Why The Kingdom?
Let’s be frank. There are so many questions that come to mind when you think about ‘The Kingdom’. Here are just a few…
Whose Kingdom is it?
Where is the Kingdom?
What is the Kingdom?
Why does the Kingdom matter?
Who is part of the Kingdom?
When will we see the Kingdom?
There are approximately 365 mentions of the Kingdom in the Bible, which will give you some Idea about how much emphasis God puts on the importance of “Kingdom”. Let’s look to some of these scriptures to see if we can answer the questions above.
Whose Kingdom is it?
Well, to be clear, the Kingdom that we are focused on is the Kingdom of God spoken about in the Bible. This is the Kingdom prophesied about in the old testament, which was to be given to Jesus the Messiah.
“Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, and His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed. ”
Over 100 of the 365 references mentioned above talk about the Kingdom of God and the importance of the Kingdom of God for those that are believers in Jesus Christ. In Mark 1:14 We read that when Jesus was ministering on earth, he was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom was the central part of his message. In fact, Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The kingdom of God is at hand”. What he was saying is that the kingdom was being made available to anyone who would hear his message and believe what he was proposing. This brings us to our next question.
Where is the Kingdom?
The Bible makes it plain that the Kingdom of God is a place unlike any other place that we know about. Naturally, when we think of a kingdom, we think of some place external to us. We think of a kingdom as some place that we can go to, a place we can visit and maybe live there for a while. But Luke 17:20-21 says that the kingdom of God is not something that one can observe with the natural eye. The Bible says that no one can say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Interesting right? The fact that God says there is a Kingdom inside of you is a little hard to grasp at first, and this leads us to the next question.
What is the Kingdom?
When Jesus talked about the Kingdom, he talked about it being a mystery to those that were not His followers. He spoke about the kingdom using parables. He said that those that where his followers (those seeking the Kingdom) would understand the parables because they knew him. However, those that were not with Him (those not seeking the Kingdom) would think that His message of the kingdom was foolishness. When explaining the Kingdom to His disciples, Jesus often talked about what the kingdom had to offer. Most important of these offerings is the forgiveness of sins (Mark 4:12). This is the most important because where there is forgiveness of sins, there is every other blessing of God. We know this is true because for many that needed Jesus’s help, he would simply tell them that their sins were forgiven, and he would say to them “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10:9). Whatever they were looking for, whether it was health, wealth, sanity or purpose, would become available after they received the forgiveness that came along with the message of the Kingdom.
To be clear, after hearing about the Kingdom and receiving the forgiveness that kingdom offers, a person is in right standing with God, because The Kingdom of God is the righteousness of God. Indeed Romans 14:17 says that he Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 1:8 says, “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”
Lets recap. So far, we know Who the kingdom belongs to, that the Kingdom is the Kingdom belonging to God or the Kingdom of God. We also know that the kingdom is located inside of us and that the kingdom consist of God’s righteousness. We know that locating the Kingdom brings us to forgiveness of sins and into right standing with God. This brings us to our next question.
Why does the Kingdom matter?
According to the Bible, which we consider to be THE Word of God, everything that is not of the Kingdom of God is temporary (1 Corinthians 7:31). Everything that we see with our natural eye will pass away at some point, but the Kingdom of God will never pass away (Luke 21:33 ,2 Peter 3:10, John 2:17).
Having the Kingdom on the inside of you means that you will never be separated from God, because His eternal Kingdom is within you. The Bible says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). For a Christian, the kingdom of God becomes the central focus because that Kingdom is where the King (Jesus) is in control. The Christian is commanded to “seek first the kingdom” having the kingdom on the inside of us makes all of the external circumstances align with what God has planned.
The Kingdom inside of the believer, makes things on earth work as they do in heaven. The Kingdom in the believer is what brings heaven to earth. Furthermore, Jesus promised that he would give us the Keys to the Kingdom (more on this in a future post). Having the Keys to any dwelling means that there are no secrets that are withheld from the one having them in his or her possession. Having the Keys to the Kingdom means having the Keys to God’s house. Just imagine having all the answers to your questions and having access to every provision that you need. Who would not want to have the keys to God’s house? This brings us to the next question.
Who is a part of the Kingdom?
Even before Jesus showed up to teach us about the Kingdom of God, it was prophesied in Daniel regarding those that would be followers of Jesus,
“Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ ”
Likewise, Revelations says,
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
“His Christ” spoken of here is the Bride of Christ, which is the church, the believers in Jesus. The Bible says in Ephesians 1,
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory..”
So, you can see that the kingdom belongs to those that have received it as an inheritance by believing in Jesus. This brings us to our final question.
When will we see the Kingdom?
This may be the most asked question of Christians. In fact, one might ask, “if the Kingdom of God is on the inside of us, why did Jesus teach us to pray “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)?” However, Jesus’s prayer makes sense when you understand that what happens on earth is dependent upon those that God has put in charge of the earth. Before Jesus left this earth, he made a promise to Peter regarding those that receive the revelation of Jesus saying, “ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19). And in another place, it is written,
This may be the most asked question of Christians. In fact, one might ask, “if the Kingdom of God is on the inside of us, why did Jesus teach us to pray “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)?” However, Jesus’s prayer makes sense when you understand that what happens on earth is dependent upon those that God has put in charge of the earth. Before Jesus left this earth, he made a promise to Peter regarding those that receive the revelation of Jesus saying, “ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19). And in another place, it is written,
““For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. ”
From this passage it can be understood that the appearing of the Kingdom of God on earth is synonymous with the revealing of God’s people as sons of God. And while the kingdom is present in the earth already, being expressed to the world by the believers (those that follow Jesus), the appearance of the ruling of the Kingdom or "Kingdom Authority" on the earth can only come when the believers accept the responsibility and authority of rulership in the earth. The Bible says that the Kingdoms of this world will then become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ (the Church, the Bride of Christ). The full revelation of the Sons of God, and the Kingdom of God will take place when Jesus returns to crown his Bride. However, when Jesus was asked about the timing of this event he answered, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” And while Jesus said we cannot not know the exact time that He will return, he did tell us that we can look for certain signs that would show that the time is near.
Jesus said in Luke 21:9 - 28,
“But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.””
Then He said to them,
““Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.”
““But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
““And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.””
As many of the signs foretold by Jesus are visible in the earth now, more than ever, the prayer of every Christian should be “Thy Kingdom Come!”