The Kingdom of God
There exists a plethora of conflicting perspectives concerning the Kingdom of God. Some groups maintain that the kingdom is a tangible, physical entity that is anticipated to materialize in the future, with Jesus returning to Earth to govern it from Jerusalem. Many of these beliefs are rooted in Premillennial interpretations, of which numerous varieties exist. All of the Premillennial theories within the scope of this biblical scholar’s knowledge adhere to the concept of a forthcoming physical kingdom. The term ” Premillennial ” signifies a time period preceding a thousand years. This purported thousand-year duration is when it is believed that this physical kingdom of God will be realized. This study endeavors to conduct a thorough examination of the Kingdom of God from a strictly biblical perspective, taking into account all relevant texts and synthesizing them into a coherent and non-conflicting understanding of its nature, its manifestation, and its current existence.
The Kingdom of God Prophesied in the Old Testament:
Daniel foretold a coming kingdom in Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.” This was Daniel’s interpretation of a dream king Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian empire had. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of four kingdoms, with his being the first, followed by Medo-Persia, Greece, and then Rome. God was going to establish a kingdom during the reign of the Fourth or the Roman Empire. Daniel gave four characteristics of this future kingdom that are vital in helping us in identifying it. 
Firstly, the kingdom will be established by God Himself, “…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom…” This kingdom that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream was not a kingdom set up by any man. This future kingdom has the stamp of divine ownership.
Secondly, this coming kingdom will never be destroyed. “…a kingdom that shall never be destroyed…” All the physical kingdoms of the earth that have ever existed have, or will come to an end. But the kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision, which will be set up during the Roman Empire, will never be destroyed. This coming kingdom will be a perpetual reign that Daniel said would never end.
Thirdly, note that this kingdom will not “…be left to another people.” Physical kingdoms come and go, and when they exchange kings or when a king dies and his heirs assume the throne, their kingdom passes to another ruler. The ruler of the kingdom Daniel foretold will never hand His kingdom over to another people. This future kingship will never end, and the kingdom will endure forever. This is no ordinary kingdom coming. It’s not going to be like the others in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision.
Fourthly, note the words in Daniel 2:34, which read, “A stone was cut out by no human hand…” and then mentioned again in Daniel 2:45, “just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.” The coming kingdom that would never end and would never be ruled over by another would overcome all the others and, most importantly, not be carved out by human hands. Bear in mind that kingdoms or empires such as Babylon, The Medo-Persians, Greece, and Rome were conquered by men. Babylon was cut from the rest of the world by Nebuchadnezzar. Cyrus the Great carved out the Medo-Persian Empire. Greece was cut from the rest of the world by Alexander the Great. The Roman Empire was founded when Augustus Caesar proclaimed himself the first emperor of Rome in 31 BC. But the kingdom that would break them all into pieces, unlike all the others, would not be established by the hands of a human man. As seen in the words “…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom…”, it is well established that the future kingdom God said He would set up is of divine origin, not being established at the hands of or by the direction of any man.
All four of these characteristics, 1) Established by God, 2) never-ending, 3) never passing to other people, and 4) not by the conquest of men, set this coming kingdom apart from all the other kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. This coming kingdom that will overcome all the others will be unlike any other kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision.
The King Prophesied
A kingdom must have a king to exist. A kingdom is a people or territory over which a king rules supreme. A kingdom can be a physical territory, or it can be a people subject to a king.
Jesus is the Prophesied King:
Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
“Mighty God, Everlasting Father,” Jesus, who is king over the Kingdom of God, is, in fact, God. John 1:1-3, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 1 Timothy 3:16, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” God’s Word explicitly declares the deity of Christ.
“of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom.” As foretold in Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the coming kingdom will have no end. This is exceedingly important in identifying the kingdom that is to come. Premillennialists believe there is a kingdom coming that will last for a thousand years. Daniel foretold that the coming kingdom would endure forever, not just for a thousand years.
“…on the throne of David…“ The king in Isaiah’s prophecy would be of the lineage of King David.
“to establish it.” Jesus is prophesied to establish His Kingdom. Matthew 16:18-19, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” “church” (Ekklesia) is a people called for a unified purpose. The Kingdom Jesus gave the keys to unlock the entrance to is the people of Christ, the Ekklesia, translated as church, which is the called out from the world.
