Two Kingdoms

Gen. 25:23 

And YHWH said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two gatherings of people will separate from your innards, and one gathering of people will become mightier than the other…and the elder will serve the younger.”

This passage addresses the nations of Edom and Israel. Esau, the elder son, was named Edom. Gen. 25:30; 36:1, 8. Jacob, the younger son (because he came out of the womb after his brother), was named Israel. Gen. 32:28; 35:10; etc. While Esau became father of the Edomites, Jacob became father of the Israelites. Thus, the twin brothers in the above passage represented two nations.

Genesis 36:31 tells us that the Edomites established a kingdom by having kings rule over them before the people of Israel did the same. Initially, Israel had no earthly king to rule over them as YHWH Himself was their King. 1 Sa. 8:7; 12:12. Knowing that they would eventually want to become an earthly kingdom, He gave them over to their secular desires. Deu. 17:14. Thus, the two brothers became two nations, which later became two kingdoms. 

This conclusion can point to a greater truth—that there are two kingdoms, as in were, to YHWH’s plan for His people. 

In one sense, YHWH’s kingdom is a present reality. He the King of Israel. Psa. 44:4; 89:18; Isa. 33:22. He has been our King from the beginning. Psa. 74:12. His kingdom is within those who give Him their entire lives. Luk. 17:20-21; Heb. 12:28; Rev. 1:9. This kingdom is a spiritual one. Those whom YHWH, through His Messiah, redeems become His subjects. They are a kingdom of priests, a set-apart nation. 1 Pe. 2:9 cf. Exo. 19:6; Rev. 1:6, 5:10. Jacob was part of this kingdom because he was redeemed by YAH’s Messiah. Gen. 48:16.

In another sense, His kingdom is a future one. When His Messiah returns, He will be King of the whole earth. Zec. 14:9; Oba. 1:21; Psa. 47:7-8; Mic. 4:7, 5:2; Isa 24:23; Dan. 2:44; Psa. 2:6-9; 22:28; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5; Zec. 6:13. Yeshua and the apostle made it clear that this kingdom would come at His return to earth. Mat. 6:10, 13; Luk. 21:31; 2 Ti. 4:1; 1 Co. 15:24-28; Rev. 11:15.

According to the prophecy in Hoshua 5:15-6:2, He will return after two days. At that time, Daniel’s prophecy will come to pass: 

Dan. 7:13-14, 27 

I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of Days… And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him…[in] His kingdom… 

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the set-apart ones of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey Him. 

Rev. 20:4, 6 

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and the souls of those who have been beheaded because of the testimony of Yeshua, and because of the Word of the Mighty One… they did live and reign with the Messiah…” 

“…they shall be priests of the Mighty One and of the Messiah, and reign with Him…” 

While called priests now (addressed in the previous section), the set-apart ones will be given His kingdom and will rule and reign with Him after we endure to the end, keeping His Covenant. See also Mat. 25:34; 1 Co. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; 2 Th. 1:5; 2 Ti. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27.

The spiritual kingdom, like the kingdom of Edom, came first. It is here now. It has been here since the beginning. It was taught extensively by Yeshua nearly two days (millennia) ago. 

As good as this present kingdom is, the coming kingdom—the kingdom of Israel—will be even greater. It will be established here on earth and will subdue all secular kingdoms and governments.

There will be no violence, pain, or death. Isa. 60:18; Rev. 21:4. All eyes will be opened to experience Him. Jer. 31:34; Isa. 11:9. For now, we see as through a mirror. But then we will see Him face to face!