LIGHT REGARDING KINGDOM GROWS

10, 11. (a) In what kingdoms did God’s ancient servants not trust, and why not? (b) What “city” did God make ready for them?

¹⁰ Jehovah God has progressively revealed information about this government to his servants, pointing to it as the only one upon which humankind can confidently rely. Since Almighty power guarantees for it sure success, faithful servants of God did not trust in man-made kingdoms. They openly confessed that they were awaiting God’s heavenly Kingdom government. The apostle Paul, for example, writes about this:

“In faith all these died [these faithful pre-Christian servants of God], although they did not get the fulfillment of the promises, but they saw them afar off and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land. . . .

Let us trace the preparations that were made for the establishment of that Kingdom government. As noted above in Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, God’s servants of old “did not get the fulfillment of the promises” regarding the Kingdom. What promises?

12-14. What promises regarding God’s government were made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David?

¹² At Genesis 22:18 Jehovah promised Abraham: “By means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves.” The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, identified Jesus Christ as Abraham’s seed, by means of whom the nations would bless themselves. (Gal. 3:16) Similar promises about a coming “seed” of blessing were made to Abraham’s son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. (Gen. 26:3-5; 28:13, 14) Thus, as shown by these promises, the “seed” of God’s woman was to come through the lineage of Isaac and Jacob.

¹³ Notice the further promise made to Jacob’s son Judah: “The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong.” (Gen. 49:10) Jesus Christ, who ‘sprang up out of Judah,’ proved to be this “Shiloh” to whom “the obedience of the peoples will belong.” And note how this is further verified in the Bible.​—Heb. 7:14.

¹⁴ Nearly 700 years after the promise to Judah, Jehovah said regarding David of the tribe of Judah: “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, with whom my own hand will be firm, whom my own arm also will strengthen. And I shall certainly set up his seed forever and his throne as the days of heaven.” (Ps. 89:20, 21, 29) When God speaks of the “seed” of David as being set up “forever,” and “his throne” existing as long “as the days of heaven,” he is referring to the permanence of the Kingdom government in the hands of his appointed ruler, Jesus Christ.