If it is believed that an earthly kingdom, with Messiah as King, is promised the Jew, it must also be admitted that the Jew is not now enjoying that kingdom; nor has he had any semblance of a kingdom in all the centuries since his dispersion among the Gentiles.  This age cannot, therefore, be the predicted earthly kingdom of Christ.  Turning to Acts 15:13-18, a description of the present age and that which will follow is found.  The passage is here given:  “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, after this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.  Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.”

It is recorded that, after His resurrection, Jesus was seen for forty days by His apostles whom He had chosen; and during this time He was speaking to them concerning the Kingdom.  It was natural, therefore, for them to inquire, at the end of those days, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom unto Israel?” (Acts 1:6) and they had full warrant from the prophets to expect that great event when their Messiah came.  They had not, however, grasped the meaning of the then dawning age of the gathering out of the Bride, and in this passage they are seen adjusting themselves to the newly revealed Divine program, and recognizing the God-appointed delay in the predicted earthly kingdom.

In Acts 15:  just referred to, the purpose and order of two distinct ages is set forth.  The first age is described as the “visiting of the Gentiles,” that from among them a heavenly people may be called out, and is a description of this present age, which had its beginning in the very generation in which this passage was written; for no previous age could meet these conditions.  The second age, here described, is that of a distinct rebuilding of the Davidic order, which is clearly separated from the former age by the return of Christ.  This same order of events is also carefully maintained wherever these events are referred to in Scripture, and any confusion of the order is a positive violence to the truth.  The revealed consummation of this Gentile age is always the return of Christ, who comes first to receive His own; and then to render judgment upon all the nations and to bind the enemy and place him in the pit.  The same return of Christ is the necessary preliminary event before any kingdom of righteousness and peace can be realized upon the earth.  No amount of enlightened sentiment can establish a kingdom without a king; and no universal blessedness can be experienced in this world until the enemy is dethroned and banished.  Sadly has the world failed to include these two necessary Divine movements, in its vain dream and godless attempt at a perfected universe!