The kingdom necessarily embraces the royal house or royal family, as
well as the dominion. Foreknowing the end of all things, God provided in
his great plan not only for the redemption of the human race, but the
selection from amongst men of a certain number whom he would transform
into the image and likeness of his beloved Son. God provided also that
these should constitute the royal family of heaven. The apostle Peter
says of this class: "But ye are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people for a purpose, that you may declare the
perfections of him who called you from darkness into his wonderful
light; who once were not a people, but now are God's people".--1 Peter
2:9,10. _Diaglott_.
[465]To his disciples, and to those who should thereafter become such,
Jesus said: "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed
unto me". (Luke 22:29) And again: "To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with me in my throne". (Revelation 3:21) From these Scriptures
it is to be seen that the church constitutes with Jesus the royal
family, the kingdom class, otherwise called the seed of Abraham, through
which the blessings shall flow out to mankind. This is the kingdom for
which he taught his disciples to pray. This is the kingdom which the
prophet Daniel declares shall be set up to have no successor, and which
shall be established during the last days of the kingdoms of the
unrighteous order.
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