ's present reign on earth in the hearts of believers and the influence they have in this present age.

Luke 17:20 and 21 says, once having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, the kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, here it is or there it is, because the kingdom of God is within you. The kingdom of God is now present as Christ reigns through his church in the present age. In this present age, the kingdom of God is advancing as the gospel is proclaimed and people come to know Christ all over the world. Yet there is a kingdom yet to come for which we look forward.

It will be an eternal kingdom and we will live forever in it. Our text today is Luke 22:29 and 30 which says, and I confer on you a kingdom just as my father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. As believers, we enjoy fellowship in Christ's kingdom. We are not awaiting some kingdom in the future to enjoy fellowship, but we have that fellowship now in the church. Yet we do look forward to an eternal and abiding fellowship in the future eternal kingdom.

We all have loved ones with whom we have enjoyed fellowship in this life. We have gone on ahead of us to be with the Lord. We have the hope of eternal life and a renewed fellowship with them in the eternal kingdom that is yet to come. However, we have that fellowship around the table of the Lord here and now in the present gospel age. And so the kingdom is now and the kingdom is yet to come. Now let us see in the first place that Christ promises the apostles a kingdom. Verse 29 says, and I confer on you a kingdom.

The Father had conferred a kingdom on Christ. That kingdom is now as Christ reigns during the gospel age. That kingdom is future and will be issued in at the last day. That day will come when Jesus returns to sit on his judgment throne. In Matthew 25:31 it says, when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. In another sense, Jesus has a kingdom now in this age which is advancing and one day will be brought to a conclusion and carried on into the eternal age.

This is brought out in 1 Corinthians 15:24 where it says, and then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power, for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. We often miss this aspect of Christ's kingdom when we put so much emphasis on the second coming. The above passage seems to indicate that the end will not come until Christ has been victorious in this age. There is a spiritual reign of Christ going on right now in this age and we must not forget that.

Jesus confers his kingdom on the apostles. He sends them forth to proclaim the gospel and spread his kingdom by themselves and through their followers in this gospel age. In Matthew 19:28 and 30 it says, Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or fields for my sake will receive 100 times as much and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first. David Brown comments on this passage saying, but opinions are divided as to what is meant in this case by the regeneration or renewal and consequently as to what is meant by the promise that the 12 should sit on 12 sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. One class of interpreters understanding by the renewal, the new gospel kingdom which Christ was erecting would paraphrase the words thus, you who have forsaken all and followed me as no others have done shall in the new kingdom which I am setting up and which shall soon become more visible and stable than it now is give law to and rule the great Christian world.

Which is here set forth in Jewish dress as the 12 tribes of Israel to be presided over by the 12 apostles on 12 judicial thrones. In this sense, certainly the promise has been illustriously fulfilled. On this same passage, John Calvin comments, verily I say to you that the disciples may not think that they have lost their pains and repent of having begun the course. Christ warns them that the glory of his kingdom, which at that time was still hidden, was about to be revealed. As if he had said, there is no reason why this mean condition should discourage you.

For I who am scarcely equal to the lowest will at length ascend to my throne of majesty. Endure for a little till the time arrives for reveling in my glory. And what does he then promise to them? That they shall be partakers of the same glory. This kingdom will be a place of fellowship. They will eat and drink at Christ's table in that kingdom. They will have fellowship together. John Calvin writes, and I point to you the kingdom. Here he makes them not only judges but kings, for he shares with them the kingdom which he received from the Father.

There is an emphasis in the word appoint that they may not by warmth and by vehemence of desire hasten too eagerly to possess the kingdom of which he alone has the lawful right to dispose. By his own example also, he exhorts them to patience. For though he was ordained by the Father to be a king, yet he was not immediately raised to his glory, but he emptied himself and by the ignominy of the cross obtained kingly honor. To eat and drink at his table is put metaphorically for being made partakers of the same glory. As Christ would begin his reign after his resurrection, the apostles would participate in that reign and by so doing participate in the fellowship of that glory.

