Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
2. The kingdom of God before Christ (Ex. 19:5; 2 Chron.
13:5, 8; Dan. 4:3, 34, 35).
3. The kingdom of God from Christ's first advent to His
second (Dan. 2:44; Matt. 3:2).
4. The kingdom of God in a yet future and glorious dispensation
(2 Pet. 1:11).
This comprehensive view of our theme is very useful. Christians
whose minds are much engrossed by the kingdom of God
yet future are apt to think all references to the kingdom of God
are to this future kingdom, and to give unnatural explanations
of those passages which refer to
the past or present kingdom of
God. There is no need for this. We can easily make room in
our minds for all four applications of the title. God had the
Hebrews as His kingdom; He has also established a kingdom
of a higher order; and He will also yet establish a glorious and
eternal kingdom. Yet, before any of these, and all the while,
everything is ruled by Him: all laws, all intelligences, obedient
or disobedient, in heaven, earth, or hell, are ruled by "heaven's
exalted
King."
Lancelot
Oliver.
516. Other men have said: "If I could only live, I would
establish and perpetuate a kingdom." This Christ of Galilee
said : "My death shall do it." Herrick Johnson.
517. As a kingdom, divided into many shires, and more towns
and villages, is called one, because it hath one and the same king,
one and the same law; so the kingdom of our Lord Jesus is
one, because it liveth by one and the same Spirit, and is ruled by
one and the same Lord, and prof esseth one and the same faith
hath one and the same hope, and hath been baptised with one
and the same baptism. Rogers.
518. When Alexander the Great set forward upon his great
exploits before leaving Macedonia, he divided amongst his captains
and nobles all his property. On being rebuked by a friend
for having, as he thought, acted so foolishly in parting with all
his possessions, reserving nothing for himself, Alexander
replied : "I have reserved for myself much more than I have
given away; I have reserved for myself the hope of universal
monarchy; and when, by the valour and help of these my cap-
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