From: TFTW Bible College When John the Baptist was preaching before Jesus started His ministry, he said the time of the kingdom was close. “ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ” ( Matthew 3:1-2 ) This occurred during the Roman Empire, which was the time Daniel had prophesied. John said that it was so close that it was “ at hand .” Imagine if you had a drink “at hand,” it would be close enough to reach out and grab it. The kingdom was about to appear! When Jesus started His ministry, He repeated the message of John. “ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ” ( Matthew 4:17 ) In fact, the ministry of Jesus was telling people about the kingdom that was about to appear. “ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all ma...