Lesson 31

The main theme of the Bible has to do with God’s Kingdom. Jehovah will use that Kingdom to accomplish his original purpose for the earth. What is the Kingdom? How do we know it is ruling now? What has it already accomplished? And what will it do in the future? This lesson and the next two lessons will answer those questions.

The Kingdom is a government set up by Jehovah God. Its King, Jesus Christ, rules from heaven. (Matthew 4:17; John 18:36)

The Bible says of Jesus: “He will rule as King... forever.” (Luke 1:32, 33)

As King of God’s Kingdom, Jesus will rule over everyone on the earth.

Jesus does not rule alone. Persons from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation... are to rule as kings over the earth.” (Revelation 5:9, 10)

How many will rule with Christ? Since Jesus came to earth, millions of Christians have become his followers. But only 144,000 of them go to heaven to rule with Jesus.

Read Revelation 14.1-4: Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. I heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the sound that I heard was like singers who accompany themselves by playing on their harps. And they are singing what seems to be a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to master that song except the 144,000, who have been bought from the earth. These are the ones who did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones who keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,

All other Christians on earth will become citizens of the Kingdom.— Psalm 37:29.

Even when human rulers try to do good things, they do not have the power to do everything they want. They are eventually replaced by other rulers who may not have the best interests of their subjects in mind. But the Ruler of God’s Kingdom, Jesus, will never be replaced by anyone else. God has “set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2:44)

Jesus will rule over the whole earth, and he will not show favoritism. He is loving, kind, and just, and he will teach people to treat one another in the same way—with love, kindness, and justice.

Read Isaiah 11.9: They will not cause any harm Or any ruin in all my holy mountain, Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah As the waters cover the sea.

Consider why God’s Kingdom is better than any human government.

Jesus Christ has more power to govern than any ruler in history.

Read Matthew 28.18: Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.

Discuss this question:

How is Jesus’ authority superior to that of any human ruler?

Human governments change often, and each one rules over only a portion of the earth. What about God’s Kingdom?

Read Daniel 7.14: And to him there were given rulership, honor, and a kingdom, that the peoples, nations, and language groups should all serve him. His rulership is an everlasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.

Discuss these questions:

Why is it good that God’s Kingdom “will not be destroyed”?

Why is it good that it will rule over the whole earth?

Why must God’s Kingdom replace human governments? Play the VIDEO, and then discuss the question that follows.

What has been the result of human rule?

Read Ecclesiastes 8.9: All of this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his harm.

Discuss these questions:

Do you think God’s Kingdom should replace human governments? Why?

Because our King, Jesus, lived as a human, he can “sympathize with our weaknesses.” (Hebrews 4:15)

The 144,000 faithful men and women who will rule with Jesus have been chosen by Jehovah “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”— Revelation 5:9.

Do you find it reassuring that Jesus and all of his corulers know what it is like to live as a human? Why?

Governments make laws that are supposed to benefit and protect their citizens. God’s Kingdom too has laws that its citizens must follow.

Read 1 Corinthians 6.9-11: Or do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom. And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean; you have been sanctified; you have been declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God.

Discuss these questions:

What do you think the world will be like when everyone follows God’s rules of conduct? Footnote 1

Do you think it is reasonable for Jehovah to expect citizens of the Kingdom to respect these rules? Why?

What shows that people who are not obeying these laws can change?—See verse 11.