And in the eternal age to come, this would continue. And then they have a place of authority. The apostles would sit on 12 thrones judging or ruling the 12 tribes of Israel. This would be a place of authority which they would have in this present age as the founders of the New Testament church. And also in the future eternal age when they will have a special place in God's eternal kingdom. And then let us see in the second place the kingdom in the Gospel age. Christ's kingdom reign begins at his first coming. In Luke 13:28 it says, there will be weeping there and gnashing of teeth.

When you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first and first who will be last. The above passage could very well apply to the gospel age as people from all over the world come into God's kingdom and join in fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God.

The unbelieving Jews who rejected the gospel being left out. In this sense, Jesus began his reign in the gospel age as he brings people from all over the world into his kingdom. This end gathering of people from east and west and north and south is still going on. Christ's kingdom is even now advancing in this present age. And then let us see that the apostles were the foundation of Christ's kingdom reign. Matthew Henry writes, understand first of what should be done for them in this world. God gave his son a kingdom among men, the gospel church of which he is the living, quickening, ruling head.

This kingdom he appointed to his apostles and their successors in the ministry of the gospel that they should enjoy the comforts and privileges of the gospel. Help to communicate them to others by gospel ordinances, sit on thrones as officers of the church, not only declaratively but exhortatively, judging the tribes of Israel that persist in their infidelity and denouncing the wrath of God against them and ruling the gospel Israel, the spiritual Israel, by the instituted discipline of the church administered with gentleness and love. This is the honor reserved for you. In this sense, the apostles formed the foundation of the reign of Christ during the gospel age.

They founded the gospel church. They authored the New Testament and left it to guide the church throughout the age. In that sense, the apostles continued to rule over the church in this age. But let us see in the third place the eternal kingdom. The last day issuing and the issuing in of the eternal kingdom when Jesus returns, the eternal kingdom will be issued in. In Matthew 19:28 through 30 it says, Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth that the renewal of all things when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or fields from my sake will receive 100 times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first. David Brown in commenting on Matthew 19:28 through 30 says, but the majority of interpreters refer it to the yet future glory. In this case, it points to the time of the restitution of all things when the great apostolic founders of the Christian church shall be exalted to a distinction corresponding with the services they have rendered.

Perhaps there is no need to draw a very sharp line of separation between the two views of the promise here made to the 12. And we do better probably with Calvin to see in the present fact that the holy temple of the Christian church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and those prophets that supplemented their labors. Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, the assurance that in the future glory their place would correspond with their services in that high office. Noble Gelden Heiss writes, although he had given to some of them special commissions to exercise leadership, yet their reward will not consist in the receiving of greater or lesser worldly honor and power as in the case in earthly kingdoms.

According to the leading or less leading parts which he assigns to them. On the contrary, their reward consists in this, namely that he makes a covenant with them. Just as the Father has allotted authority to him that they will at the consummation of the age be privileged to partake with them of the joy of his kingdom. A joy which is represented by the symbolic words, eat and drink at my table. And of the responsibility of leadership in it represented by the symbol of sitting on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel. And so the disciples are not to expect earthly glory and worldly power as a reward, but heavenly joy and a holy vocation in his eternal kingdom.

It is that eternal kingdom that we look forward to as believers in Jesus Christ. It is there that our fellowship will ultimately be. And then let us see that the apostles will have a prominent role in the eternal kingdom. Matthew Henry comments on the eternal kingdom and the apostles role there when he says, or secondly of what should be done for them in the other world, which I take to be chiefly meant, let them go on in their services in this world. Their preferment shall be in the other world. God will give them the kingdom in which they shall be sure to have one, the richest dainties, for they shall eat and drink at Christ's table in his kingdom of which he had spoken.