Jesus as the King was Prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
“…behold your king” Fulfilled in John 12:12-13, “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
“…mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Fulfilled in John 12:14-15, “And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” Matthew 21:5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” This fulfillment absolutely identifies Jesus as the King.
In Jeremiah 23:5 we read, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king…” This is a Prediction of a righteous king from the line of David who will establish justice and righteousness, aligning with Jesus as the descendant of David. Note the wording that places the Lord as the one raising up this king, which harmonizes with the prophecy in Daniel regarding the kingdom not established by the hands of men.
The Kingdom Prophecied On Mount Sinai:
While Moses received the law on Mount Sinai, God told him in Exodus 19:5-6, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
To properly understand this prophecy, it must be realized that under the law of Moses, the priesthood was confined to the Levites, while under the law of Christ, all Christians are priests. So when God told Moses they would be a kingdom of priests, He was referring to the coming kingdom of God that would indeed be a treasure among all the people of the earth.
Summary of Old Testament Prophecy:
The attributes of the coming Kingdom of God, which we have from the Old Testament prophecies, will help us determine what it will be when it arrives in the New Testament.
Exodus 19:5-6
- The entire nation of Israel will be a kingdom of priests
Daniel 2:44
- God will establish the kingdom
- The Kingdom will endure forever
- The Kingdom will never be ruled by anyone else but God
- Men will not establish the Kingdom.
Isaiah 9:6-7
- The King will be God.
- The King will be a descendant of the throne of David.
- The King will rule His Kingdom with Justice and Righteousness.
- His Governorship/Kingship will endure forever.
Zechariah 9:9
- The King will be Humble.
- The King will bring salvation to all.
We know from the New Testament conclusively that Jesus is the King.
The Kingdom of God Prophesied in the New Testament:
With the advent of Jesus, the King, a kingdom is necessary. A king without a Kingdom is a King of no one. So, it stands to reason that with the coming of Jesus, there must be a kingdom coming with Him.
Jesus prophesied of His kingdom.
From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He preached of the coming Kingdom. In Matthew 4:17 we read, “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Greek word for “is at hand” means “is near and can be approached”.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Matthew 10:5-7, “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” The Disciples were sent out to proclaim to all in Israel that the kingdom would soon be set up.
Note: Advocates of premillennial beliefs propose that Christ came to establish a kingdom on earth. But this was prevented when Satan caused Christ to be crucified, thus thwarting God’s plan. The church was then set up as a temporary solution until Christ returned to establish the kingdom, over which he would reign for 1,000 years. This idea of God’s plans being thwarted flies directly in the face of Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Either God is fully and completely in charge of worldly affairs, or He is not. God can either have His designs overthrown or not. Job says God’s plans cannot be thwarted, and Premillennialists would have us believe His plans can.
This is by no means the only reference in God’s Word that attests to the fact that man cannot usurp God’s designs; Isaiah 55:11 “...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Premillennial conclusions regarding the failure of God’s designs to be accomplished create a direct conflict with inspired scripture that conclusively declares that such a thing is not possible.
Some Would Not Taste Death Before The Kingdom Comes
In Mark chapter 8, starting in verse 31, Jesus begins teaching His disciples about His coming death and resurrection. In Chapter 9 and verse 1 of this setting, Jesus makes this prophecy, “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” The words “some of them” carry with it a necessary inference. Jesus is speaking to His small company of disciples that accompanied Him throughout His earthly ministry. This was not a public teaching; instead, it was directed at a specific group. While “some” of them would live to see the coming of the Kingdom of God, it necessarily follows that “some” would not. Someone within that group of disciples would not live to see the Kingdom of God come. We know the traitor Judas was with them since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry from Acts 1:17-21 and that he committed suicide on the night of Jesus’s death because of his guilt over his betrayal.
On the evening when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, Jesus made this statement, giving us another clue as to when the Kingdom of God would arrive. In Mark_14:25, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus also spoke of the imminent coming of the Kingdom in:
Matthew 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Luke 9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
From these verses, we can deduce that the Kingdom of God came shortly after Jesus’ death.
The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed
Perhaps one of the most informative verses concerning the Kingdom of God is found in Luke 7:20-21, “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
On this occasion, the Pharisees questioned Jesus regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God. At this time, Judah was under the control of the Roman Empire, and they were hoping to be delivered from Roman oppression and restored to a state of dominance in the region with them being in charge. The Jews were expecting a great deliverance and conquest and wanted to know when this would happen. No doubt, Jesus’s answer was not what they wanted to hear.
