The Kingdom of God

All Christians should have a basic understanding of “the kingdom of God” (Mat 12:28; 19:24; 21:31, 43; Mar 1:15; 10:14; Luk 4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 9:2; Rom 14:17; 1Co 4:20; 2Th 1:5; cf. Col 1:13; 1Th 2:12; Rev 1:6, 9; 5:10), for your “King” (Mat 2:2; 25:31–40; 27:11, 37; Joh 12:13; 1Ti 1:17; 6:15; Rev 15:3; 17:14; 19:16) is ruling and reigning in His kingdom today (Mat 22:44; 26:64; Mar 14:62; 16:19; Luk 22:69; Eph 1:20–22; Act 1:9; 7:55; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; 1Pe 3:21–22; Heb 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Rev 1:5; 19:15; Psa 110:1; cf. Mat 28:18; Col 1:15–16; 2:10, 15; Php 2:9–10), and you are a “fellow partaker” of His Kingdom (Rev 1:9; cf. Mat 24:9; Joh 16:33; Act 14:22; Rom 5:3; 8:35; 12:12; 14:7–8; Php 1:21; Eph 3:13; Heb 10:33; Rev 2:9–10; 7:14), a “fellow worker and fellow soldier” in it (see Php 2:25; 4:3; Rom 16:3, 9, 21; 1Co 3:9; 2Co 8:23; Col 4:11; 1Th 3:2; Phm 2, 24; 3Jn 8), a “priest” (see Rev 1:6; 5:10), and even further, an “ambassador for Christ” (see 2Co 5:20; cf. Php 1:27; Eph 6:20) for His kingdom.

Below are some notes about “the kingdom of God”:

1. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom—a spiritual monarchy, if you will (Joh 18:36; Luk 17:20–21; Rom 14:17; cf. Isa 9:6–7; Dan 2:44; 7:14). It is not an earthly, political, nationalistic, militant kingdom but one of love, peace, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, purity, truth, wisdom, holiness, power, and glory above (Rom 14:17, 19; 1Co 4:20).[1]
2. Unless one is born again and becomes obedient to the Gospel, one cannot enter into (Joh 3:3–8; cf. Mat 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 23:13; Mar 10:15) or even understand (1Co 2:14; cf. Mat 13:11–17; Joh 8:43; 10:26–27; 15:26; 1Co 1:18; 2:12; 2Co 4:4; 1Jn 5:20) the kingdom of God.
3. Unless one remains obedient to the Gospel, one cannot stay in the kingdom of God (Mat 25:1–13).[2]^, [3], [4]
4. The kingdom of God is referred to by various names:

• “The kingdom of God” (66 times),[5]
• “The kingdom of heaven” (32 times),
• “My Father’s kingdom” (Mat 26:29),
• “My [Jesus’] kingdom” (Luk 22:30),
• “The kingdom of the Son of Man” (see Mat 13:41),
• “The kingdom of Jesus” (see Rev 1:9),
• “The kingdom of Christ Jesus” (see 2Ti 4:1),
• “The kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph 5:5),
• “The kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15),
• “The kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ” (Rev 12:10),
• “The kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), and
• “Mount Zion,” the “holy mountain” of the Lord (see Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1; Psa 2:6; 3:4; 48:1; 87:1; Isa 11:9; 27:13; 56:7; 57:13; 65:25; 66:20; Dan 9:16, 20; Zep 3:11; Zec 8:3), which will be set up in “the last days” (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1)—which is this Church age of grace we now live in.

