For nearly a dozen recent studies I have been endeavoring to describe the nature of the Kingdom of God. I have been showing that the Kingdom is spiritual in nature, not physical, as is presumed and taught by all three futurist eschatologies—premillennialism, postmillennialism and amillennialism. There are some subsets of these eschatologies that do not predict Jesus reigning in a future physical Kingdom on earth, but predominantly this is what these three futurist groups teach about Jesus’ Second Coming.
It has been extremely interesting for me to come to understand that the Apostles really did “get it” after all, when they asked Jesus, if he would at that time restore the Kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). The predominant interpretation of the commentaries is that the disciples simply didn’t understand yet, because they hadn’t received the Holy Spirit up to that time. Nevertheless, this simply isn’t so. Jesus had been with them for forty days after he arose from the dead, teaching them about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Earlier he had opened their understanding concerning the word of God (Luke 24:32, 45). Therefore, the Apostles understood what they asked. After all, if Jesus couldn’t miraculously open up their understanding of the scriptures, how could we possibly believe the Holy Spirit would do what Jesus failed to do? Thus, we need to understand that it is the commentaries, not Jesus’ disciples, who have it wrong, concerning what is said in Acts 1:6.
If we can believe that Jesus knew all about the Kingdom of God, and had perfect knowledge concerning its nature and its imminence, then how can we conclude that the Apostles still had it wrong at Acts 1:6, especially, since Jesus had been teaching them perfect knowledge for forty days (Acts 1:3)? How did Jesus respond to them? Did he say they misunderstood or even imply that they didn’t get it, after forty days of meaningful instruction? Notice his reply:
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. BUT ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8; emphasis mine)
Jesus told them that the times and seasons are still under the Father’s authority (cf. Matthew 24:36), **BUT** they would receive power, when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Luke 24:49 has it “endued with power” (the NASB and NET have “clothed with power”). In other words, the disciples would be empowered or given authority – i.e. Kingdom power or Kingdom authority. The Apostles had it right. They both understood the nature of the Kingdom and its imminence. They merely didn’t know, nor could know at that time, how imminent or near the establishment of the Kingdom of God would be.
Therefore, since the King was at this time ascending into heaven and there to receive his Kingdom (Acts 1:9; cf. Daniel 7:13-14), and since he was now commissioning his disciples as his messengers (Acts 1:8; cf. Matthew 28:18-20), ambassadors, if you will (2Corinthians 5:20), sent out in Jesus’ name to reconcile men with God, the Kingdom was initiated. Its establishment would come later (only the Father knew what time that would be), but its initiation would begin when the Apostles were sent out as the Lord’s ambassadors.
Understanding this, shows there would be a spiritual restoration of Israel That is, the elect would believe, but the nation would reject the Kingdom offered by their Messiah. There was no central government on earth, no throne, no physical body of Jesus, the Christ and King, that folks could see. The nature of the Kingdom and the nature of Israel’s restoration is spiritual, not physical.
Smoodock's Blog 