In our study today we see that it was Jesus who instructed us to pray for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10). According to Jesus, this kingdom is also already at hand, for He began to preach, and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17). And yet, The Holy Spirit prophesies of this very same kingdom being established after every human kingdom on earth is destroyed (Daniel 2). Thus, the kingdom of God in this sense will take place at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21), to be followed by His 1,000 year reign as King on the earth (Revelation 20:1-6). This kingdom is also related to many of the Old Testament promises and prophesies which pertain to the nation of Israel (Acts 1:6).
Thus, the Kingdom of God is an exhaustive doctrine in Scripture that contains many facets or aspects. It is something that we partake of now (Luke 17:21), but it is also something in the future that we groan for (Romans 8:22-25). Jesus Himself spoke of this future kingdom the night of the Passover (Luke 22:15-18). He also spoke of the kingdom of God for 40 days after His resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:3). This kingdom is something to be sought for now (Matthew 6:33), but it is also something that we look forward to with great anticipation (Mark 14:25). Though far from perfect (1 John 1:8-10), citizens of the kingdom of God are people who are sanctified by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:3-5).
The kingdom of God is a message that is to be preached to the entire world (Matthew 24:14), and is a message that involves tribulation (Acts 14:22). But God’s kingdom cannot be bought with wealth (Luke 18:18-27), nor are the poor disqualified from it (James 2:5). It is a theocratic or God-centered kingdom, which includes Spirit-induced blessings of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). The Scripture is very clear in telling us that we are not born into this kingdom via our natural birth, but by a spiritual birth (John 3:3-8). Thus, any interest or intention of being a part of this kingdom is directly connected with your personal response to the preaching of the gospel (Acts 28:23-31). Reader, have you repented of your sin and trusted Jesus alone as the sole satisfaction for your sin debt (1 John 2:1,2, 4:9,10), so that you too can be a citizen of God’s kingdom?
