(Dates are approximate)
B.C. 4004
Adam and Eve are created in a perfect kingdom. But because of disobedience, they are thrown out. Genesis 3:23-24
B.C. 1921
Abraham leaves his original country and kin in search of the Promised Land. He is the father of all who will have God alone as their King. He is the seed of all who seek righteousness through faith rather than the law. Genesis, Chapter 12; Romans 4:12-14
B.C. 1490
Moses rejects the throne of Egypt and is called to have charge over the Church of the living God. “He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. . . By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:24-27
B.C. 1450
Balaam the prophet, after 40 years in the wilderness, tells God’s people, “Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:9
B.C. 1249-1209
Gideon is asked to rule over the people: “The men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon refused the offer and said unto them: “I will not rule over you; neither shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” Judges 8:22-23
B.C. 1117-1095
Samuel, a judge of Israel, is asked by the elders to appoint a king “to judge us like all the nations.” Asking for a king displeased Samuel, and the Lord said to Samuel, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” Saul is anointed king. 1 Samuel 8:6-8 and 1 Samuel 9
B.C. 1095-587
After Saul, David, and Solomon reigned, Israel is divided into two kingdoms. The Ten Tribes that formed the kingdom of Israel take a course of apostasy, contention and regicide. From the terrors of anarchy they cry out, “We have no king.” Hosea 10:3 Then the Lord offers Himself to them again saying, “They have fled from Me.” “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. I will be thy king.” Hosea 7:13; 13:9-10 But they would not return and are carried captive to Assyria. The kingdom of Judah is also obliged to say, “We have no king” and had to go captive to Babylon, with her city and temple destroyed.
B.C. 745-695
Isaiah prophesies the Kingdom saying “For unto us a child is born… and the government shall be upon his shoulder… Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end… The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
B.C. 606-561
King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream which Daniel interprets. The golden glory of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would continue a little while. Then another will arise that will be inferior, followed by more divisions and kingdoms. At last the God of Heaven will “set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and 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.” Daniel 2:31-44
Later, Daniel is thrown in the lions’ den for violating a royal statute forbidding the petitioning of any god or man except King Darius. But God delivers Daniel out of the lions’ mouth. Daniel is found innocent before God and man. “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Daniel 6:22
(This establishes the precedent that those who disregard any manmade law that interferes with their service to God will be found innocent before God. See also Acts 5:29: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”)
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A.D. 25-30
John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord saying, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2
Jesus begins to preach saying, “The time is come, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). And He fulfills the scriptures in Isaiah and Daniel saying: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives. . . This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:18-21
Kingdom of Heaven is formally delivered to those that Jesus selected at the Constitutional Convention (Last Supper) (Luke 22:29).
A.D. 29-30
Jesus says to Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world… Thou saith that I am a King… for this cause came I into the world.” But when Pilate says to the Jews, “Behold your King!” the Jews cry out, “We have no king but Caesar.” John 18:36-37; 19:14‑15
A.D. 30 to the present
The Apostles, after Christ’s death and resurrection, eat and drink with Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven, fulfilling Luke 22:15-18. They go on to preach the Kingdom, teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 10:41; 28:31
