We know that the Bible is the word of God. That is, it's inspired by God. He presents his message in his word. That's what's so remarkable about this, is that we can actually see what God thinks. And as we read the words of God recorded here, We're actually looking into the mind of God. I just love that very thought, looking into the mind of God, because he's expressing himself. And that's the beauty of getting into the Bible. And in this series, we're developing thoughts and ideas, a framework and an outline so that we can both think about it, retain it easier in our minds, and then share it better with other people. And this is the message that Jesus preached about right out of the Bible, the central message It's all about his kingdom to come. That's what he spent time talking about with an invitation to everybody to let them know you're welcome to come and join me in my kingdom. This message of the kingdom of God is the Bible's central message. It's a message of how superior our creator's kingdom is than of Satan's kingdom. In God's kingdom, His will is being done, not self-will, our will, Satan's will, or anyone else's will. It's God's will in God's kingdom. And whereas in God's kingdom, there's no pain, or sorrow, or suffering, or poverty, or illness, or wars, or death, in Satan's kingdom, it's just the opposite. All these things are the norm. That's a big contrast between the two kingdoms. But you see, one is where God's will is done and the other is where self-will is done. Life and everything is not only better in the kingdom of God, it's perfect. The two kingdoms are starkly different. And Revelation chapter 6 and Revelation chapter 21 really give a great and good contrast of the two kingdoms. In Revelation chapter 6, verses 1 through 8, the first four seals reveal the hallmarks of Satan's kingdom. War, conflict, injustice, social chaos, bloodshed, famine, poverty, and death. Hey, we look around and whose kingdom do you think we're in right now? Yeah, Satan's kingdom, the god of this world, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4. But Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 through 6 describe the utopia of heaven. No sorrow, no pain, no death, no tears. It's all gone. Why? Because that's where God's will is being done. There's a big difference between the two kingdoms. And for this reason, Revelation 21 verse 27 says, And there shall in no wise enter into it, that is, into heaven, anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. And the way you get your name written in the Lamb's book of life is you say, I want God's will, not my will done. That's what makes heaven so great. The book of Revelation reveals How God will bring an end to Satan's kingdom and establish, establish his kingdom on earth. This is a revelation of transition. from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. And the good news is we don't have to remain trapped here in the kingdom of Satan. Christ promises deliverance for everyone and all those who accept him as their king. I want King Jesus. I want Jesus to be my king. Well, it hasn't come. The kingdom of God is coming though. It's coming because it's not here yet. That's why it's coming. But it will be here for Christ has made a promise that he will establish his kingdom and he keeps his promises. And not only that, no one can prevent him from fulfilling his promise. Now, Abraham hoped to find this kingdom. but he didn't see it in his lifetime on earth. Hebrews chapter 11, verses eight through 16. We're gonna read through this passage and I'll explain it to you. Oftentimes, Hebrews 11 gets the emphasis of faith. This is the chapter of faith, which it is all about faith, but there's something even deeper and more profound than that. What is it all about? What were they traveling and motivated and pursuing by faith? kingdom of God, which is the theme of the Bible. Hebrews 11, 8 says, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed and went out, not knowing whither he went. Many interpret this passage here of, by faith Abraham, as blind faith guiding Abraham. Isn't that how most people use it? I don't have a clue what I'm doing, but I'm just going to go out by faith. That's not biblical faith. It wasn't blind faith that was guiding Abraham. Abraham was using a seeing faith. God revealed to Abraham what to do, where to go, and what to expect. That's what Abraham was pursuing. While most people live by blind faith, which means they don't have a clue what's going on. They just have to say something. Why are you doing that? I don't have a clue. Faith. That's how Satan has hijacked the biblical usage of the word faith. But God revealed to Abraham what to do and everything he needed to know. And while most people live this world in what they call blind faith, trusting without evidence and without any understanding, Abraham, along with many believers, lived by seeing faith. Seeing faith, biblical faith, is what God reveals to his people. As Hebrews 11 1 makes clear, biblical faith, or the faith of God, yeah, if you're living by the faith of Satan, he's blind. That's the blind leading the blind, right? is definitely blind. But biblical faith, or faith of God, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The revealed message and promise from God were the substance, that is the foundation on which Abraham based his decisions to go and look for a promised land. to which he's never been before, but he knew it was there. How did he know? By faith. God revealed to him, this is what I want you to do, and this is what you're looking for. I promise you there's a land there for you. This revelation was also the evidence Abraham relied on to justify moving his family 1,200 miles. Can you imagine? 