In
those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and
saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was
spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ ”
Matthew 3:1-3, Modern English Version (MEV)
The appearance of John, who is called the "Baptizer," was foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
The voice of him who cries out, “Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [Isaiah 40:3, Modern English Version (MEV)]
Of even greater interest, however, are the words of the prophet Daniel who spoke of the coming kingdom.
“In the days of these kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. And the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” [Daniel 2:44-45, Modern English Version (MEV)]
It is the coming of this kingdom that John preached and that Jesus brought. This is not something that is to come, but something that is here and now. As both Jesus and John proclaimed, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
Matthew 3:1-3, Modern English Version (MEV)
The appearance of John, who is called the "Baptizer," was foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
The voice of him who cries out, “Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [Isaiah 40:3, Modern English Version (MEV)]
Of even greater interest, however, are the words of the prophet Daniel who spoke of the coming kingdom.
“In the days of these kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. And the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” [Daniel 2:44-45, Modern English Version (MEV)]
It is the coming of this kingdom that John preached and that Jesus brought. This is not something that is to come, but something that is here and now. As both Jesus and John proclaimed, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
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