Articles
The Kingdom of Heaven is Near
We have been studying the Gospel of Matthew in our Wednesday evening adult Bible study.
As we look at the ministry of John the Baptist, we hear his proclamation, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). Jesus repeats the same proclamation as He begins His
ministry (Matt. 4:17).
This is not a new proclamation. Isaiah proclaimed, “The Lord of hosts will have a day of
reckoning” (Isa. 2:12). The day of the Lord is a prominent theme in the prophets (Isa. 13:6;
Amos 5:18, 20; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; Zeph. 1:7, 14; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 3:23). It was a phrase
used to denote a time when God would vindicate His people and bless their endeavors. It would
be a time of destruction and terror (Truth for Today Commentary, Isaiah, pg. 57). But it also
pointed to the coming of the Messiah, as John reminded the Jews of the words of Isaiah, “Make
ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight” (Isa. 40:3; Mt. 3:3).
In Matthew’s gospel account, John was bringing to attention the coming of the Lord’s
kingdom which had been prophesied for years. And indeed, the kingdom of the Lord did come in
the form of the church (Matt. 16:18-19) on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Those who accepted
the message of the rule and reign of Christ over God’s kingdom were baptized and were added to
the kingdom (Acts 2:38, 47).
Today, the message is the same, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” But the
message today is pointing to the return of our Lord. We know that He is coming again, but this
time will be for judgment and eternal separation of the righteous and the wicked (Mt. 3:12).
Some years ago, I was introduced to a hymn that reminds us that we are nearer today the
coming of the Lord, than we were a day ago. Each day draws us nearer. Are we ready for the
coming of the Lord? Many in our world today live lives based on the here and now with little
concern for tomorrow. Have we as Christians adopted the same thinking? ~P. Mowrer
One sweetly solemn tho’t comes to me o’er and o’er:
Today I’m nearer to my home than e’er I’ve been before.
Feel as if now my feet were slipping o’er the brink;
For I may now be nearer home, much nearer than I think.
~Phoebe Cary, 1852