1,200 miles by foot in those days. Hey, that was no small feat. That was a big deal. 1,200 miles. He's moving his entire family 1,200 miles along the Fertile Crescent route. Abraham did not imagine. He did not guess what God wanted him to do. This was a big commitment. This was something he knew God wanted him to do. Instead, God revealed his will very clearly to him, and Abraham acted on it because he was obedient, because he believed what God revealed to him, and he said, I will obey. obeyed divine revelation. And with unwavering faith, that is, without wavering in that which God had revealed to him and saw what he ought to do, what God's will was for him, he acted on that, following God's direction and promises. And Abraham journeyed to the land that God had promised to him. Now, verse 9 continues and says, By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise." Oh, this elaborates. It's not just for Abraham. It's for Isaac, Jacob, and the heirs as well. This promise wasn't for Abraham alone, and that's significant. It was also for his heirs, including Isaac, Jacob, and ultimately, Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ was in the lineage, a descendant of Abraham, who came through Abraham's lineage. And through Christ, this promise extends to all who are born again in Christ. And Christ is the link between you, Abraham, and the promised land. Verse 10 says, for he, that is Abraham, looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Abraham was not looking for a man-made city. He was looking for God's city. Who could have imagined such a thing as being possible or real? It had to be by revelation of God that there would be such a thing to find. And no wonder then, because it's so unimaginable, many call faith blind. Without the revelation from God to confirm the existence of such a city, it would just be a fanciful, blind excursion in search of a fictional place like Neverland in the story of Peter Pan. But in Abraham's case, God revealed to him the place and the promise. Abraham believed. Now verse 11 continues, through faith also Sarah herself, now I want to emphasize this word also, through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age because she judged him faithful who had promised. Sarah oftentimes is left out of this promise of God. It's all about Abraham, but she was a part of this. And without her, there would be no Isaac. There would be no heirs. She was very much a part of this. Sarah was included in the promise and gave birth to an heir. Justice was revealed to her, as well as Abraham, that they would have an heir. Now, if you remember, Sarah knew by faith they would have heirs. And being barren, until the time God allowed her to conceive, that's important to understand, God was in control of this, wasn't he? And he delayed that conception. And it's very interesting how he describes this. But in the meantime, in the course of the delay, believing that they were gonna have heirs, being barren, and I'm 30, I'm 35, I'm 40, I'm 45, I'm 50. Lord, or surely Abraham, we know, I saw it too. God has revealed the same promise to me. It mustn't involve me. That's what she's scheming and thinking about. And she's schemed of ways to make God's promise happen because she believed She just didn't know how it was going to happen. And so she figured, well, if it's going to happen, I'm going to have to do it some other way. She believed the promise of God as it was revealed to her. She was with Abraham from Ur to the promised land, all 1,200 miles. But she didn't know how it would come to pass. So she took matters in her own hand. Interestingly, The delay of her conception parallels the delay of Christ setting up his kingdom. Isn't that interesting? But just as God fulfilled his promise to Abraham and Sarah, even though she was past the age of childbearing, so too will God fulfill his promise to establish his kingdom. Nothing can prevent him from fulfilling his promise, even if it looks otherwise. Verses 12 and 13 continue with the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac, saying, Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead. That's how old they were getting. As good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky and the multitude. From him who was as good as dead and beyond years of ever hoping to have heirs, Now you've got a multitude as great as the stars in the sky. What a miracle. And as the sand which is by the seashore, innumerable, these all died in faith, not having received the promises. But having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Obviously, it's not here. It's got to be somewhere else. Where would that be? Heaven. Now, take note. They did not receive the promises God made to them. Why? Was there failure? Was God unable? Did God lie? Of course not. Just as God fulfilled his promise and gave Abraham and Sarah heirs, even though they were described being as good as dead, So likewise, God would fulfill his promise to give them and all their heirs a land, a promised land, even though they were and are as good as dead. In other words, though all may look hopeless, God will not let us down or fail to deliver on his promises. As Hebrews 6 verse 18 assures, that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Now Hebrews 11, 14 through 16 continue to say about Abraham and