5. The expressions “the kingdom of God” and “the kingdom of heaven” are synonymous, and in many ways, the Bible equates the Kingdom with the Church (i.e., the worldwide body of believers; see Luk 17:20–21; cf. Mat 12:28; 13:47; 16:18–19; 21:31; Luk 10:11; 16:16; Joh 3:5; Rom 14:17; Col 1:13; Heb 12:28; 1Th 2:12; 2Pe 1:11; Rev 1:9). You enter both the Church and the Kingdom at baptism (Col 1:13).[6]
6. The kingdom is now—it is not some future “thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth”![7]^{, [8]} Consider the following:
   
   • Jesus said that His kingdom was “at hand” when He lived (Mat 3:2; 4:17; 10:7; Mar 1:15), that some of His disciples would “see the Son of Man [Jesus] coming in His kingdom” before they died (Mat 16:28), and that the kingdom was to arrive visibly and “with power” (Mar 9:1). This happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was “poured out” (see Act 2:1–4, 17–21; 10:44–45; cf. Pro 1:23; Isa 44:3; Joe 2:28–29).
   • Paul and John wrote that they were “fellow workers” (Col 4:11) and “fellow [partakers]” (Rev 1:9) in the kingdom. So if the kingdom was already in effect then, it surely is in effect now—for the kingdom of heaven is to endure for eternity (Dan 2:44; 7:13–14; Luk 1:33; Mic 4:7; Heb 1:8; Psa 45:6; 145:13; 1Co 15:24). We are not to look for still yet another “earthly millennial kingdom” in the future.
   • Jesus wrote that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world” (Mat 24:14), so again, we can’t have a Gospel of the kingdom without having a kingdom already in effect.
   • Christ’s kingdom is symbolically portrayed as lasting “a thousand years” (Rev 20:1–6; 2Pe 3:8).[9]
   • Sadly, many who profess faith in Christ do not realize that Jesus, their own “Lord” and “King” (1Ti 6:15; Rev 15:3; 17:14; 19:16), is right now, this very instant, “seated … far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:20–21), ruling and reigning large and in charge in His kingdom (Mat 22:44; 26:64; 18:18; Mar 14:62; 16:19; Luk 22:69; Eph 1:20–22; Act 1:9; 7:55; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; 1Pe 3:21–22; Heb 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Rev 1:5; 3:21; 19:15; Psa 110:1; cf. Mat 28:18; Col 1:15–16; 2:10, 15; Php 2:9–10; 1Ti 2:5; Heb 7:25), and that all things are under His care and control, including you (Rom 8:28–39; cf. Php 1:12; Mat 10:29–31; 1Pe 3:12; Gen 45:5; 2Ch 16:9; Psa 34:15; 145:18; Pro 5:21; 15:3).
   • Furthermore, note that we “reign with Him [Jesus]” (Rev 20:6) as we “sit down with Me [Jesus] on My throne”[10] (see Rev 3:21; 20:4, 6) and “rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (Rev 12:5; Rev 2:26–27; 19:15; 20:4, 6). Please realize that we do not rule over others physically, politically, socially, or economically, nor do we rule by force, threat, coercion, intimidation, or violence of any kind—that is the worldly, non-spiritual thinking of the heathen. We rule with Jesus only by and through love, service, self-sacrifice, “good deeds” (Tit 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14; Heb 10:24; 1Pe 2:12), and through the “preaching the gospel of God” (Mar 1:14; cf. Mar 16:15; 13:10; Mat 28:19; Luk 14:21–23; 24:47–48; Eph 6:19–20; Luk 9:6; 20:1; Act 1:8; 8:25, 40; Rom 1:9; 16:25; Col 1:23; Php 4:15; Rev 14:6), which is “the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15; cf. Mat 5:9; Isa 9:6). It is the Word of God that has “the power of God” (Mat 22:29; Luk 22:69; Rom 1:16; 1Co 1:18, 24; 2:5; 2Co 6:7; 13:4; 2Ti 1:8) to rule, not us (Eph 2:6; Rev 12:5; cf. Rev 11:1–12).[11]

7. The kingdom has two realms (or natures):

• Heavenly: It is heavenly above (now) where Christ is reigning. It will also be future heavenly (glorified) after Jesus’ return, when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Rev 21:4) as He “makes all things new” (see Rev 21:5), and there will be no more curse, corruption, sin, suffering, pain, disease, or death. This is wonderfully described using symbolism in the closing chapters of the Book of Revelation (Rev 21:1–22:21).
• Earthly: It is earthly here and now, “in your [our] midst” (Luk 17:20–21), among the worldwide body of believers, which is “the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12), the Church, and “the bride of Christ.”[12] You now “abide in Me [Jesus], and I in him [you],”[13] as He reigns in the hearts of believers (2Co 3:3; Heb 8:10). Jesus is, therefore, “in your midst” (i.e., among us), and so the kingdom is also “in your midst”—for wherever the King is there also is a kingdom.