From Jesus’s answer to their queries, we know the coming Kingdom would not be physically seen. Jesus also provided another clue when He said, “For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” On this occasion, Jesus told the Pharisees that the coming Kingdom of God would not be an observable physical kingdom like the Roman Empire. Instead, it would be a Kingdom within them, meaning it would exist in their hearts and minds and not be a kingdom of people with a physical territory.
My Kingdom is not of this world
Standing before Pilate, he asked Jesus, “Are you [Jesus] the king of the Jews?” Jesus’s response to Pilate reinforces the non-physical aspect of His kingdom. John 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Jesus again affirms, as He had stated on previous occasions, that His kingdom was not physical. It cannot be observed; It is within the people and not of the world. These three qualities of Jesus’s Kingdom preclude it from being a physical earthly territory.
Those who advocate the belief that Jesus is going to return to earth sometime in the future and establish an earthly kingdom from where He will reign as king must deal with the reality that such a kingdom can be observed and that everyone that Jesus foretold the coming of His kingdom to has tasted an earthly death.
The Kingdom of God Will Come with Power
Going back to Mark 9:1, there is a phrase that connects the coming Kingdom with power that can be seen: “And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
The Kingdom is not a physical territory that can be observed, but its presence will be evident, and its advent will be powerful. In other words, the kingdom will be manifested with power.
After Jesus’ resurrection, He instructed His disciples, as recorded in Luke 24:49: “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” This was in Jerusalem shortly before Jesus’ ascension. Jesus’ Kingdom would be manifested with power, and here, the disciples were instructed to stay in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high.” There is an event coming that the disciples were instructed to wait for.
In Acts 1:8, we have another account of Jesus telling His disciples about this coming power: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
If we back up in Acts 1 to verse 3 to get some context on verse 8 we see that prior to this, Jesus was speaking to them about the kingdom of God: “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Jesus was preparing them for the arrival of the kingdom prior to His ascension. Even after all Jesus taught them, his disciples still did not grasp what the Kingdom really was. They still believed Jesus was going to establish a physical earthly kingdom and free them from Roman bondage. Notice what they asked Jesus in Act 1:6, “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” This is when Jesus told them they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”.
We can now conclude that the kingdom of God will be manifested in Jerusalem with Power from God on High, and the Holy Spirit will deliver this power. We know from previous inspired texts that it will not be an earthly physical kingdom. The disciples did not understand this then but figured it out afterward.
The Kingdom of God is Like (Kingdom Parables)
Jesus taught extensively about the kingdom and used parables to illustrate its qualities. We can examine these qualities to help identify the nature of the kingdom of God.
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15) illustrates how people respond to the message of the Kingdom, with different types of soil representing different hearts. The growth and subsistence of the kingdom are propagated by the efforts of a sower of seeds, not a conqueror.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19) compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed, which starts small but grows into a large tree, symbolizing the potential and growth of the Kingdom from a small source.
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) describes the Kingdom of God as a hidden treasure, emphasizing its immense value and the joy of discovering it.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46) underscores the value of the Kingdom by likening it to a pearl so precious that one would sell all their possessions to acquire it. This is illustrative of free will and voluntary seeking with zeal. The kingdom is exceedingly valuable in the eyes of the seekers.
The Parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) illustrates the kingdom of heaven as a net that indiscriminately gathers all kinds of fish, which are later sorted, with the good kept and the bad discarded, symbolizing the final separation of the righteous and wicked at the end of the age.
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) compares the Kingdom to a field where good seed (wheat) and bad seed (weeds) are sown, illustrating the reality of both good and evil within the Kingdom until the end times with the final purging of the evil and preservation of the good.
The Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29) describes the Kingdom as a seed that grows independently, emphasizing the unseen and gradual nature of God’s work until the end time harvest.
The Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20-21) compares the Kingdom to leaven (yeast) mixed into dough, illustrating how the Kingdom spreads throughout the world. Leaven exists and operates within the bread dough and changes it from within. Similarly, the kingdom of God exists in concert with the world and changes it. This is unlike an earthy kingdom that exists apart from the world’s kingdoms.
