THE KINGDOM OF SOLOMON -- THE KINGDOM OF GOD

THE KINGDOM OF SOLOMON---
THE KINGDOM OF GOD

There are several striking similarities between the historical Kingdom of Solomon and the future Kingdom of God. We would like to look at a few of them.

You will recall that David, the father of Solomon, was the one who wanted to build a House for the Lord. He was forbidden to do so because he had been a man of war—one who had spilled blood. Solomon, his son, would be a man of Peace. (Isa 11:9 Isa 65:25)

We are told that David was, however, allowed to gather materials and draw plans for the Temple that was to be built.

The Kingdom of Solomon was a different kind of kingdom than the other families of the earth had ever known.

No other king had ever asked the Lord for Wisdom to govern such a vast number of people, like Solomon had done. His desire for Wisdom to rule (for the sake of others) took precedence over the desire for riches or fame, like the normal man would have chosen. The desire for personal gain was probably just as strong in the man Solomon as it is in any of us who are alive today, but there was another need which was far greater than anything he might want for himself. He was convinced that the people belonged to the Lord, and he wanted to leave no stone unturned in an effort to ensure that they were governed in the manner chosen by God.

In a similar fashion, the Kingdom of God will consist of people just like you and me who also have their priorities in similar alignment to those of Solomon. They will have consciously asked the Lord for what it takes to be victors over the desires of humanity, and to become willing slaves of the Spirit of God. The Word tells us that “Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie—“.

The “flaming sword” that the Lord put in the Garden of Eden will forbid entry to any and all who have not “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal 5:24

We cannot stress too vigorously the fact that these statements are NOT meant to keep people from being “saved”, as we use the term today. They are NOT referring to us putting our trust in Jesus to forgive the inherent SIN we were born with. That is all taken care of when we ask Jesus for the Forgiveness HE PROVIDED for us on the Cross of Calvary, and declare (confess) that we believe Him to be the SON OF GOD.

But there are myriads (millions) of people who have trusted Jesus and are Christians in every sense of the word today who DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and what would be required to attain to it.

1Ki 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
1Ki 3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

1Ki 3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1Ki 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
1Ki 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

1Ki 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
1Ki 3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Why did God do this? I believe it was for the purpose of giving us a “preview” of what the future Kingdom Of God will possibly be like. I see several similarities between the “past” kingdom of Solomon and the “future” or “present” Kingdom Of God.

I think that the primary purpose of God putting His Blessing on the reign of Solomon was to leave us with a testimony of what He is capable of doing in the lives of His Children if they will PUT HIM FIRST IN THEIR LIVES. I do not mean to imply that a Christian will never have difficult times, nor suffer any apparent “losses”, for that is NOT taught in the Bible. We can suffer terrible physical or financial “losses” but still be quite “prosperous” in our Spiritual life. We should put the emphasis on our relationship to God rather than our physical or monetary well-being. God does.

After Solomon had built the Temple, the Lord responded to his prayer of Dedication with a conditional promise. Solomon did not/could not fulfill the conditions, so the promise was never completely fulfilled by the Lord either.

But the failure of the agreement with Solomon could have no negative effect on the Unconditional promise that had been given to Solomon’s father, David. That one is still being fulfilled, to the letter, right before our eyes.

1Ki 9:2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
1Ki 9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
1Ki 9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
1Ki 9:5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
1Ki 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
1Ki 9:7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

It happened just like the Lord warned the king. As long as he put God first in his life and in the kingdom, God caused him to prosper, but time and success took its toll. In time he began to drift from his resolve, and he eventually became one of the world’s worst fools. It proved that the wisdom he displayed at the first was NOT a human wisdom, but one that God had given to him—for the purpose of showing to the world what He could do through a dedicated human being.

1Ki 10:23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
1Ki 10:24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
1Ki 10:25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1Ki 10:14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
1Ki 10:15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

1Ki 4:21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Did Solomon remain true to his faith and dependence upon God? No, of course not, for he allowed honor, fame and riches to turn him from his utter dependence upon God. If he had been successful, men would have started to worship him in place of God, the same as many religions of the world have been centered upon a man, rather than God.

Now, about the future Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven.)

