Jesus' First Kingdom

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he did not immediately take up the scepter of rulership over the peoples of the world.  (Psalm 110:1) However, he did receive a "kingdom" with subjects that obeyed him.  The apostle Paul identified that kingdom when he wrote:  "[God] delivered us [spirit-anointed Christians]  from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love."  (Colossians 1:13) This deliverance began at Pentecost 33 C.E. when holy spirit was poured out on Jesus' faithful followers. -Acts 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:9.

As "ambassadors substituting for Christ," the spirit -anointed disciples obediently started  to gather others who would become "fellow citizens" in that spiritual kingdom.  (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 2:19; Acts 1:8)  Additionally, these had to remain "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" in order to enjoy the approval of their King Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians  1:10) As a group, they constituted a "faithful and discreet slave," or a faithful steward class. - Matthew 24:45; Luke 12:42. 

Next time: Blessed for Obeying God's "Steward"

The Watchtower, 2002