What Was the Gospel of the Kingdom That Jesus Preached?

Direct Answer

The gospel of the kingdom was the good news Jesus preached that the King was present and ready to establish God's promised kingdom.

Jesus began preaching, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matthew 4:17). Les Feldick explains that this meant Christ was on the scene as Israel's promised King and was ready to fulfill the Old Testament covenants. It was distinct from the gospel of grace, which was not yet revealed because Christ had not died and risen.

Key Scriptures

Matthew 4:17 — Jesus began preaching the gospel of the kingdom by announcing that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

Matthew 9:35 — Matthew explicitly calls Jesus's message 'the gospel of the kingdom' as He taught in synagogues and healed the sick.

What Does the Bible Say About the Gospel of the Kingdom?

In Matthew 4:17, Jesus began to preach, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' In Matthew 9:35, He 'went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.' In Matthew 24:14, Jesus referred to 'this gospel of the kingdom' and said it 'shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.' Scripture consistently ties this message to the presence of the kingdom of heaven and to Jesus's ministry through the cities and villages.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Gospel of the Kingdom?

Les Feldick teaches that the gospel of the kingdom was the good news that the King was in their midst and ready to fulfill all the Old Testament promises concerning Israel and His Messiahship (Clip 7). It was the same message John the Baptist preached—'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'—because the King was already on the scene, about to present Himself to the nation of Israel (Clips 0, 3). Les emphasizes that this was for the Jew only, with nothing in it for the Gentile (Clip 7). It was not the gospel of grace, because Christ had not yet died and risen; that message came later through the Apostle Paul (Clips 6, 7). Les also points out that Jesus's miracles were part of proving He was the promised King (Clip 4), and that the same gospel of the kingdom will be preached again during the tribulation by the 144,000 (Clips 2, 5).

Why Was the Kingdom 'At Hand'?

Les Feldick explains that the kingdom was at hand because the King was there. Christ was on the scene and about to present Himself to Israel as their promised Messiah and King (Clip 3). Jesus picked up the same message John the Baptist preached—'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'—because He was ready to set up the kingdom in fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants (Clip 0).

Was the Gospel of the Kingdom Different From the Gospel of Grace?

Yes. Les Feldick teaches that at the time Jesus preached, the gospel of grace had not been accomplished because Christ had not yet died and been raised (Clip 6). The gospel of the kingdom was the good news that the King is ready to set up His kingdom as it was being offered to Israel (Clip 2). After Israel rejected the King and crucified Him, God turned to the apostle Paul, who proclaimed the gospel of grace, primarily to the Gentiles (Clip 7).

Who Was the Gospel of the Kingdom For?

Les Feldick states plainly that the gospel of the kingdom was for Jew only; there was nothing in it for the Gentile (Clip 7). Jesus went about all the cities and villages of Israel, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Clip 1).

Will the Gospel of the Kingdom Be Preached Again?

Yes. Jesus spoke of 'this gospel of the kingdom' being preached in all the world as a witness to all nations before the end comes (Matthew 24:14). Les Feldick teaches that during the tribulation, after the church is gone, the 144,000 young Jews will go around the globe with the gospel of the kingdom, telling the world that the King is coming (Clip 5).

From the Teaching

Jesus Takes Up John's Message

Jesus began preaching the same message John the Baptist preached—repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand—because He was the King ready to set up the kingdom in fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants.

Jesus Preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom to Israel

Matthew 9:35 shows Jesus going through all the cities and villages of Israel, teaching in synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, connecting it to the promises made to Israel through Abraham.

The King Is Here

Before the cross, the only gospel was that the King was ready to set up His kingdom as it was being offered to Israel; Jesus called this the gospel of the kingdom, and it will be preached again in the future.

John's Announcement: The King Was Present

John the Baptist told Israel to repent because the King, Christ, was on the scene and about to present Himself as their promised Messiah and King.

Miracles Proved He Was the Promised King

Jesus's healings—the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, and the dead raised—were intended to prove to the Jews that He was the promised King.

The 144,000 Will Preach It Again

There is a vast difference between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of grace; in the tribulation, the 144,000 will carry the gospel of the kingdom around the world with the message that the King is coming.

Not the Gospel of Grace

Matthew 24:14 refers to the gospel of the kingdom, not the gospel of grace, which was unknown at that time because Christ had not yet died or risen.

For Jew Only

The good news was that Christ was the King in their midst, ready to fulfill all Old Testament promises concerning Israel and His Messiahship; it was for the Jew only, with nothing for the Gentile until Paul came.

Bible Verses

Matthew 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John the Baptist announced that the kingdom of heaven was at hand because the King was present.

Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus began His earthly ministry with the same kingdom message John preached.

Matthew 9:35: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew explicitly names Jesus's message as the gospel of the kingdom.

Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Jesus refers to the gospel of the kingdom as a future worldwide witness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Jesus mean when He said 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand'?

Les Feldick explains that the kingdom was at hand because the King was there. Christ was on the scene and about to present Himself to Israel as their promised Messiah and King (Clips 0, 3).

Is the gospel of the kingdom the same as the gospel of grace?

No. The gospel of the kingdom was preached before the cross and announced that the King was ready to set up His kingdom. The gospel of grace could not be proclaimed until after Christ died and rose again, and it came primarily through the Apostle Paul (Clips 2, 6, 7).

Who will preach the gospel of the kingdom in the future?

According to Les Feldick, the 144,000 Jewish witnesses will preach the gospel of the kingdom during the tribulation, telling the world that the King is coming (Clip 5). Jesus said this gospel will be preached in all the world before the end comes (Matthew 24:14).

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