What is the Kingdom?
As far back as Exodus 19:5-6 we find Jehovah proposing to make the sons of Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. ‘Now, if you shall hearken, yea hearken to My voice and observe My covenant then you will become Mine, a special possession, above all of the peoples, for Mine is all the earth. As for you, you shall become Mine, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
They are to be a royal priesthood, kings to rule the nations for Him, and priests to bring the nations to Him. To no other people has such a promise been made (see Psalm 147:19-20, Romans 9:3-4, Daniel 7:22, 27) and it hasn’t happened yet!
These scriptures clearly designate the people of the saints of the ‘Most High’ to be the ruling people of the kingdom. To them is the kingdom dominion and greatness of the kingdom under all the heavens promised.
‘Do not fear, little flocklet, for it delights your Father to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).’
‘you are a chosen race, a “royal priesthood,” a “holy nation,” a procured people’ (1 Peter 2:9)
The law of righteousness will characterise the kingdom reign, in which judgement will be immediate and summary. Righteousness will reign and sin will be suppressed. The Sermon on the Mount will be the Kingdom Code at this time when the kingdom of the heavens is established on the earth. Then, Israel will fulfil the ‘Royal Law’ as God has ordained they should. (See James 2:8-13, Lev19:18, Jer 31:32-40, Heb 8:6-12) and it is this time when they will fulfil what is known as the ‘Great Commission’, and ‘teach all nations as He directs them’. (Mathew 28:18-21)
So, yes, God will set up a literal kingdom on the earth, with Jerusalem as the capital city, and Israel as the royal priesthood, dispensing justice by His infallible law of righteousness, set forth in the Sermon on the Mount, with all kingdoms, dominions, peoples and nations as subjects.
This kingdom will be set up when Jesus returns to this earth, after the time of Jacob’s trouble, otherwise known as the Great Tribulation.
The kingdom on earth is good news, but only for the Jewish nation and anyone remaining alive after the tribulation period, or who is born during this 1,000 year time frame.
God’s chosen ones, believers in the dispensation of grace, will have been taken out of the way (1 Thess 4:16) as we are not to face the coming wrath/indignation. (1 Thessalonians 1:10) and I will describe what our future is below.