Question raised by the suggestion that even though Jesus was not there in person the apostles were setting up the kingdom in anticipation of his coming, his return.
Where the disciples setting up the Kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts of the Apostles?
The expectation of Jesus’ immediate return.
The disciples were expecting Jesus to return soon after Pentecost they had been taught by Jesus mainly through parables about the kingdom of God and Jesus spoke to them about the kingdom during the forty days before his ascension. Acts 1: 3.
Jesus had indicated that he would return soon, the crowd had heard him say, “ Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 8: 38. 9: 1.
He spoke of those who had been ashamed at his words would see the truth of his words;
We have the evidence of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who perhaps were ashamed when they said, “We had hoped that he was the one who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.” The stranger who they were talking to was in fact Jesus. Luke 24: 21
They said that it was the third day since his crucifixion, the Pharisees who heard Jesus say that he would be like Jonah three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. This was a tremendous witness to the Pharisees when it came to pass, but they believed in the resurrection on the last day. The Pharisees and Jesus taught that God would raise people on the last day. This was why the disciples when the women came to the house and said that Jesus was risen from the dead, they didn’t believe them. Even though Jesus had told them he would rise from the dead, it wasn’t until the appointed time after his resurrection that they believed. Matthew 12: 40. John 6: 40.
Peter believed Jesus would return soon after Pentecost.
In Acts 3 19, 20 Peter speaking to the crowd proclaimed that if they repented God would send the Christ appointed for them, Jesus.”
We tend to think of Jesus seated at the right hand of God, but we read that Stephen gazing into heaven saw Jesus standing at the right-hand side of God. Was he in readiness to return; Peter suggested that God would forgive their sin and send Jesus, he would return with the angels from heaven.
Jesus hoped to return in John’s life time.
Jesus in conversation with Peter said, “What about this man?” referring to John the disciple. Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying went abroad among the brethren that the disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?”John the last of the apostle exiled on the Isle of Patmos in the Autumn of his years there he had a vision of the events that will lead up to Jesus’ return.
Jesus the Son of man through his earthly mother and his heavenly Father, he was born one of us into humanity and died and in his divinity, he was raised opening heaven, uniting heaven and earth.
Jesus had said, “You are those who have continued with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22: 28-30.
Assign means ‘one to whom any property or right is made over; to appoint; to transfer.
Jesus indicates he’s left his servants to continue his work until he returned “It’s like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on watch.” Mark 13: 34.
Jesus gave his disciples this assignment to prepare for his return putting in place certain aspects for the kingdom, as a result, we read they set up a community at Jerusalem.
In order to do this the Jewish Mishna regulation requires that one tenth of the community to be officers. In Acts Chapter 1: 15,20 its recorded that there were about 120 persons followers of Jesus and Peter quoted from Psalms “Let his habitation become desolate and let there be no one to live in it and His office let another take.” One tenth of 120 = 12.
Peter arranged for the casting of lots between Joseph and Matthias to join the eleven apostles as officers. Matthias became the twelfth apostle.
Jesus had given the keys of the kingdom to Peter, he opened the doors of the kingdom to Israel at Pentecost and to the Gentiles with the conversion of Cornelius and his family at Caesarea. Matthew 16: 17, 18. Acts 10
They gathered together and had all things in common. They attended the temple and broke bread in their homes. They sold their possessions and distributed them to all in their need. Acts 2: 44-47.
They were carrying out their commission judging the twelve tribes of Israel when Peter retained the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.
On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection Jesus had come among his disciples and followers in the house at Jerusalem. There he breathed on them the Holy Spirit he also his gave them his authority to retain or not the sins of any and to forgive the sins of any. Peter carried out judgement in the instance of Ananias and Sapphira. They had promised the money from the sale of a piece of land to the community. when brought the proceeds to Peter, he knew they had withheld part of it, as a result each in turn came before him and lied over the amount received. He said that they had lied to God and tempted the Spirit of God, both fell down dead at Peter’s feet. This judgement was the ruling rod of iron that was expected with the Messiah’s kingdom. Acts 5: 1- 11.
The judgement on Ananias and Sapphira was carried out separately on each of them; they were not judged as a couple in marriage.
When Jesus returns with the armies of heaven, he will rule the nations with the ruling rod of iron.
“From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19: 15
“She brought forth a male child one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” Revelation 12: 12: 5.
“Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2: 8, 9.
The believers in Christ will reign and rule with him.
“He who conquers and keeps my works until the end, I will give them power over nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from the Father.” Revelation 2: 26, 27. 1 Corinthians 6: 3
The ruling rod of iron
The rod of iron is his word, and the word is Jesus, he is the word of God clothed in the flesh. We are cleansed by his word, his word and spirit abiding in us gives us eternal life. The Holy Spirit acts on His words, his words are living words and they are all-powerful. “The word of God is living and active is sharper than a two-edged sword that separates soul and spirit, joints and marrow and discerning of thoughts and intentions of the heart.” They are the unquenchable fire of judgement that John the Baptist spoke of, “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 1 John 1: 1. John 15: 3, 7. Hebrews 4: 12.
Jesus spoke of the fire of judgement that the Jews expected the Messiah to implement on his coming. “I came to cast a fire upon the earth and would that it was kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Luke 12: 49, 50.
Jesus was constrained when he cleared out of the temple the money changers, we perhaps see that as an act of aggression, but compared to the unquenchable fire it’s merely a slap on the hand. How it must have hurt his natural desire to love people and heal their wounds of mans inhumanity to man.
Our God is a God of justice and one day God’s justice will come into the world and his words stands for truth. Jesus will call out his church before he returns with the armies of heaven. It will come to pass, and I ask myself, will the church be ready and found doing his will, working for his kingdom to come in.
Where the disciples setting up the Kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts of the Apostles?
YES, I believe the Apostles in anticipation of his coming they where setting up the kingdom following Jesus’ instructions and authority he had given to them, when they set up the community at Jerusalem, in readiness for Jesus’ return, being about their master’s business. They believed that if the nation’s leaders repented, Jesus would have returned. Jesus indicated this when he gave the sign of Jonah, to the scribes and Pharisees. Jonah In obedience to God’s will, he went to the King of Nineveh with the message of repentance and the king brought his people to repentance. Matthew 12: 41
How many years the community existed at Jerusalem? I can only make an estimate 5 or 10 years. The community were scattered when the persecution began, but the apostles remained at Jerusalem. The ruling rod of iron enforced by Peter was no longer being enforced after the community at Jerusalem was scattered. Acts 8: 1. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are still given today. and used in the church.
In my ministry I do not judge people, or condemn, I accept people were they’re at and I hope they would treat me the same.
Jesus knew that only God knew the actual time of his coming. “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son only the Father. Take heed watch; for you do not know the when the time will come.