Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is Now! — February 12 [Description]Matthew 4:13-17 and Mark 1:14-15 describe a pivotal moment at the start of Jesus’ public ministry. After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus relocates to Galilee and begins proclaiming a simple but life-altering message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In Mark’s version, Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the good news.”This marks a transition from preparation to action. Jesus steps into public life, not just as a teacher or miracle worker, but as the bearer of God’s kingdom breaking into the world. His message is urgent and hopeful—calling people to turn away from sin (repent), and toward a new reality of God’s rule and redemption (the kingdom).This passage traces the shift in Christ’s ministry from Judea to Galilee after religious leaders rejected Him, showing how prophetic timelines—especially Daniel’s 70 weeks—accurately pointed to key events in Jesus’ life: His baptism, death, and the gospel’s expansion to the Gentiles. The passage warns that history repeats: just as Israel ignored its time of visitation, modern believers risk missing the signs of Christ’s second coming. It emphasizes the importance of understanding prophecy, remaining spiritually alert, and being ready for Jesus’ imminent return.

Bible discovery

Matthew 4:13-17365D 43.1

13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,365D 43.2

14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:365D 43.3

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:365D 43.4

16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”365D 43.5

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven ^{[c]has drawn near} is at hand.”365D 43.6

Mark 1:14-15365D 43.7

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel ^{[f]NU omits of the kingdom} of the kingdom of God,365D 43.8

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God ^{[g]has drawn near} is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”365D 43.9

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

The Desire of Ages pp.231-235:365D 43.10

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14, 15.365D 43.11

The Messiah’s coming had been first announced in Judea. In the temple at Jerusalem the birth of the forerunner had been foretold to Zacharias as he ministered before the altar. On the hills of Bethlehem the angels had proclaimed the birth of Jesus. To Jerusalem the magi had come in search of Him. In the temple Simeon and Anna had testified to His divinity. “Jerusalem, and all Judea” had listened to the preaching of John the Baptist; and the deputation from the Sanhedrin, with the multitude, had heard his testimony concerning Jesus. In Judea, Christ had received His first disciples. Here much of His early ministry had been spent. The flashing forth of His divinity in the cleansing of the temple, His miracles of healing, and the lessons of divine truth that fell from His lips, all proclaimed that which after the healing at Bethesda He had declared before the Sanhedrin,—His Sonship to the Eternal.365D 43.12

If the leaders in Israel had received Christ, He would have honored them as His messengers to carry the gospel to the world. To them first was given the opportunity to become heralds of the kingdom and grace of God. But Israel knew not the time of her visitation. The jealousy and distrust of the Jewish leaders had ripened into open hatred, and the hearts of the people were turned away from Jesus.365D 43.13

We have reached the period foretold in these scriptures. The time of the end is come, the visions of the prophets are unsealed, and their solemn warnings point us to our Lord’s coming in glory as near at hand.365D 43.14

The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles,—the precious last years of grace to the chosen people,—they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God.365D 43.15

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” While we are not to know the hour of our Lord’s return, we may know when it is near. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6.365D 43.16