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"Seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand. And in
them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah" (Isa. 6: 9, 10; Matt. 13: 10-15).
The seed that is sown by the sower is "the word of the kingdom"; and although the
earlier sowings were marred, yet in God's good time that seed of the kingdom shall fall
into good ground, and the harvest shall be abundant.
The Transfiguration testified to the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the kingdom of
which both Law and Prophets speak. This is made perfectly clear by Peter's inspired
testimony:--
"We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty . . . . .
We have also a more sure word of prophecy" (II Pet. 1: 16-19).
The promise of the Lord to those who had forsaken all and followed Him is directed to
the restoration of the kingdom:--
"Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the
Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt. 19: 28).
The accomplishment of the final great prophecy of Matt. 24: and 25: necessitates
the restoration of the kingdom:--
"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
the NATIONS . . . . . Then shall the King says, . . . . . inherit the KINGDOM . . . . ."
(Matt. 25: 31-34).
In the last solemn verses, of trial, suffering, and crucifixion, the KING and the
KINGDOM are prominent. The High Priest said:--
"I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the
Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter
shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds
of heaven" (Matt. 26: 63, 64).
The Roman Governor said:--
"Art Thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest" (Matt. 27: 11).
The actions and words of the Roman soldiers gave evidence that the Lord's claim to
kingship was widely known and steadily maintained:--
"And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in
His right hand, and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying. Hail,
King of the Jews" (Matt. 27: 29).