The Kingdoms of Grace and Glory

To what throne are we exhorted to come to find mercy?

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.

Note – It would be useless to come before any throne for a favor if that throne had no occupant. The throne of grace, therefore, supposes the King of grace. If there is a King, He must have subjects, and laws to govern those subjects. Then, while in this state, and receiving grace, or favor, from God, one must be in the kingdom of grace.

Kingdom of Glory Future

To what other kingdom do the Scriptures call our attention, and when is it to be set up?

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” Matthew 25: 31.

Note – The kingdom of glory is to be established at the Second Coming of Christ. Christ said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36.

How did Jesus seek to correct the false idea of the disciples and the Jews that He was then to set up His kingdom of glory?

“While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.”

Luke 19:11.

In what parable what did Jesus teach?

“A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.” Verse 12.

Who was the nobleman?

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I going there to prepare a place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

John 14:2,3.

Note – The nobleman is Christ Jesus. When He ascended to His Father, He was seated upon His Father’s throne, which, while probation lingers, is the throne of grace. Soon He is to receive His kingdom of glory. He has not yet returned; but when He comes, it will be to claim His subjects and to take them to be with Him where He is. The kingdom of glory will be set up at the Second Coming of Christ, but not on this earth until the close of the thousand years. (See Revelation 20:6; 15:2, 3.

Kingdom of Grace Present

In what words did Jesus make it clear that the only kingdom God now has on the earth is the kingdom of grace?

“The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is, ‘because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luke 17:20, 21.

Note – Christ reigns only over willing subjects. His reign now is wholly spiritual. Not until the Second Coming will He set up His kingdom of glory.

By what are men saved from sin?

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from your selves, it is a gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23. 

Note – It follows, then, that only through the grace, or favor, of God can those be saved who have been sinners. There is no other way. Abraham, Moses and David, as well as Peter, Paul, and John, were saved by grace. These all, therefore, were in the kingdom of grace, which must have been in existence as early as there was a lost man who needed grace. 

When Christ sent out His disciples, what did He tell them to preach?

“And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:2. 

In carrying out their commission what did they preach?

“So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.” Verse 6.

Note – Theirs was not a gospel of compulsion, but of persuasion, not a gospel of the sword, but of the love of God; not a political gospel, but the gospel of the Gift of God.

In the parable of the wheat and tares, what does the good seed represent?

“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.” Matthew 13:38. 

Who sowed the tares in the kingdom?

“And the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters is the angels.” Verse 39.  

Note – Satan first sowed the tares of sin in Eden. Hence the kingdom of God was in existence at that time. The earth was part of God’s kingdom, and was designed to be under His rule forever.

To whom did God entrust His kingdom on this earth?

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in out likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26.

What did man do with this trust?

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. For just as through disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one man the many can be made righteous.” Romans 5: 12, 19.

Note – Man fell, and the world became the abode of sin. Satan will continue his reign until sin is blotted out. Whoever would become a subject of God’s kingdom now must separate from the kingdom that has been usurped by Satan. The sinner must yield obedience to God’s laws. Those who do this enter into an arrangement made by God, by which they became His subjects and renounce the service of Satan. They are then in God’s kingdom, His kingdom of grace, because they are subjects of God’s favor, or grace.

The Throne of Grace

What did God promise to David, king of Israel?

“I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.”

Psalm 89:4.

Through whom was his throne to be perpetuated?

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6,7. [Jesus Christ]

Who is this seed of David, the heir to his throne?

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31, 32.

What did God, through the prophet, say concerning Israel?

“O profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low. A ruin! A ruin! I will make it rain! It will not be restored until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; to him I will give it.” Ezekiel 21: 25-27.

Note – This threefold overturning was accomplished in the successful overthrow of the Babylonian, Persian, and Greek empires. The Jews were under the rule of each of these dynasties. The last overturning may be identified generally with the Roman succession of the territories of the Macedonian empires, but the league between the Romans and the Jews, made in 161 B.C., brought the latter people more particularly under the protectorate of that iron power, and in 63 B.C. Pompey annexed Judea as part of a province. With the establishment of Christ’s church the throne of David, the kingdom of Israel, was to be no more till He should come to whom it belongs.

While on earth Jesus did not take the throne. Did He, upon ascending to heaven, take His throne, or did He occupy His Father’s throne with Him?

“The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Psalm 110:1.   “To him that overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Revelation 3:21.  (See also Hebrews 10:12, 13.)

When His priestly work is finished, what will Christ receive?

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like the son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is a everlasting dominion that will not pass way, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7: 13,14. 

When He comes in the clouds of glory, on whose throne will He sit?

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” Matthew 25:31.  (See also Revelation 11:15.)

What will he then say to the redeemed?

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25:34.   

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