In the Old Testament, God gave the Kingdom Of God to the Jewish nation (Israel), "And the LORD said ... Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (Jesus) in him." Gen.18:17. "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.... And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." Ex.19:5-6. So, in the Old Testament, the Jews were God's Salvation Nation among the nations of the world. The Jews had God's Kingdom work, His Tabernacle, His Temple, His Prophets, His Priests and Kings ... as well as the O.T. Scriptures. But when the Jew's prophesied, promised Messiah (Christ) came, fulfilling all those prophecies, the Jewish leaders led the people to reject Him. And because they violated the conditions of their appointment as the world's Salvation Nation, and God's "peculiar treasure" and "holy nation",the Kingdom of God was taken from them and they were no longer God's "Salvation Nation", though still God's chosen people."Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing.... Therefore, say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matt.21:42-43.
So the Jewish Messiah (Christ) turned from the Jewish nation and turned to believing Jews and Gentiles and established His Church as the new Salvation Nation to do the work of the Kingdom of God and "bring forth the fruits thereof."
Jesus asked His Apostles, the first members of His church, in Jerusalem, who they thought He was"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said .... flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee ....upon this rock I will build my church...." Matt.16:16-18.
So Jesus took God's Kingdom work away from the Jewish nation and established a new Salvation Nation to handle the holy things of God ... His church, His Gospel, The Holy Scriptures, Baptism, tithes and offerings, and God's business on earth, The Kingdom Of God. He instructed His Apostles and disciples not to be too concerned with the necessities of life ... "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:31-32.
The churches of Jesus Christ became the New Testament Salvation Nation and were given the authority, power and responsibility of the Kingdom of God. And still, to this day, and until Jesus returns, true Bible believing, Spirit filled church's are God's Salvation Nation and are doing the work of the Kingdom of God's Great commission.
One of the last things Jesus said to His Church ... the Salvation Nation, was concerning the Kingdom work of the Great Commission .... "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matt. 24:14.
Every Christian and every true church is responsible to do, and help others do, that Kingdom work "unto all nations". There is not a nation or a person God does not want to hear His "gospel of the kingdom". Every nation on every Continent and every person in every nation is a candidate to become a member of the Kingdom of God and the Salvation Nation of Jesus Christ. Even the vilest and wickedness nations and those who simply have a false, fanatical religion or lifestyle, such as the Kingdoms of wickedness........
AbomiNation - "And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations ...." 1 K.14:24.
DiviNation - "Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?" Ezek.13:7.
IndigNation - "And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day...." Luke 13:14.
DamNation - "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Matt.23:33.
ImagiNation -"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations ...." Rom.1:21.
CondemNation - "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19.
And then one day, when all the unbelievers of all nations are called up before the Great White Throne of their Creator and Judge, to give an account of themselves, they shall finally bow, confess and worship Him.... but too late to be saved. This prophetic warning was given first through the Jewish prophet Isaiah, in the Old Testament. "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Isa.45:23.
Seven hundred and fifty years later, in the New Testament, this same prophetic warning was repeated by the Apostle Paul ..."For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom.14:11
..."Who shall not fear thee, O Lord ... for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." Rev.15:4.
_______________________________________________
Followers of Christ seek after
that Kingdom of Salvation Nation