They shall partake of those joys and pleasures which were the recompense of his services and sufferings. They shall have a full satisfaction of soul in the vision and fruition of God. And herein they shall have the best society as at a feast in the perfection of love. And then they will the highest dignities. You shall not only be provided for at the royal table as Mephibosheth at David's, but you shall be preferred to the royal throne. Shall sit down with me on my throne. In the great day, you shall sit on thrones as assessors with Christ to approve of and applaud his judgment of the 12 tribes of Israel.

And John Calvin writes, you also should sit on 12 thrones by assigning to them thrones from which they may judge the 12 tribes of Israel. He compares them to assessors or first counselors and judges who occupy the highest seats in the royal council. We know that the number of those who were chosen to be apostles was 12. In order to testify that by the agency of Christ God purposed to collect the remnant of his people which were scattered. This was a very high rank, but hitherto was concealed and therefore Christ holds their wishes in suspense till the latest revelation of his kingdom when they will fully receive the fruit of their election.

And though the kingdom of Christ is in some respects manifested by the preaching of the gospel, there is no doubt that Christ here speaks of the last day. The ultimate fulfillment of Christ's promise to the apostles will be fulfilled at the last day at the issuing in of his eternal kingdom. The Spirit of the Reformation study Bible says that the disciples were to serve rather than seek greatness. Does not mean that they would be go unnoticed. Jesus proceeded to make it clear that he was aware of how they stood with him and that when the Father gave him the kingdom, there would be a place for them.

They were promised a wonderful future that would include judging the tribes of Israel. And then we must look forward to the fellowship in the eternal kingdom. That fellowship begins with the resurrection and will continue for all eternity. Ian Murray writes, the New Testament reveals why the second advent has a direct relevance for Christians of every generation. What is of ultimate significance is not whether Christ will come in our lifetime or later. Not whether or not our death must intervene, but the truth that whether he comes sooner or later, we shall all share alike in the full redemption which that day will bring.

We have a temporary fellowship here in this life in the Gospel age. But this fellowship will end one day. Yet it will be followed by a greater fellowship that will come in the eternal kingdom. Andrew Fuller writing in 1782 says, hope holds up a period even within the limits of time, a heaven compared with the present state of things when holiness to the Lord shall be written as upon the bells of the horses and Zion shall become a quiet habitation. But this say you is a period that we have but little hope of living to see.

Perhaps so. Still you live in prospect of a better, a blessed society where purity and amity forever reign. Yes, brethren, immediately on entering members of the Church Triumphant, you will enter into peace and each one of you walk forever in his uprightness. It may very well be that the gospel will triumph in this age, that there will be a time of peace never seen before. We may not live to see it, but it may very well come if we believe in the power of the gospel to change the nations. Yet though we do not live to see it, we shall experience peace in the eternal kingdom, a peace that will never end.

Are you experiencing the fellowship of Christ's kingdom? Only those who come into his kingdom can have that experience. Only those who truly know Christ as Lord and Savior can know the fellowship that we have in him. John wrote in 1 John 1:3, we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ. Come today to Christ and receive him and come into his kingdom. And there you will have an eternal fellowship. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for sending Christ to set up his kingdom in this world.

We thank you for sending him to begin his reign in this world as the gospel is sent forth. And we thank you that people are coming into his kingdom even now. And we believe that one day his kingdom will triumph in this world. And yet we know if we don't live to see it that one day we're going to inherit an eternal kingdom where there will be eternal peace and continuing fellowship forever. We thank you for that, oh Lord. And we ask these things in Christ's name. Amen. This is Alex Dodson and I would like to invite you to write us this week.

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David Shuldt: We hope this week's broadcast has been a blessing to you. If you have any questions about Mr. Dodson's message, please write us. You may email us at info@watchmanradio.org. Our mailing address is Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251 Portland, Oregon 97213. That's Watchman Radio Ministries International, Post Office Box 13251 Portland, Oregon 97213. You may listen to this broadcast at any time on the internet at www.oneplace.com. In the list of ministries, just select the Watchman Radio hour. This week's program and previous programs are always available there for listening. Our web address is www.watchmanradio.org. That's w a t c h m e n radio.org.

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