John Macarthur challenged us: “You show me in that verse, in the Old Testament, which promises a kingdom to Israel, where it says that it really means the Church—show me! Where does it say that?”
Actually, John is simply ignorant of what the gospel IS that Jesus brought, it seems. Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God saying "Repent and Believe." Those who think the message of the gospel was only about salvation, have really cut the heart out of the gospel. Salvation was not news to the Jews, they already believed that; they were the covenant people of God. They were looking forward to the coming kingdom.
And, here comes Jesus in Mark 1:14-15 telling them that the kingdom is here. The problem was that they were expecting the restoration of a physical throne of David and a military reign. Nevertheless, as Jesus tells Pilate, if His kingdom were of this world then His servants would fight. Nobody understood just what a Revolution in kind the kingdom would be. Few do even today.
Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore thie kingdom to Israel?"
And today's Disp crowd is just as ignorant as the Apostles and the Jews of Jesus' day were concerning just exactly what is the nature of the gospel and the kingdom! Those looking for a future kingdom should quit wasting time trying to figure out what is coming and start enjoying the kingdom that God has already given us!
Jesus, I believe only mentions the church 3 times, He mentions the kingdom of God more than 100. Almost all the parables are about the kingdom and even the Sermon on the Mount is a declaration of the kingdom of heaven: How blessed are the poor in spirit [those who know their need for God] for theirs IS the kingdom of heaven. I am right where I should be (Heb 12:22)! Now, let us deliver the kingdom message to the world as a witness (Matt 24:14) so this age will come to an end and we can begin to enjoy the riches of God's glory in the ages to come.