Visions of the Heavenly Kingdom

MEMORY SELECTION: “The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” —Daniel 7:18

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Daniel 7:15-18; Revelation 4:1-8

IN MATTHEW 17:1,2 we have the account of the vision experienced on the Mount of Transfiguration. In the context of the previous chapter we find that Peter, in answer to a question by our Lord, identified Jesus as the Messiah, saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Messiah, according to the Jews’ understanding of the Scriptures, was to be the Deliverer of the nation of Israel from all their enemies.

The Jews, however, did not understand that there are to be two phases to God’s kingdom. There is to be an earthly phase, which will be established on the earth, and this phase of the kingdom will be for all who have drawn the breath of life. They will have a full opportunity, under favorable circumstances, to attain to everlasting life right here on the earth.—Acts 17:31; Isa. 1:26; Ps. 98:9; Isa. 26:9; Jer. 31:33,34

But in the context of the 16th chapter of Matthew, starting with the 24th verse, our Lord is instructing his disciples regarding the members of the heavenly phase of the kingdom. These, according to the Scriptures, are to be conformed to the image of Jesus. (Rom. 8:28-30) This in the main, is to be accomplished through instruction and suffering, that is, complete obedience to God’s will under difficult and trying circumstances, even unto death.

In verse 24 Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” In other words, to aspire to the heavenly phase of the kingdom and be with our Lord, a complete and unreserved consecration, even unto death, is necessary. And walking in his steps implies a willingness to suffer evil for good, and also ridicule and derision.—Matt. 10:16-28

In verse 25 Jesus states a very basic principle for those who are aspiring to the heavenly kingdom. He said, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” The interpretation is that those who make this covenant to die with the Lord and then for some reason withdraw and do not carry it out will lose their opportunity for immortal life. On the other hand, those who carry out their consecration even unto death will gain immortality.

Then in verse 27 our Lord continues, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” With these words our Lord was attempting to convey to the minds of the disciples that the ultimate reward of faithfulness was to be with him when he establishes his kingdom for the purpose of blessing all the families of the earth. This glorious time is sometimes called the day of judgment. For example, the Prophet Isaiah states, “When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”—Isa. 26:9

But now we come to the vision of the heavenly kingdom. In Matthew 17:1-9 we are told that Jesus, apparently for the purpose of reinforcing the faith of some of his disciples, took them up on Mount Tabor, and here they were permitted in a vision to see Jesus as he would appear in his glory in the kingdom. The reality of that vision has not come to pass, although it is surely nigh, even at the door. The vision had the desired effect on the apostles, because the account states that Jesus was transfigured before them, and they witnessed the glorious vision of the kingdom.

The Apostle Peter himself declares that they accepted the vision as a corroboration of our Lord’s assurance of his coming kingdom. In II Peter 1:16,18 we read, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty [his kingdom], … when we were with him in the holy mount.”

Yet the apostle tells us that this vision, helpful as it was, became secondary as he came to a better understanding of the prophecies. He says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; [more evidence than the vision] whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn [until the millennial morning dawns].”—II Pet. 1:19

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