Copyright © S P Townsend
The Kingdom of God is the sphere of God’s rule and authority. Of course in a very real sense God’s authority extends over everything He has made, and He is sovereign over all. But the term Kingdom of God usually has a narrower meaning to this, meaning the sphere within which God’s rule and authority is acknowledged and not challenged or defied.
Jesus said to Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world.
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." (John 18:36)
So this present world, insomuch as it is in rebellion against God’s authority and is in subjection to the evil one, is not presently part of the Kingdom of God in this narrower sense. But a time is coming when it will submit to God’s rule, as the Apostle John wrote:
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." (Rev 11:15)
This time will come at the end of this present age, when all who defy God’s authority will be subdued. The Apostle Paul, writing to the Christians at Corinth, said:
Then the end will come, when he (Christ Jesus) hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Cor 15:24-26)
Psalm 47 is a prophetic psalm, anticipating that great day when all will submit to God’s authority.
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted. (Psalm 47)
The term Kingdom of Heaven is used in Matthew’s gospel, and often means the same thing as the term Kingdom of God. So in Matthew 13:31,32 the same parable of the mustard seed is recounted as is found in Mark 4:30-32, but Matthew uses the term Kingdom of Heaven whereas Mark uses the term Kingdom of God. However, there can sometimes be a subtle difference of meaning intended, in that the Kingdom of Heaven can mean the sphere of God’s rule and authority particularly in heaven, as distinct from the sphere of God’s rule and authority here on earth. In heaven God’s rule and authority is unopposed; on earth a battle still rages. Jesus taught us to pray that God’s kingdom would come on earth in the same way that it exists in heaven.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10)
Now a very substantial part of the teaching of Jesus, and subsequently the early church, concerned the Kingdom of God. Here is a selection of verses to illustrate this.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt 3:1)
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matt 4:17)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (Matt 9:35)
As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matt 10:7,8)
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." (Luke 22:17,18)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt 24:14)
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8)
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 28:30,31)
To the Jews the “kingdom of God” was not an unfamiliar term. It would have immediately resonated with all of them that were familiar with their Scriptures. We are told that Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Jewish Council, was “waiting for the Kingdom of God” (Mark 15:43).
When Daniel interpreted king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of an enormous statue he said:
The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (Daniel 2:44)
Later in life Daniel received a vision from God, and recorded the following:
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13,14)
Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him. (Daniel 7:27)
There are many other references to this Kingdom by the Old Testament prophets, as the following illustrate.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7).
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:3,4 and Micah 4:2,3).
On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. (Zech 14:8,9).
To the Jews the Kingdom of God meant an earthly kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital city. That is precisely why the disciples asked Jesus the following question just before his ascension.
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6)
One question many ask is whether the Kingdom of God is going to be established here on earth, or whether it actually means heaven, and speaks of the time when God will create a new heaven and a new earth. Will Christ reign as King over all the earth in the present earthly Jerusalem or in a heavenly New Jerusalem?
Now of course there is going to be a heavenly New Jerusalem, and it is wonderfully true that the physical promises made by God to the patriarchs of old also have a much greater future spiritual fulfilment. We are told that Abraham refused to build a permanent residence in the land of promise, because his eyes were fixed on a future city, whose architect and builder were God (Heb 11:9,10). But this did not negate or lessen the physical fulfilment of God’s promise to him. His descendants still physically inherited the promised land, even though this was but a shadow of a much more glorious heavenly inheritance.
God is painting on the canvas of earthly history a representation of heavenly things, and he has not yet finished His work of art – more a living collage. Yes, there is a heavenly reality beyond the earthly representation, but God is committed to both. Unless we understand this then much of the Bible will be incomprehensible to us.
But actually Jesus gives us the answer in part of His teaching, that I have already referred to and that many of us have memorised from childhood.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10)
The prayer that Isaiah exhorts us to pray is seeking the same thing.
You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (Isaiah 62:6,7)
It is on earth that God initially intends His Kingdom to come in all of its fullness – on earth as in heaven. God is going to bring His Kingdom here on earth, in all of its power and glory. And then, beyond that in time, He will bring about a new heaven, a new earth and a new heavenly city (ref Rev 20:4-6; 21:1,2).
The Kingdom of God has both come, and is still to come. It has come, because Jesus has triumphed over sin and death, and God has exalted him above all things, and put all things beneath his feet. It is still to come because we do not at present see all things subject to him (Heb 2:7,8).
Jesus used many parables to illustrate the development and growth of the Kingdom of God. They reveal a two-stage process. The first stage is a growing phase. This is illustrated in the parables by seed growing, yeast spreading, a net catching, a merchant selling. The second stage is a completion phase. This is illustrated by seed harvested, dough fully risen, fish selected, treasure secured. The first stage is the stage during which evil will oppose the purposes of God. This will apparently frustrate God’s will, and will involve God’s people in suffering, persecutions, trials and the need for perseverance and faith (2 Thess 1:4,5). The second stage is the stage during which evil will be fully overcome. This is the time when God’s people will see the fruit of all their labours, and will receive their reward (Matt 25:34).
We are in the first stage, and this stage may last for a long time. In the parable of the talents Jesus said that the master of the servants returned to settle accounts after a long time (Matt 25:19). The second stage will be sudden and devastating for many. It will culminate with the nations of the earth surrounding Jerusalem and attacking her for one last time, and at the moment when Jerusalem is overthrown and those armies appear to have won the victory, Jesus himself will return in power and glory (Zech 14:1-9). We are told that on Israel God will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication, and they will look on Him who they pierced, and will mourn (Zech 10:10-14). But others, who do not welcome Christ as king, will call on the hills and mountains to fall upon them. Jesus warned his disciples to keep watch, because we do not know the day or the hour when these things will take place (Matt 25:13).
It’s citizens have been born again, born of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5)
It’s citizens have childlike humility and faith.
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3)
It’s citizens are those who do God’s will.
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matt 7:21)
It’s citizen’s lives demonstrate Christ’s reign of righteousness, peace and joy.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
It cannot presently be found in any earthly location other than among its citizens.
The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within (or among) you. (Luke 17:21)
When the Kingdom of God is near evil submits to the King.
As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matt 10:7,8)
If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. (Luke 11:20)
The Kingdom of God advances forcefully.
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (Matt 11:12)
The Kingdom of God is an inheritance for its citizens
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’ (Matt 25:34)
We are called to seek the coming of the Kingdom above all else
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt 6:33)
Copyright © S P Townsend