Sarah, For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But Abraham and Sarah did not go back home, even though they did not find the city. Why? because they had seen the revelation of God that made it clear, you are going to receive the promised land. There was nothing to go back home to. They were pursuing that which God promised to them. And truly, truly, if they had been mindful, as it says, of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to return. But it says, and goes on, but now they desire a better. That's why I started out earlier. Satan's kingdom that we live in is not better. It's God's kingdom. Christ's kingdom that is so much better, superior, perfect to the kingdom we live in right now. But they desired a better country, it says, that is unheavenly. Oh. So they found out as they went searching out for the God's city, God's city, God-built city. Oh, it's not here. They realized it's a heavenly city. Wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11, 39 and 40 explain, and these all Having obtained a good report, speaking of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samson, everybody else that lived by faith, having seen what God revealed to them, what he expected of them, they saw, they obeyed. It says, and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, received not the promise, at the moment, that is. God having provided some better thing for us, because if they had received the promise then, where does that leave us? Christ would have established his kingdom, and as soon as his kingdom is established, we're ushered into the millennial reign, into the new heavens and new earth, and there's no going back. There's nobody else. No, the only reason why the delay is so more will fill up the kingdom of heaven. God wants as many as possible in his kingdom. And there was a delay. They did not receive the kingdom because of us. Amen for that. And then it says, well, let me just read it again. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. God will fulfill his promise and there will be a heavenly promised land when it's time according to God's will as described and promised in the Bible and particularly in the book of Revelation. Now, locking in on the Bible's central theme, that being the kingdom of God, provides tremendous insight and understanding into the stories and the prophecies of the Bible. The point being made in Hebrews chapter 11 becomes clear and the significance of Abraham to us all is enhanced. This central theme revolves around God's promise to establish his kingdom and fill it with all those who believe him and want him as their king. Revelation 11 15 announces when God will establish his kingdom. And, boy, isn't that a big question on people's minds? When, when, Lord, will you establish your kingdom? Well, Revelation 11, 15, it tells us. It says, And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. When will the kingdoms of this world become our lords? At the sound of the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet. Until then, until he claims and conquers the kingdoms of this world, the kingdoms of this world belong to his enemies. These are the kingdoms humanity have chosen. For those who decide God's kingdom is better, He promises, come on in, and He will deliver them. Which means then, we live in a rogue kingdom. Christ is tolerating this kingdom for a season, waiting to win more to His side. If he claimed the kingdoms of Earth as his own, as they are, with all the evil, all the sorrows and death, then he would be responsible for all the wickedness and foulness and activities on Earth right now. Clearly, this is not his kingdom. He demonstrated what his kingdom was like when he preached. When he was here 2,000 years ago, his miracle of healings demonstrated what people could expect in his kingdom. He fixes problems. He doesn't let problems take place. In contrast to the kingdom we're currently living in, his kingdom will be sin-free, pain-free, and death-free. Instead, there will be righteousness, joy, and life. Undoubtedly, God is more powerful than all of these other kingdoms. The book of Revelation shows how nothing can prevent him. He can take over any and all kingdoms whenever he wants. In other words, the delay is because he doesn't want to right now. And it's not because he wants everyone to live in suffering and misery. No, it's because he's giving more people opportunity to join him in his blessed utopian perfect kingdom. Until then, he allows all the other kingdoms to exist so that people can see and experience the world and the kingdom they have chosen. A world and kingdom of Satan and self-will. You want to do it your own way? You want to follow the way of Adam and Eve? Do it your own way? Self-will, guided by self-will rather than God's will? Well, this is what you can expect. You want to live that way? Or do you want to come into his kingdom? As 2 Corinthians 4, 3 through 4 declare, but if our gospel be hid, it's hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. God does not take credit for, nor should he be blamed for, the current condition of this world. He says, this is Satan's world. Satan is the god of this world. It's Satan's kingdom. It's not his kingdom. And it is this kingdom Christ promises to destroy and to replace with his own at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Until then, we seek, as did Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Jacob and everyone else, we seek and hope for this promise of God, just as Abraham and Sarah did. It will come, even when all looks hopeless and we're as good as dead. And this insight makes the promise all the more exciting. Abraham declared God's promise The prophets declared God's promise. Christ declared His promise. And the disciples declared His promise. And we continue to declare His promise. And though it hasn't come to pass for over 4,000 years, since the time of Abraham, and through the passing of many generations, it will happen, guaranteed. We must avoid being like Sarah, trying to imagine how it will happen and how soon it must happen or attempting to make it happen before God says it will happen. It's sufficient to know by faith the promise God has revealed to us by his spirit will happen. Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 announced, and it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it. Isaiah 60 verse 12 declared, for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. That kingdom, which we live in right now. Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. Daniel 2 verse 44 says, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom. In those days? Yep. in those days, which shall never be destroyed. The kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." That's what we saw in Revelation 11, 15. Daniel chapter 7 verse 18 explains, but the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever. It's an everlasting kingdom. Once it's established, when the seventh trumpet blows, it will never go back. It cannot be overthrown. It cannot be replaced. Daniel 7.27 reiterates the promise saying, And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. If God's kingdom already exists, why does it need to be established? The idea of God establishing, Isaiah chapter 2, 2 uses that word, or setting up, Daniel chapter 2, verse 44. His kingdom is stated in Revelation 11, 15, and the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Satan is currently the king over the world kingdom, under the dominion of God, because God can end it anytime he wants. This kingdom we live in right now is a rogue kingdom of self-will rather than God's will. When God establishes his kingdom at the sound of the seventh trumpet, Satan's kingdom will be conquered. Satan will be neutralized in the bottomless pit for a thousand years and Christ will reign as king on earth for a thousand years and forevermore on his throne. During this time, Christ will rule on earth with a multitude of redeemed believers in celestial or glorified bodies. Christ's kingdom is where he rules. At the moment, Christ doesn't rule over the earth. Satan and self-will rule. And I say self-will because there's no unity of wills in Satan's kingdom. Everyone's doing their own thing. It's a dog-eat-dog world. Satan exercised his own will in heaven, and humanity does likewise. Self-will rather than God's will is the way of a rogue kingdom. And this understanding that God's kingdom is wherever he rules adds great insight into what Jesus meant when he said in Luke chapter 17 verse 21. The kingdom of Christ is wherever he rules. The question to ask is, is Christ king in your life? Does he rule over your life? Is his kingdom established in your heart? Are you secured by his will or are you under condemnation of your own will? Whose will rules your life anyway? It's no wonder in Matthew chapter four, verse 17, Jesus said, From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It's always at hand. It's just a decision away. Lord, I believe, I accept, I want you to be my king. I want your will, I don't want my will anymore. It's just that close. The kingdom of heaven is nigh. is near, is at hand. Joining the kingdom of Christ is just a decision away by accepting Jesus as your King. During the millennial reign, when Christ initiates his kingdom on earth, there will be new generations of people who will not accept God's will, will not accept Jesus as king, even though he is king over the world, but they don't want it that way. They want their own way, self-will rather than God's will. And just as followers of Christ right now are rebels in a rogue nation, unbelievers at that time in the Millennial Kingdom will be rebels under Christ. This is an interesting reversal of roles, isn't it? Something to think about. Nonetheless, even as Christ currently rules in heaven, Christ will rule from within our hearts as we surrender to him. to without. From within and without, from heart to earth, at the sound of the seventh trumpet, it will all happen. Christ affirmed his promise in Luke chapter 21, verse 31. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Amen? We're glad you joined us for our services here at Mission Boulevard Baptist Church. If this program has helped you and you would like to have more information about trusting Christ as your Lord and Savior, or if you would like to have resources to help you in your spiritual walk and growth, please email us at the address on your screen. We look forward to having you join us again online, but you are always welcome to personally attend any of our services at the Mission Boulevard Baptist Church here in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Hi, this is Dr. Patrick Briney. I hope and pray this important lesson has improved your life. For more life-changing lessons, and to get your free book that I've written for you, visit my website at patrickbriney.com. And please share this valuable lesson with at least three of your friends, to enrich their lives in our Lord Jesus Christ. I'll upload my next lesson for you soon. God Bless.