Several of the past chapters of this book had to do with the history of Satan's world system of government and religion.  A study of history is important because it tends to reveal the root of an institution or spiritual force.  This chapter is going to give the history of the Kingdom of God.  Remember, God called King Jesus the root and offspring of David.  Revelation 22:16 says, "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."  How can a person be both the root and offspring of one man? This chapter will show us the history of God's Kingdom through the House of David.

One of Jesus' missions was to re-establish His reign on earth which was lost when Adam sinned.  The establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth that Jesus spoke about so often was not only extremely important to Him, but it is also very important to us.  God's original idea was to create an earth, put man in charge of it, but at the same time rule that earth through man for His purposes.  When we thought that we could operate our own lives without being in intimate contact with God, God lost His authority over the earth.  It is only with the re-establishing of His Kingdom that His rule is restored, and that is through you and me.

We need to know that there are two purposes for operating in the Kingdom of God while still on this earth, in this lifetime.

1.  To allow God's rule and purposes to return to this earth.

2.  To work to our advantage in the way our lives are lived.

The Lord spoke to me years ago when it looked like my business was about to fail completely.  I had tried everything in my power to work it out, but at that time it looked like my family would just have to go without the normal provisions we needed to eat and live.  I said to the Lord, "Okay, take it, take it all.  I will just pitch a tent under the nearest tree and move my family in there.  We can eat the grass.

The Lord spoke and said, "Larry, you are working for Me, you are my employee.  I take care of my employees.  I need you."  I said, "You need me?"  The recovery took a long time and was gradual. He restored our business, which gave us funds for ministry and for our living expenses.  However, it was clear to me that God was not just prospering me because He loved me.  He loves everybody.  He chose to prosper me because I had agreed to be used to bring His Kingdom to earth.  Are you one of God's employees, or are you "self employed"?

Remember, the Lords prayer linked bringing His Kingdom here with our daily bread.
Matthew 6:10, 11
"10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread."

I believe that the beginning of the revival of God's reign on earth through the Kingdom of God was instituted with King David.  I believe that when the House of David is referred to in the Old Testament, that it is a foreshadow of the Kingdom of God.  Therefore, I would like to dig into its history as a history of the beginnings of the Kingdom of God and how it developed over the centuries.

The primary and original purpose of the House of David was to execute judgment for the poor and oppressed of Israel.
2 Samuel 7:1-17:
"1 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains."
3 Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."
4 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
5 "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
6 "For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7 "Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'
8 "Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
9 "And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
10 "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
11 "since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.
12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
15 "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16 "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."'"
17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David."

Jeremiah 21:11, 12:
"11 "And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, 'Hear the word of the LORD,
12 'O house of David! Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment in the morning; And deliver him who is plundered Out of the hand of the oppressor, Lest My fury go forth like fire And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings."

Psalms 122:5:
"For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David."

The promise to David.
The Lord spoke very clearly to David and about David's kingship, stating that it would last forever.  God had in mind that Messiah Jesus would sit on the throne through this promise. This was even more than a promise, it was a covenant with David.  Thus, the House of David was a foreshadow of the Kingdom of God.

Psalms 89:35-37:
"35 Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David:
36 His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me;
37 It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky." Selah"

2 Chronicles 21:7:
"7 Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever."

"What is the Davidic covenant?"
A quote from http://www.gotquestions.org/Davidic-covenant.html.
The Davidic Covenant refers to God's promises to David through Nathan the prophet and is found in 2 Samuel 7 and later summarized in 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 and 2 Chronicles 6:16. This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:10-13). The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God's faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel's obedience.

The Davidic Covenant centers on several key promises that are made to David. 1) God reaffirms the promise of the land that He made in the first two covenants with Israel (the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants). This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:10, "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously." 2) God promises that David's descendant or "seed" will succeed him as king of Israel and that David's throne will be established forever. This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, "I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." This is a reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The provisions of the covenant are summarized in 2 Samuel 7:16, "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." The promise that David's "house," "kingdom" and "throne" will be established forever is significant because it shows that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David and that He will establish a kingdom from which He will reign. The covenant is summarized by the words "house," promising a dynasty in the lineage of David; "kingdom," referring to a people who are governed by a king; "throne," emphasizing the authority of the king's rule; and "forever," emphasizing the eternal and unconditional nature of this promise to David and Israel.

Since David's immediate descendants did not keep the original purpose of the House of David that God built, God removed the anointing from them.
Jeremiah 22:1-9:
"1 Thus says the LORD: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word,
2 "and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates!
3 'Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
4 "For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David.
5 "But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself," says the LORD, "that this house shall become a desolation."'"
6 For thus says the LORD to the house of the king of Judah: "You are Gilead to Me, The head of Lebanon; Yet I surely will make you a wilderness, Cities which are not inhabited.
7 I will prepare destroyers against you, Everyone with his weapons; They shall cut down your choice cedars And cast them into the fire.
8 "And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, 'Why has the LORD done so to this great city?'
9 "Then they will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.'""

