God’s coming Kingdom was the topic of much of Jesus’ teaching during His ministry. In parable after parable He talked about the Kingdom of God. Another way in which Jesus showed what the Kingdom of God on earth will be like was through the miracles which He performed throughout His ministry.

Jesus Christ will be the king of that coming kingdom when it is brought to this earth and replaces the governments of mankind. In Revelation 11:15 we read: “And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.”

Most human governments fail to meet the needs of their people and, more often than not, put their own interests instead of the good of the people that they rule. Let’s take a look at a foretaste of how Jesus will rule mankind in the future as seen through the miracles that He performed during His ministry.

1) Control over the forces of nature:

In Matthew 8:24-27 we read: “And behold, a great tempest arose in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him and awakened Him, saying, Lord, save us! We perish! And He said to them, Why are you afraid, you of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”

Jesus’ disciples were amazed that He had control over the forces of nature by being able to calm the storm. Imagine a world where the king has such control over the forces of nature! Imagine no hurricanes, floods, droughts and earthquakes! He will control the environment including being able to heal the earth of its environmental problems.

2) Control over the spirit world:

In Matthew 8:16 we read: “And evening coming on, they brought to Him many who had been possessed with demons. And He cast out the spirits with a word”. Ephesians 2:2 tells us that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience”.

Satan broadcasts His moods and impulses into the hearts and minds of men motivating them to disobey God. Just as Jesus was able to cast out demons, at the time He brings the Kingdom to this earth an angel shall "cast him [Satan] into the abyss and shut him up and set a seal on him, that he should deceive the nations no more" (Revelation 20:3). While humans will still have the choice to obey God or not they will no longer be stirred up by Satan to do so.

3) Eliminating world hunger:

By miraculously feeding thousands at a time (Matthew 14:17-21) Jesus showed His total power to provide for the physical needs of people including the most basic needs of food and water. While some miraculous feeding may be needed at the beginning following the devastation of the Great Tribulation, mankind will be taught how to properly build up the earth’s soil and farm in a natural, sustainable way as God intended.

Amos 9:13 tells us: "Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him that sows seed." The Kingdom of God will eliminate world hunger. God’s kingdom is pictured as a great feast in Isaiah 25:6: “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” One particular celebration that all the world will celebrate will be the Feast of Tabernacles spoken of in Zechariah 14:16.

4) Healing the sick:

In Matthew 15:30-31 we read: "And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel."

Millions of people suffer from all sorts of sicknesses and disease in this world. The number of people in this world who are blind is double the entire population of Australia. Imagine being able to empty out hospitals of all those who are sick by healing them.

The prophet Isaiah prophesied the following about God's Kingdom in Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man shall leap as a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."

5) Raising the dead:

During His ministry Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Matthew 9:18-26) as well as Lazarus (John 11) and His father raised Him back to life after 3 days and 3 nights. By resurrecting people Jesus showed that He has the power to reverse death itself. Revelation 20 speaks of two resurrections - the first resurrection, being of saints and prophets who will rule with Him during the millennium, and the second resurrection of everyone else up to Christ’s return who died without turning their lives to God who will be given an opportunity for salvation after the millennium.

The many miracles of Jesus give us a wonderful foretaste of what God’s kingdom will truly be like after the return of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about this festival picturing God’s coming Kingdom and His plan for the salvation of all human beings be sure to request our free Bible study aids - “The Gospel of the Kingdom” and “God's Holy Day Plan”.

The United Church of God will be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles this year from October 5 to October 12 at various sites. If you are interested in observing this festival please don’t hesitate to contact us. Contact details are on our website.