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) illustrates the Kingdom’s unexpected rewards and God’s grace, showing that those who come late can still receive the same reward as those who come early. This indicates the members’ equal status and open availability to all, regardless of their stage in life. Earthly kingdoms, especially those of that time period, were not open to everyone at this level. This is certainly not in any way what the leaders of the nation of Israel envisioned with the coming kingdom.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) illustrates the final judgment and the separation of the righteous (sheep) from the unrighteous (goats) based on their actions toward others.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) illustrates the importance of helping the poor and the consequences of neglecting them.
It is important to remember that the Israelites were expecting to be delivered from Roman oppression and to be in a position of authority over Rome. They wanted to overthrow the Romans and put them into servitude. God led them out of Egypt and crippled the Egyptian army in the process. God led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan and set them up as the primary power in that region. This is what the Israelites had in mind. They were not interested in a spiritual kingdom that bore all the characteristics of the Kingdom in Jesus’ parables. They wanted a warrior king from the lineage of David who would conquer the entire Roman empire, similar to David’s conquests. They wanted power, prestige, and vengeance. The kingdom Jesus foretold did not look like what they wanted, and they ultimately rejected Jesus and killed Him for not living up to their expectations.
The kingdom Jesus taught looked nothing like what they wanted, as evidenced in the kingdom parables and other scripture. And it is important in our understanding of the kingdom that it was never meant to look like that. Jesus never came to establish an earthly kingdom. From before time began, it was always intended to be a spiritual kingdom of believers, and Jesus went out of His way to teach that.
If Jesus ever intended to be the king over the physical nation of Israel, that was within His grasp on the occasion when He fed the 5000. In John 6:14-25 we read, “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” Jesus never intended to establish an earthly kingdom. If that were ever His purpose, He would have doubtless availed Himself of the opportunity when it arose on this occasion. Instead, He withdrew and rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to be mocked and killed at the hands of His own people.
What we know thus far from God’s Word:
Exodus 19:5-6
- The entire nation of Israel will be a kingdom of priests
Daniel 2:44
- God will establish a kingdom in the Roman Empire
- The Kingdom will endure forever
- The Kingdom will never be ruled by anyone else but God
- Men will not establish the Kingdom.
Isaiah 9:6-7
- The King will be God.
- The King will be a descendant of the throne of David.
- The King will rule His Kingdom with Justice and Righteousness.
- His Governorship/Kingship will endure forever.
Zechariah 9:9
- The King will be Humble.
- The King will bring salvation to all.
Mark 9:1; Matthew 16:28; Luke 9:27
- The kingdom will come during the lifetimes of some living.
John 18:36
- The Kingdom will not have a physical territory.
Luke 7:20
- The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed.
Luke 7:21
- The Kingdom of God is within the hearts of men.
Mark 9:1
- The Kingdom of God is coming with a visible display of power.
Luke 24:49
- A power display is coming to Jerusalem. The Apostles were instructed to remain there for this event and specifically told they would receive power from God (on high).
Given all that we can conclude from God’s Word, the coming kingdom would be a non-physical (without observation, neither materially here nor there), spiritual (within the hearts of men), domain with Christ reigning over it. And when it is manifested, it will be an event accompanied by power from God. In other words, it will be hard to miss. We have all the elements of the kingdom necessary to recognize it and instructions for the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the arrival of a powerful event.
The Israelites expected a physical deliverer to establish Israel as the ruling force over the Roman Empire. Jesus never told them this would happen. They had all the information they needed to conclude at the time that the coming kingdom would not be such a thing as they envisioned. Even Jesus’ disciples failed to perceive this, as seen in Acts 1:6 when they asked Jesus about it before His ascension, “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” They were not seeing it even though He told them and everyone else what the kingdom would be over and over.
The Coming of the Kingdom
Pentecost, The Coming of the Holy Spirit
Act 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
“they were all together in one place” all of Jesus’ disciples were together in a house.
“a sound like a mighty rushing wind” An audible noise that filled the entire house and was audible for a great distance.
“divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them” Every one of them in that house received a divided tongue that looked like fire.
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” This is the first manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s miraculous gift of causing someone to speak in another language.
“and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Nothing like this had ever been seen before. This was no doubt a powerful display of the operation of God.
Acts 2:5 “Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.”