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, (the Mountain of His Holiness) and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (see the Tabernacle of Moses)
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed (DIVINE MEASURE) to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. (the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle)
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. (these are people)
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones (THESE ARE PEOPLE). The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; (people again)
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl (these are people): and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (pearls are produced by discomfort and suffering) (people again)
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (see Eph 2:21)
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (homage, but not membership)
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it (attain to membership) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (do we REALLY understand the New Birth?)

The Kingdom of God (Heaven) is described in several different ways. Many of them, we have relegated to Eternity and Heaven, but that has not always been correct.

It is a phenomenon that will take place right here on earth, but it will NOT be accomplished by the efforts or ingenuity of any segment of humanity. When scripture says it comes down from God out of Heaven, it does not imply that it is actually a physical entity descending from the sky to the earth. It means that it is produced and maintained by the Spirit of God.

It will be a WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE HEARTS OF MEN, right here on earth. It will be the fulfillment of the scripture that tells us He will do a “Quick work, and cut it short in righteousness.” (Rom 9:28 Isa 10:22-23)

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Isa 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (the royal priesthood)
Isa 52:12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings (a Kingdom) and priests (a Priesthood): and we shall reign on the earth.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (every square inch)

Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Jesus gave a short synopsis of the traits of character that each member of the Kingdom of God will be expected to possess. It is our responsibility to acquire those traits of character. Yet, there is NO WAY that we can, in our own strength, acquire those traits. We, Like Solomon, must ASK FOR THEM from the Lord.

Ironically, we will discover that we will also be required to give up and denounce some of the traits we got from the human family.

Jesus taught:

Blessed are the poor in Spirit.

Blessed are they that mourn.

Blessed are the meek.

Blessed –hunger and thirst after righteousness

Blessed are the merciful.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Blessed are—persecuted.

Blessed—reviled.

It is my belief that the Lord will be looking for these and maybe other qualities of character in the lives of folks who are candidates to be chosen as members of His Earthly Kingdom when the time comes.

I sincerely hope I am able to meet His Holy Standard. It will be ONLY by the enabling Grace of God if I do.

These, and other similar traits, will have to be WHAT GOD PUTS INTO US, rather than any we can acquire or already have. We are entirely inadequate for the job.

You see, THE CITY IS MADE BY GOD. (without hands). Only God can accomplish the Character Refinement in our lives that will make us fit for a place in His Kingdom, “By the spirit of Judgment (prioritizing) and the Spirit of Burning.” Isa 4:4

Solomon’s Temple was built ‘WITHOUT THE SOUND OF A HAMMER”

Solomon’s Worship was “breath-taking”. (1 Ki 10) God’s Glory filled the temple.
Rev 21:23 And the city (people governed by a common law, though maybe not in one place) had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (This is a SPIRITUAL LIGHT, rather than sunlight or electric light)

I believe this is a description of the Kingdom members. The Spirit of God shines through them, wherever they happen to be—possibly (probably) not all in one place.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor (tribute) of the (other) nations into it.
Jesus told His disciples:
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions (abodes): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, (the Eternal realm) there ye may be also.
At least one other translation (God’s Word) reads:
Joh 14:3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.
That will be ENTIRELY a work of the SPIRIT OF GOD. Humanity is UTTERLY HELPLESS to accomplish the task.

“Unto HIM shall the gathering of the people be” Gen 49:10

Last night, I was sitting here at the computer studying, switching back and forth between my word processor and my Bible program. It was late, and I was getting sleepy, but I was becoming aware of a “light” beginning to glow in the back recesses of my spirit. Fully 54 years ago, an older man in the assembly I was serving had mentioned to me that “Cloud/s” in the prophetic scriptures did NOT mean the white, foggy areas we see in our skies, but, rather, it was a “code name” for some Spiritual Phenomenon (like the word “air” is a “code name” for the realm that is now ruled by Satan).

I went to bed, knowing that if the “light” I was seeing in the distance was really from The Lord, it would still be shining when I again got back to my Bible study in the morning. I am running the scriptures containing the word “cloud/s” (Strong’s #3507) to see if they actually lend themselves to what I thought I was seeing last night at bedtime. So far, a “pattern” seems to be coming to the front, and I may be on the verge of receiving an answer to my 54 year-old question, “What do Clouds mean? What do they represent in the Economy of God?”
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(There are other “code names” in the scriptures, such as “Earth”, “Sea”, “Bottomless Pit”, “Voice of the Archangel”, “Shout”, “Trump of God”, etc). Do you have any ideas what they may mean? Help me, if you can.