The Kingdom of the Son of Man and the Kingdom of the Father (of the Righteous)

Jacob's dream will then be fulfilled; heaven and earth will be joined together and the heavenly inhabitants will serve as channels of blessing to those of the earthly kingdom below. Then will begin, as announced in Rev. 11:15, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ." It will no longer be ruled from the heaven; the King Himself shall there enter into His dominion. "Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven." Psa. 85:11. "The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness." Psa. 72:3. The will of God shall be done on earth as in heaven.
Now a word on the controversial portion in 1 Cor. 15. The Apostle Paul says in verses 25 and 26: "He [Christ] must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Our exalted Lord must and will reign in righteousness and peace, as never a king has reigned, to the glory of God. In humiliation He glorified His Father; thus also He will perfectly glorify Him in the day of His exaltation. The government will then rest on His strong shoulder, and "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." That is, this creation endures according to the will of God as long as sun and moon remain. (Isa. 9:7; Psa. 72:7, 17; 89:29, 36, 37; Dan. 2:44; 7:14; Luke 1:32, 33.)
“His day" will last a thousand years, and then as the days of His government are over and "the end" is come, (in other words, when heaven and earth have passed away and the eternal state begins) He gives up the kingdom to Him who is God and Father. He who in this, too, has demonstrated perfection will lay down His government in order finally (now as man) to be placed in subjection to Him who put all things in subjection to Him, that God may be all in all—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All rule, authority and power connected with this creation will be put away. From the hands of the perfect Man, into which God had placed it consequent on His obedience to the death of the cross, the government will be laid in God's hands again, following a faultless, perfect administration. Already at the present time our exalted Lord has been given all power in heaven and on earth, however, He has not yet entered fully into that dominion, nor taken up the inheritance. The possession is "acquired" but not yet "redeemed" (Eph. 1:14). He is the mysterious Man of God's counsels, the only Son by whom and for whom all things were made, and who as the dependent and obedient Man accomplished redemption. As that Heir of all things, He has set Himself down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. God has highly exalted this One and already given Him a name which is above every name. Yet a very little time and we shall see Him come, uniting in His mighty hands all authority, power, and dominion. And then, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:10, 11. Tr. by H. Vedder
Questions and Answers
QUES . A reader inquires about instrumental music being brought into the meeting room. In our home perhaps it might be different?
ANS. The positive teaching about what is acceptable and pleasing to God in this dispensation is of first importance as to our worship and praise which is the Christian's highest privilege now. Three scriptures clearly give instruction:
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 15:5, 6.
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Phil. 3:3.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. Acts 17:24, 25.
In worship and praise the Spirit of God in the believer, who in his mind (conscious knowledge) is rejoicing in Christ, gives utterance by mouth to glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is positive, but there are restrictions. Mere flesh can have no part and what men's hands produce has no place. The Scriptures are clear and conclusive and we must abide by them.
In Hebrews it tells us where our present place of worship is.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Heb. 9:24.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Heb. 10:19.
Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Heb. 13:12-15.
Actually then, we now worship in heaven where our great High Priest is. Yet, there is a place on earth connected with our place in heaven where Christ has promised His presence as He says in Heb. 2:12, "I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee.”
Instrumental music should not be brought into the meeting room. In worship it can only minister to the senses of the flesh and it cannot be and is not acceptable to God.
Our homes are different and in learning to sing more correctly, instrumental music can be a help to us. I believe that God intended that Christians should write their own hymns and spiritual songs and even psalms in their own language. This is according to Eph. 5:19. This would surely include the suitable music for them.
We must remember that we are under grace and not law. God has not given rules and regulations today and we must not put them there.
It is noteworthy that harps and organs down here began in Cain's city when he had gone out from the presence of the Lord. C. Buchanan