Conclusion of "The Kingdom of the Heavens Has Drawn Near"

That was indeed good news, for John was, in effect, pointing out to all people the way to life and happiness-Jesus, the one who "takes away the sin of the world." As descendants of Adam and Eve, all humans are born under the tyranny of sin and death. Romans 5:19 explains:  "Just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] many were constituted sinners, likewise also through the obedience of the one person [Jesus] many will continue righteous."  Jesus, like a sacrificial lamb, was to 'take sin away'  and bring about a reversal of the sad state of human affairs.  "The wages sin pays is death," the Bible explains, "but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23.

As a perfect man-in fact, the greatest man who ever lived-Jesus took up preaching the good news... The Bible account of Mark 1:14,  15 tells us:  "Now after John was put under arrest Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the good news of God and saying:  "The appointed time  has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near.  Be repentant, you people, and have faith in the good news.' "

Those who responded to Jesus' message and exercised faith in the good news were highly blessed.  John 1:12 says:  "As man y as did receive [Jesus], to them he gave authority to become God's children, because they were exercising faith in his name."  Being children, or sons of God, they were in line to receive the reward of everlasting life. -1 John 2:25. 

But the privilege of receiving Kingdom blessings was not limited to people in the first century. As mentioned earlier, the good news of God's Kingdom is being proclaimed and taught in all the inhabited earth today. So Kingdom blessings are still available.  What must you do to receive such blessings?  The following article will explain.

Next time: Kingdom Blessings Can Be Yours

From the Watchtower magazine, 2001