`This kingdom, although visible with a world dominion, is also necessarily spiritual. This proposition is the

more needed since we are charged with gross carnality, etc., because we insist upon retaining the plain

grammatical meaning assigned to the kingdom in the holy Scriptures. While a purely material, naturalistic

kingdom, without spirituality is unscriptural, so likewise an entire spiritual kingdom, without the sanctified union

of the material or natural, is utterly opposed to the Word of God' (The Theocratic Kingdom III, 460).

The Old Testament is perfectly clear that there can be no spiritual future for the people of Israel until the New

Covenant of grace with them is put into operation by God. They will finally have to toe the line at the cross of

Christ, just as each individual sinner must do if he is ever to be saved, and then God will write His law in their

hearts and give them a deep knowledge of Himself and His purposes and forgive all their sins (Jer. 31:31-34). A

new heart or mind will be given to them and the Spirit of God put within them (Ezek. 36:22-29). And the words of

the Lord Jesus in John 3:3 confirm this: `Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God'.

There can be no doubt then concerning the spiritual character of God's earthly kingdom. But as the knowledge

of this spiritual kingdom spreads over the earth through a regenerated and restored Israel, it is bound to have a

profound effect on the natural and material condition of the world.

Let us now consider some of the leading features of this kingdom as delineated by the prophets of the Old

Testament. All is bound up with the personal return of Christ to the earth to take the reins of government, to banish

the darkness and gross failure of Gentile rule and oppression.

Righteousness. For the first time since the fall of man in Eden, the world will know what it is to have

absolutely righteous government without fear or favour.

`Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness ...' (Isa. 32:1).

`Say among the heathen (Gentiles) that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be

moved: He shall judge the people righteously' (Psa. 96:10).

The Lord is indeed the Sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2. See also Isa. 11:4,5).

As a result of the new birth and the new heart and spirit given to them by the Lord, all Israel will finally be

`Thy people (Israel) also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever' (Isa. 60:21).

`... that they (Israel) might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified'

(Isa. 61:3).

`For as the earth bringeth forth her bud ... so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth

before all the nations' (Isa. 61:11)

`Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign

and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel

shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS' (Jer.

That a `new heart' or mind will be given by God to Israel is clearly expressed in the Old Testament:

`For I will set Mine eyes upon them (Israel) for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build

them, and not pull them down ... And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be

My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart' (Jer. 24:6,7).

`But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel ... I will put My law in their inward

parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people ... for I will forgive their

iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more' (Jer. 31:33-34).

`And I will give them (Israel) one heart, and I will put a new spirit with in you; and I will take the stony heart

out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: that they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine

ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God' (Ezek. 11:19, 20).

`For I will take you (Israel) from among the heathen (Gentiles), and gather you out of all countries, and will

bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your