“And at this sound, the multitude came together.” This was an audible event such that the populace of the entire city knew it and a great many came to see what was happening. This was quite an event.
Act 2:7-12 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
The Galileans were the Jews and Gentiles who inhabited the region of Palestine, which lies north of the Plain of Esdraelon and the Valley of Jezreel. The majority of the Galilean population was made up of lower-class tenant farmers and day laborers.
The vast majority of Galilee’s population was Jewish. Because of the Region’s gentile heritage, Galilee’s native tongue was Aramaic. Nevertheless, spreading Hellenistic influences made knowledge of the Greek language commonplace.
Galileans rejected the authority of the Roman ruling class on religious and political grounds. Their attitude made the region a hotbed for revolutionary sentiment and activity, which gave the Galileans a reputation for fearlessness.
Those in Jerusalem considered the Galileans a backward and unsophisticated people, partly because of their peculiar signature dialect, distinct from their own.
For a group of mostly Galileans to speak publicly and be understood by everyone present, it was such a significant event that it was met with disbelief.
The Book of Acts goes on to detail the conversion and baptism of approximately 3,000 attendees at this event. To say this event was not a demonstration of God’s power would be a gross misstatement.
In Acts 2:47, “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
There was at this time, a group of people mentioned who “were being saved”. In Acts 2:41, we read, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” We know this group of people had at least 3000 souls in it. Surely, these are enough souls to constitute the beginning of a kingdom of people who followed Jesus as their king. So if this is a kingdom, where is the King? The answer to this and many associated points necessary to establish this as the beginning of the Kingdom of God can be read in chapter 1 of the book of Hebrews. For clarity, we will examine the relevant verses in order and highlight the key points:
Heb 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
After Jesus offered Himself on the cross and died for the sins of mankind, He ascended to Heaven, where He sat down at the right hand of God the Father. See also Hebrews 10:12, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God”
Hebrews 1:8, “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” Daniel prophesied of a kingdom that would have no end. Here is God declaring to Jesus, sitting beside Him, that His throne would endure forever.
“your kingdom.” Here we have God referring to a kingdom that belonged (present tense) to Jesus, who was sitting beside Him. God isn’t going to refer to a kingdom belonging to Jesus, if He doesn’t have one. The Kingdom of God exists, and Jesus reigns over it from Heaven. Concerning this existing kingdom, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:24-25, “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. V25 For He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
“He must reign” This is present tense. Jesus began reigning over His kingdom after His sacrifice and ascension into Heaven. He will continue to reign until all enemies of His are subdued, when he will then present the Kingdom He has been reigning over to God the Father in its completeness. The Kingdom of Christ will be united with God the Father in Heaven at this time. Through the sacrifice of Jesus and the associated intermediary works of Jesus, Christians are restored to fellowship with God. On that great day of judgment, when the graves are opened, and the judgment of the living and the dead has occurred, the Kingdom of Christ will then be unified with God the Father in heaven. Until this time, the saved are in spiritual fellowship with God, but when Jesus presents His Kingdom to God the Father, Christians will be in the actual presence of God in heaven.
John’s Greeting to the Seven Churches in Revelation
Rev 1:4-6, “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
“and He” [Jesus]
“made us.” This is written in the past tense, meaning it was already accomplished. “Us” is a pronoun used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself and one or more other people in a group of people with whom he or she is associated. John is referring to all Christians in the body of Christ with whom he is a fellow member.
“to be a kingdom” This verse harmonizes precisely with what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” and what Paul wrote in Colossians 1:13, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
All of these passages which positively affirm the existence of Christ’s kingdom are directly connected to a prophecy given in Exodus 19:5-6 which reads, “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and)keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and)a holy nation…”
The only conclusion that can be drawn from these passages from God’s inspired Word is that the Kingdom of God/Christ/Heaven exists now and is reigned over by Jesus Christ as it’s head and King.
