Because the King of Israel was present, and where the King is, the kingdom is sure to come.
John's message was a call for Israel to repent and be baptized in preparation for their coming King and the promised kingdom. Jesus picked up the same announcement when He began His ministry, confirming that the King was ready to set up the kingdom. Israel rejected the King and crucified Him, but the kingdom is still centered in the person of Christ.
Matthew 3:2 — This is John the Baptist's actual announcement that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
Matthew 4:17 — Jesus began His ministry with the same message, showing the kingdom was still being announced.
Matthew 3:2 records John's message: "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 shows Jesus preaching the same words: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The kingdom being announced was not an otherworldly realm. Psalm 2:8 describes the Messiah's inheritance as including the nations and the uttermost parts of the earth. Isaiah 2:1-2 places Jerusalem at the center of the last-days kingdom, with the Lord's house established above the mountains and all nations flowing into it. The same kingdom message also carried a spiritual requirement, as Jesus told Nicodemus: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Les Feldick explains that John's words were directed to the covenant people of Israel, not to Gentiles. John had a ministry only to Israel, calling them to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming of their King, so that they could be a nation of priests to the pagan Gentiles. The kingdom was at hand because the King Himself was in their midst; where the King is, the kingdom is sure to come. Jesus took up the identical message in Matthew 4:17 because He was the King ready to set up the kingdom in fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants. Les emphasizes that the repentance John demanded was tied to baptism: the Jews were to show saving faith in the King and the kingdom through the baptism of repentance, and the two could not be separated. The announced kingdom would be earthly, including the Gentile nations, with Jerusalem at its center. It had both a physical/political aspect and a spiritual side, because Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born again to enter the kingdom. Israel rejected the King and the kingdom, yet the kingdom remains centered in the person of Christ.
Les says the answer is the King. The King was in their midst, and where the King is, the kingdom is sure to come. When the King went back to heaven at the ascension, the kingdom will still be on earth. So wherever the King is, you have the kingdom. At John's time the King was here, and the kingdom of heaven was just over the horizon.
Les teaches that John linked repentance and baptism as one act. If the Jews were going to show saving faith in the fact that the King and the kingdom was here, they would have to show it with the baptism of repentance. The two could not be separated. As the Jews repented of their failure under the Law, they were preparing their hearts and minds for the King and His kingdom.
Yes. Les points out that John the Baptist did not have a ministry to Gentiles. He had a ministry only to the covenant people of Israel. They were to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming of their King, so that they in turn could be a nation of priests to take the knowledge of God to the pagan Gentiles.
According to Les, after John ended up in prison, Jesus took up the same message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," because He was the King and was ready to set up the kingdom in fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants.
Les describes it as an earthly kingdom. Psalm 2:8 shows the Messiah's inheritance would include the Gentiles and the uttermost parts of the earth. Isaiah 2 places Jerusalem at the center of the kingdom in the last days. At the same time, the kingdom had a spiritual side: Jesus told Nicodemus that except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom, so both the physical/political and spiritual aspects come together.
The Kingdom's Earthly Scope
Les shows from Psalm 2:8 and Isaiah 2:1-2 that the kingdom John announced would be an earthly kingdom including the Gentile nations, with Jerusalem at its center.
The King in the Midst
Les explains that John's 'kingdom at hand' referred to the King standing in their midst; where the King is, the kingdom is sure to come.
A Ministry to Israel
Les stresses that John preached only to the covenant people of Israel, calling them to repent so they could be a nation of priests to the Gentiles.
Jesus Takes Up the Message
Les shows that Jesus began preaching the same 'Repent, for the kingdom is at hand' because He was the King ready to set up the kingdom.
The Baptism of Repentance
Les teaches that John's baptism was inseparable from repentance; Jews demonstrated saving faith in the King and kingdom through baptism.
In Fulfillment of the Covenants
Les places John's announcement in the context of Israel's history and the covenants made with Abraham, David, and Moses.
The Kingdom's Two Sides
Les emphasizes that apart from the physical/political kingdom, entrance also required being born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus.
Where the King Is, There Is the Kingdom
Les says the King's presence made the kingdom at hand; with the King on earth, the kingdom was just over the horizon.
Matthew 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John's opening announcement that the kingdom was near because the King was coming.
Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus continued the same kingdom message John had begun.
Psalm 2:8: Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Shows the kingdom was not limited to Israel but would include the nations of the earth.
Isaiah 2:1-2: The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Places Jerusalem and the Lord's house at the center of the last-days kingdom.
John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Les cites this to show the spiritual requirement for entering the kingdom.
John meant that the King was present. Les explains that the King was in their midst, and where the King is, the kingdom is sure to come. Israel needed to repent and be baptized to prepare for the King and His kingdom.
No. Les shows that John's ministry was to Israel, not Gentiles, and his message was preparation for the coming King and the kingdom. His call was to repent and be baptized in preparation for the King and the kingdom, in fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants.
Baptism was the outward demonstration of saving faith in the King and the kingdom. Les says repentance and baptism could not be separated; as the Jews repented of failure under the Law, they prepared their hearts for the King.
Watch the Teaching: Who Goes Into the Kingdom? What the Bible Really Says