Jeremiah 22:13-17:
"13 "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor's service without wages And gives him nothing for his work,
14 Who says, 'I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers, And cut out windows for it, Paneling it with cedar And painting it with vermilion.'
15 "Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.
16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?" says the LORD.
17 "Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence.""

How do you live?
There is a valuable personal application here for all of us.  Are you going to live like people in the world by always focusing on your own needs?  Or are you going to live according to God's heart, which is to help the poor and oppressed?  When you live putting God's ways first, He will take care of your needs.  Jesus said of the Pharisees that they coveted money and material things, but neglected the poor, and even persecuted them.  Even if you are in a desperate financial situation, you can still live God's way.  Find someone that needs some help and give whatever you can.  If your church needs cleaning, clean it.  If your neighbor is hungry, share what little you have.  Each and every time my wife and I have met a financial challenge, the first thing we did was to look for some way to give something!  It has always paid off.

The revival of the House of David.
God began to speak through the prophet Isaiah about reviving the House of David, and then through Jeremiah and Amos.
Isaiah 22:20-25 (New Living Translation):
"20 And then I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah to replace you.
21 I will dress him in your royal robes and will give him your title and your authority. And he will be a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.
22 I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.
23 He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall.
24 They will give him great responsibility, and he will bring honor to even the lowliest members of his family."
25 But the Lord of Heaven's Armies also says: "The time will come when I will pull out the nail that seemed so firm. It will come out and fall to the ground. Everything it supports will fall with it. I, the Lord, have spoken!""

The prophet Amos spoke about the days when the House of David would be rebuilt.
God spoke through the prophet Amos to expand the purpose of the House of David to include the Gentiles. He spoke that the House of David would eventually reach to the poor and oppressed Gentiles, or the nations.  He also expanded the purpose to include bringing back the dispersed Jews to Israel and give them businesses and farms.  Amos was speaking about the days we are in now, the days just before the second coming of Jesus.
Amos 9:11-15:
"11 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the LORD who does this thing.
13 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.
14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
15 I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God."

The Gentiles come in.
In Acts 15, at the Jerusalem Council, James prophetically announced that the Amos prophecy was being fulfilled because he was watching the Holy Spirit fall upon the Gentiles.

Acts 15:12-18:
"12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15 "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.'
18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works."

The Jews have not been replaced!
The oppressed Gentiles coming in through the anointing of the House of David did not exclude nor replace the Jews.  The oppressed Jews are still candidates for the House of, the Key of David.

The House and the Key of David is also for those Jews who are poor and oppressed who are returning to Israel in the last days.
Jeremiah 23:1-8:
"1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD.
2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the LORD.
3 "But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 "I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the LORD.
5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 "Therefore, behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that they shall no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,'
8 "but, 'As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.' And they shall dwell in their own land.""

Consider these things taken together.
1.  The name of this book is "Has Your King Died"?  The theme is, when the things that you may have been trusting in die, then you can also see the Lord as Isaiah did in Isaiah chapter 6.  You also, as Isaiah did, see the Kingdom of God.

2.  The original purpose of the House of David was to take care of the poor and oppressed.

3.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

4. Jesus used the parable in Matthew 20 to show His disciples what kind of person would experience the Kingdom of God first.  He made the point that the "One hour man" would experience the Kingdom of God before the others who had more strength.  Matthew 20:16 says, “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

How does this apply to you and me?
The House of David has matured into the Kingdom of God in our time.  
The Lord took me by surprise when He revealed this to me.  I had not intended to study about the House of David, and really did not ever give much thought to it.  He began with me in Revelation chapter 3 regarding the Church in Philadelphia.  My understanding about the seven churches in the Book of Revelation has always been that they represent the seven types of believers.  Obviously both the Church at Smyrna and the Church at Philadelphia are without rebuke from the Lord.  I have not, at least not yet, identified with the Church at Smyrna as that depicts today's martyrs.  I have always identified with the Church at Philadelphia, believers who are at least attempting to walk in the Spirit and stay close to the Lord.  However, I have never known what the Key of David represented until the Lord just all of a sudden revealed it to me.        

The Key of David is for the House of David.  This key opens the door for the anointing to make us God's "employees."

Revelation 3:7-13
"7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":
8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

I believe that the "name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem" that God will write on you is Kingdom of God.

Jesus has the Key of David, which opens a door that no one can shut.  Since Jesus lives within us, we also have that same anointing, that same key, provided of course that we overcome the sufferings and tribulations that Satan would put on us to forget about and abandon the Key.  