8. On Judgment Day, we will be translated from the earthly kingdom into the heavenly kingdom, as we are “raised imperishable” (see 1Co 15:42–57; cf. Joh 3:15–16; 6:39–40, 44, 54; Mat 25:21, 23, 34, 46; Rom 8:18; 1Co 6:14; 2Co 3:18; 4:17; 5:6–8; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 1Pe 5:6; 1Jn 3:2; Heb 9:28; Rev 21:3–4) and we “put on immortality” (see 1Co 15:42, 50–57) with our new eternal, spiritual, glorified bodies, which will be “in the likeness of His [Jesus’] resurrection” (Rom 6:5; cf. Rom 8:30; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 1Jn 3:2; Act 24:15; Joh 5:25; 1Th 2:12; 4:16; 1Co 15:40–57; 2Co 3:18; 5:1–4).[14]
9. Note that the city of “New Jerusalem” (Rev 3:12; 21:2; cf. Heb 11:16; 12:22) described in the Book of Revelation is not some literal city here on earth but a beautiful, symbolic depiction of (a metaphor for) all of the following: (a) The Church (here and now)—that is, the people of God, and as a Christian, you now dwell in this city, (b) The kingdom of God (here and now)—you are part of that kingdom today, and (c) the kingdom of Heaven (future, glorified)—the heavenly kingdom of God, where we will dwell together with God for eternity.[15]
10. Note also that “New Jerusalem” is itself built on “Mount Zion,” which is the “holy mountain” of the Lord (see Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1; Psa 2:6; 3:4; 48:1; 87:1; Isa 11:9; 27:13; 56:7; 57:13; 65:25; 66:20; Dan 9:16, 20; Zep 3:11; Zec 8:3). “Mount Zion” is also representative of the government of God that will be set up in “the last days” (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1)—which is this Church age of grace we now live in and which is built on “the gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:14).[16] So you see, at its foundation, everything about the kingdom of God is built on the Gospel, and it is unmovable and “cannot be shaken” (Heb 12:27–28; cf. Isa 9:7; Dan 2:44; 7:14, 27; Psa 125:1; Luk 1:33; 1Pe 1:4–5; Rev 22:5).
11. As a Christian, you have now come to “Mount Zion” (see Rev 14:1) and “New Jerusalem.” We must always remember that the “heavenly Jerusalem”[17] is our eternal home, where our “citizenship” lies (Php 3:20–21; cf. Joh 14:2–3; Col 3:2; Eph 2:6, 19; 1Pe 2:9; Heb 11:10, 13, 16; 13:14; 12:22; Rev 3:20–21; 21:2) and where our King is (Mat 22:44; Joh 14:2–3; Act 1:11; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20–21; Col 3:1; Heb 6:19–20; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1Pe 3:22)—we are not “of this world” any longer (Joh 15:19).[18]
12. We are called to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1Co 15:58), which is to help build His kingdom. One of the ways that we do this is by obeying Jesus’ commandment to preach the Gospel.[19]^, [20]

Let us look to our “Lord” and “King” in confidence, knowing He is “seated at the right hand of God [the Father],” ruling and reigning in His kingdom, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:20–21).

Brother or sister in Christ, please don’t be “tricked” or “deceived”[21] into thinking that Jesus’ kingdom has not come yet—you are in the kingdom right now! As I explained previously, when Jesus returns, it will not be to start another “thousand-year earthly reign”; it will be the “last day” of human history, which is also “the day of judgment” and “the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father.”[22] Amen.