There are two great kingdoms in our world; and every person belongs to the one or the other. There is the kingdom of God. “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

The second kingdom belongs to Satan, the Devil. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9

Satan’s kingdom seems to gain more people than God’s kingdom. He has seemed to gain the whole world. Satan offers pleasure and entertainment that people love to have. He also has organized churches, which promise heaven and eternal life, and also freedom to sin. This is appealing to the people. But the end of it is suffering in hell fire and eternal death.

God’s kingdom is completely different. It is the kingdom of grace, and the kingdom of righteousness, and also the kingdom of glory. Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14

In the time of Noah, of the estimated one hundred million people living on the earth at that time, eight people belonged to the kingdom of God, and the rest belonged to the kingdom of Satan. When Israel’s people left Egypt, out of over 600,000 men, only two of them entered the land of Canaan. The others perished in the wilderness.

So it has been from the beginning to the end. God’s kingdom has been small compared to Satan’s kingdom. Jesus said, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37

The Jewish people expected that when the Messiah came, He would drive out the Romans from their country, and that they would possess riches and splendour, mansions of plenty and days of ease. They expected that Jerusalem would be exalted as the head of a universal kingdom.

“Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness. In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people. He saw the misery of the world on account of sin, yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness. He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known. Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God, He told them the conditions of entrance therein, leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. The truths He taught them are no less important to us than to the multitude that followed Him. We no less than they need to learn the foundation principles of the kingdom of God.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 299

The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man, when a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race. The kingdom of grace is brought to view by Paul in the book to the Hebrews.

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15–16

In order to be accepted into the kingdom of righteousness, we must have the wedding garment, the spotless robe of character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

To enter into the kingdom of glory happens when Jesus comes to take His people to heaven. In heaven we have a glorious home prepared for us in the glorious city New Jerusalem.

“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:31–34

God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. “How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:3

Satan’s kingdom will soon come to its end. He is very active, trying to gain members from God’s kingdom to his own kingdom. After six thousand years deceiving people, he has become very skilful in his deceptions, and for this reason he is able to gain almost the whole world onto his side. In his churches he has about two and a half billion members, while the church of God has only a small number, and this small number of members will be shaken; they all will not be saved.

Satan gives joy to his followers in shows and entertainment, but when the show is finished, the joy is finished also. God gives joy and happiness by the Holy Spirit, who is called the Comforter, making His people happy even in their dying moment. Young men in our church were put to prison because they refused army service, when they finally came out of prison, they said that it was the happiest time in their life, to spend time among the criminals.

We read in the Bible, “as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25. Whatever our trial and suffering may be, God strengthens us to endure it, without losing our joy and happiness. Peter writes, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12–14

There is another lesson that God is teaching us. “But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:16–17

This is a difficult requirement. For a grown-up person to act like a little child requires humility, yet this we must learn, if we want to remain in the kingdom of God.

The King of Prussia visited a village school, and was welcomed by the children. After the king had made a speech for them, he thanked them. Then taking an orange from a plate, he asked, “To what kingdom does this belong?” “The vegetable kingdom, sir,” said a little girl. The king took a gold coin from his pocket and, holding it up, asked, “And to what kingdom does this belong?” “To the mineral kingdom,” said the little girl. “And to what kingdom do I belong, then?” asked the king. The little girl did not like to say, “The animal kingdom.” Just then it flashed into her mind that, “God made man in His own image,” and looking up with a brightening eye, she said, “To God’s kingdom, sir.” The king was deeply moved. A tear stood in his eye, He placed his hand on the child’s hand, and said, most devoutly, “God grant that I may be accounted worthy of that kingdom.”

This kingdom of God in its present spiritual phase is to culminate in the future kingdom of glory. It is to be set up at Christ’s second coming, when He will appear in His glory and all the holy angels with Him to take the citizens of His kingdom to heaven.

Are you going to be part of this kingdom of God? It is your decision. God wants to have you as a citizen of His kingdom; for this reason He sent His Son, Jesus, to give His life for your salvation. Escape the kingdom of Satan, and join with God in His kingdom. Amen.

Timo Martin