Supernatural increase.
Matthew 6:33:
“33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

What things?  Jesus had just mentioned that the Gentiles, the people who have no blood covenant with God, have to spend their lives seeking things, much like the wild animals do.  However, as a blood covenant child of God we are called to a higher life.  Jesus will pay us for seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness.  His righteousness includes two things: first, His imparted righteousness to us, and second, our righteous lifestyle, defined as "walking in the Spirit."  Our lifestyle may not be perfect, but as we walk in the Spirit, we repent our way through life.

For those who are cooperating with God to bring His will to earth, or in other words as I mentioned earlier in this chapter, those who are "employed by God," you can expect supernatural increase.  I am not referring only to those who work full time as a church employee.  The potential for being God's employee applies to all believers, from young people, to mothers, to widows, and to corporate executives.

Remember Amos 9:13:
13 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.

If a plowman overtakes the reaper, and the treader of grapes overtakes him who sows the seed, then something supernatural must be going on!  That just does not happen in the natural.  Moreover, this type of increase cannot be measured by addition, nor multiplication, but only by exponential math.

I can tell you that this increase is not only for your "personal wages" as God's employee, but also for the work that God has called you to do.  We have seen the reality of this in our lives, much to our amazement.  It had little to do with our abilities, and everything to do with God's power coupled with our submission to His plan.

Also, according to this description of Philadelphia, God knew that we had little power; we were even desperate!
Revelation 3:8:
8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."

If you are connected with this move of the Lord, great, enjoy it.
If you are not connected, then what is the application for you?  How do you become one of God's employees and participate in the Kingdom blessings?  Meaning, blessings to God first for establishing His Kingdom, blessings for the poor and oppressed, and the resulting blessing to you.

1. Study the Scriptures in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 about the seven churches. Ask God to show you if there are any areas in your life that do not line up with the two "anointed" churches, Philadelphia and Smyrna.  Repent, and live a lifestyle of repentance, and God will "put you in" either Philadelphia or Smyrna.  These two "churches" or types of believers are ordained to work together in this day.  

2. If you are a Philadelphia believer, one who is not appointed to physical martyrdom, then you are called to "overcome" those issues that are challenging your life. You are called to "keep His Word," and not denounce His name.  You are called keep and guard His Word of patient endurance, His expectant perseverance that will "keep" you during, and through, maybe not from, the horrible things that are happening in the earth today.  If you hold fast during this overcoming process, you will receive a crown, or authority, or in other words, an anointing.  What anointing?  The anointing of the House of David, to minister to the poor and oppressed Gentiles and Israelites during these end times.  According to Revelation 3:12, you will be working from the anointing of the Kingdom of God, which supercedes what you can do in your own power and might.  You will be a pillar in that Kingdom.  

3.  Bless Israel and the Jews.
Romans 15:25-27 Amplified Bible:
25  For the present, however, I am going to Jerusalem to bring aid (relief) for the saints (God's people there).
26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make some contribution for the poor among the saints of Jerusalem.
27 They were pleased to do it; and surely they are in debt to them, for if these Gentiles have come to share in their [the Jerusalem Jews'] spiritual blessings, then they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

Finally, notice how one of David's last prayers, his prayer for his son Solomon, reflects God's plan for the Kingdom of God.
Psalm 72 (Amplified Bible)
" [A Psalm] for Solomon.
1]GIVE THE king [knowledge of] Your [way of] judging, O God, and [the spirit of] Your righteousness to the king's son [to control all his actions].
2 Let him judge and govern Your people with righteousness, and Your poor and afflicted ones with judgment and justice.
3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the hills, through [the general establishment of] righteousness.
4 May he judge and defend the poor of the people, deliver the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor,
5 So that they may revere and fear You while the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 May he [Solomon as a type of King David's greater Son] be like rain that comes down upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
7 In ]His [Christ's] days shall the [uncompromisingly] righteous flourish and peace abound till there is a moon no longer.
8 He [Christ] shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.
9 Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before Him and His enemies shall lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the coasts shall bring offerings; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.  THIS GOES ALONG WITH ISAIAH 60 ON 12/23/08
11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him, all nations shall serve Him.
12 For He delivers the needy when he calls out, the poor also and him who has no helper."
13 He will have pity on the poor and weak and needy and will save the lives of the needy.
14 He will redeem their lives from oppression and fraud and violence, and precious and costly shall their blood be in His sight.
15 And He shall live; and to Him shall be given gold of Sheba; prayer also shall be made for Him and through Him continually, and they shall bless and praise Him all the day long.
16 There shall be abundance of grain in the soil upon the top of the mountains [the least fruitful places in the land]; the fruit of it shall wave like [the forests of] Lebanon, and [the inhabitants of] the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun [indeed, His name continues before the sun]. And men shall be blessed and bless themselves by Him; all nations shall call Him blessed!
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone does wondrous things!
19 Blessed be His glorious name forever; let the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen!
20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.