We have definite proof from the Word of God that Jesus was ruling over a kingdom of people from heaven after His ascension to Heaven. Let’s summarize what we know from the event on Pentecost with the predictions of the Kingdom from scripture:
What we know thus far from God’s Word:
Exodus 19:5-6
- The entire nation of Israel will be a kingdom of priests (fulfilled in 1 Peter 2:5-9)
Daniel 2:44
- God will establish a kingdom in the Roman Empire (Fulfilled on Pentecost in Acts 2)
- The Kingdom will endure forever (Hebrews 1:8,12, 2 Peter 1:11)
- The Kingdom will never be ruled by anyone else but God (Hebrews 1:8)
- Men will not establish the Kingdom. (Hebrews 1)
Isaiah 9:6-7
- The King will be God. (Declared so by God the Father in Hebrews 1:8)
- The King will be a descendant of the throne of David. (Luke 1:32)
- The King will rule His Kingdom with Justice and Righteousness. (Hebrews 1:9)
- His Governorship/Kingship will endure forever. (Manifested in Hebrews 1:8,12)
Zechariah 9:9
- The King will be Humble. (Matthew 21:5)
- The King will bring salvation to all. (John 3:16)
Mark 9:1; Matthew 16:28; Luke 9:27
- The kingdom will come during the lifetimes of some living. (Manifested in Acts 2 with the coming of the first Christian converts.)
John 18:36
- The Kingdom will not have a physical territory (Manifested in Acts 2 with the coming of the first Christian converts.)
Luke 7:20
- The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed as a physical manifestation. (Manifested in Acts 2:47 with the establishment of the church/body of Christians).
Luke 7:21
- The Kingdom of God is within the hearts of men. (Manifested in Acts 2:41-46)
Mark 9:1
- The Kingdom of God is coming with a visible display of power. (Manifested in Acts 2:1-12)
Luke 24:49
- There is a coming event in Jerusalem where there will be a display of power. The Apostles were instructed to remain there for this event and were specifically told they would receive power from God (on high). (Manifested in Acts 2)
Undoubtedly, the Kingdom of God is the universal collection/Body of the saved in Christ. It came with Divine power on Pentecost. The very first Christians converted after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ ushered in the Kingdom of Christ/ Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God Manifested
The kingdom of God has always existed because all of the earth and its inhabitants have always been under His rule. God’s Kingdom of Christians program began before creation and long before the establishment of any earthly kingdom. The Kingdom of God is a major theme of Old Testament prophetic revelation. The prophets spoke of the hope that God would establish a kingdom from which he would rule his people. Even though the earth is the realm or kingdom of God, this kingdom coming in prophecy would be distinct. It would be a Kingdom of Christians, a holy nation of believers belonging to Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Christians in this Kingdom are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).
It is important to note that the kingdom was prophesied in the Old Testament, “At hand” in the Gospels, “came with power” in the Book of Acts, and “manifested” in the Epistles.
The kingdom came with power in Acts 2. Philip was preaching the “good news about the kingdom of God” in Acts 8:12. Paul and company taught in Acts 14:22 that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” In Ephesus, Paul entered the synagogue for three months, “reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.” Paul proclaimed the Kingdom to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:25. While imprisoned under house arrest in Rome, Paul declared, “From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God…” Acts 28:23 and finally, in verse 31 of the same context, Luke wrote of Paul, “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ…” all these statements concerning the Kingdom of God are speaking of the kingdom in existence. The kingdom had come on Pentecost just as it had been foretold, thrived, and existed.
For example, in Colossians 1:13, we read, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” There must be a Kingdom for this verse of scripture to make sense. How can anyone be in a kingdom that has not yet arrived or that does not exist?
We looked at Hebrews 1:8, “But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.” This verse is an illustration of God the Father making a declaration “of the Son“. God declares the Son as God. He says “Your throne, O God”. If there is any doubt whatsoever in anyone’s mind as to whether Jesus Christ is God, this declaration by God the Father settles that issue once and for all. If God the Father calls His Son God, He is God. End of story. Thus saith the Lord. Under no circumstances would the supreme sovereign living God convey such a title on anyone less than He is.
Secondly, God declares that His Son has a throne. Only a King sets on a throne. Not also God declared, “Your throne, O God, is.” In the same sentence, he goes on to say, “the scepter of uprightness is…” Both usages are in the present tense, meaning the expression of an action that is currently going on, habitually performed, or a state that currently or generally exists. The Son’s throne and His Kingdom presently exist.
Kingdoms not only have a King, they also have citizens. In Ephesians, Paul was dealing with the fact that Jews and Gentiles are both equally subject to the promises of the Gospel, and he makes this statement in Ephesians 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you [Gentiles] are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” Citizens of the household of God are the same as members in the Kingdom of God. The members of these are simply believers in Christ/Christians.
