Following Christ-Rediscovering the Jewish Faith of Jesusಮಾದರಿ

Day 16: Law in the Kingdom

Throughout the Bible, the prophets foretold how Israel would be regathered from all the nations, and that, in time, a descendant of David would rule over them again. Followers of Jesus identify this descendant of David as Jesus, who promised to return for His people as the anointed Messiah. Jesus told His disciples this: “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the people of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).

It’s also clear from the prophets that the standard of behavior in this future kingdom will be the Law God gave through Moses. In speaking of this future time, Micah echoes the writings of Isaiah to say, “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:1-2; Isaiah 2:2-3).

This idea of the Law being followed in the kingdom is emphasized even more by Ezekiel: “My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees” (Ezekiel 37:24). There are several more passages in the prophets that affirm this idea, some of which we’ll consider in the future.

It's interesting that the New Testament book of Revelation, which speaks of events which will happen in the future, refers to God’s followers as “those who obey God's commandments and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (12:17b). His faithful followers are described and as “the people of God who keep his commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (14:12).

Jesus will return to take every faithful believer to Himself. It’s clearly a global affair, an event that even the creation longs for. He’s returning to gather every faithful follower.

Reflection

Since we are told how people will live under the reign of the Messiah, it would be a good idea to get used to living that way now. Are you loving God and keeping His commandments in your daily life?

What does that look like?

If you were talking to a younger Christian, what advice would you give them on this point?