The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 348

been their message. At the expiration of “the time”—the sixty-nine
weeks of Daniel 9, which were to extend to the Messiah, “the Anointed
One”—Christ had received the anointing of the Spirit after His baptism
by John in Jordan. And the “kingdom of God” which they had declared
to be at hand was established by the death of Christ. This kingdom
was not, as they had been taught to believe, an earthly empire. Nor
was it that future, immortal kingdom which shall be set up when “the
kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the
whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most
High;” that everlasting kingdom, in which “all dominions shall serve and
obey Him.” Daniel 7:27. As used in the Bible, the expression “kingdom
of God” is employed to designate both the kingdom of grace and the
kingdom of glory. The kingdom of grace is brought to view by Paul in
the Epistle to the Hebrews. After pointing to Christ, the compassionate
intercessor who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” the
apostle says: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace.” Hebrews 4:15, 16. The throne
of grace represents the kingdom of grace; for the existence of a throne
implies the existence of a kingdom. In many of His parables Christ uses
the expression “the kingdom of heaven” to designate the work of divine
grace upon the hearts of men.
So the throne of glory represents the kingdom of glory; and this
kingdom is referred to in the Saviour’s words: “When the Son of man
shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He
sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all
nations.” Matthew 25:31, 32. This kingdom is yet future. It is not to be
set up until the second advent of Christ.
The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of
man, when a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race. It
then existed in the purpose and by the promise of God; and through faith,
men could become its subjects. Yet it was not actually established until
the death of

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