And if that is not enough, Peter said in 1 Peter 2:9-11, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. A kingdom is a nation of people and Christians are citizens of God’s nation.
1Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Christians are a nation of God’s people in the Kingdom of God. Note the present tense in Verse 9. This kingdom, this nation of God’s people, existed at the time this writing. The people of God can be nothing other than Christians. If one is a Christian, they are citizens in the nation of God, His Kingdom.
1 Peter 2:11 “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
During the Babylonian captivity, the Israelites who had been enslaved and taken to Babylon were still Israelites. We read of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, and how they defied Nebuchadnezzar. They were still Israelites even though they were enslaved in Babylon. Just like the Israelites were a nation of slaves in a foreign land, Christians are a nation/kingdom of God’s children living in the world. Peter referred to Christians as sojourners and exiles in verse 11. The Greek for “sojourner” means an alien or foreigner. As travelers in a kingdom not their own, sojourners/foreigners are citizens of another kingdom. They have a kingdom or nation they belong to. And of course, the kingdom/nation that Christians belong to is the Kingdom of God, which is the kingdom Christ is presently reigning over from the position of God’s right hand in Heaven.
Peter referred to members in this kingdom as “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” The words “race, nation and people” are all terms one would associate with citizens in the Kingdom of God.
Another scripture that proves the existence of the Kingdom of God is Colossians 1:13 which reads, “God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Paul was writing to the Christians in Colosse, so when he uses the word “We,” he is speaking of himself and them having been brought (past tense) to the Kingdom of His dear Son. One cannot be brought into a kingdom that does not exist.
Then, in Revelation 1:9, we read, “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. .” (KJV). The KJV more accurately translates this verse as “in the kingdom”. The original language is literally “in”(G1722), “the” (G3588), “kingdom” (G932). John affirmed, by inspiration, that he was in the kingdom. One cannot be in a kingdom that does not exist or will arrive at some time in the future.
Given the overwhelming evidence from God’s Word, there can be no reasonable doubt that the kingdom of God is the body of Christ, fully established on Pentecost, with Jesus reigning over it in Heaven.
The Church is the Kingdom of God
We come now to Matthew 16:18-19. These were words the Lord Jesus spoke to Peter after he declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus told Peter on that occasion that Peter was a stone and that He (Jesus) would build the church upon Himself as the rock.
Then He told Peter that He would give him the keys—not of the church—but of the kingdom! This implies that the church in verse 18 is certainly the kingdom in verse 19.
Jesus promised to give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. On the day of Pentecost, Peter delivered the first gospel sermon and opened the door for the Jewish people to come in. Then, at the house of Cornelius, Peter opened the door for the Gentiles to come in.
After Peter opened the kingdom of God to both Jews and Gentiles, the churches were established. First, the church in Jerusalem was established, and later, the church among the Gentiles was established. Because Peter used the keys of the kingdom to establish the churches, it indicates that the churches are the kingdom. When Jesus said He would build His Church, He was referring to a community of people called by God which is the very definition of the word Ekklesia/church.
The word “kingdom” refers to the rule and sovereignty of God over all things because “from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever” (Romans 11:36). In our time, the Christian era, Jesus is the king in God’s kingdom. Jesus refers to his kingdom as His church (Matthew 16:16-19).
The church is the ekklesia, the assembly. This means that the church is the gathering together of the called people of God. The church is also the house of God, His dwelling place. It is also the Body of Christ, which is the collective membership of those in Christ. The church is also the Bride of Christ. In addition to all these aspects, the church is also the kingdom.
The church bears the same characteristics as the kingdom.
Jesus rules both:
The kingdom of God is ruled over by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24-27).
Jesus is Head of all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).
The conditions for admission are identical:
Converts were added to the church after baptism (Acts 2:38; 47).
Rebirth in water preceded entry into the Kingdom of God (John 3:5)
God adds Christians to the church and the Kingdom:
Act 2:47: “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Colossians 1:13: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…”
Objections To the Current Kingdom Of God
Premillennialists claim a future literal kingdom of God will be manifested in Jerusalem and last for 1000 years with Jesus on the throne.
One of the things they base this belief on is that God has not fulfilled the land promises He made to the Israelites. According to Joshua 21:43-45, the land promises were fulfilled; “Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”
The Israelites fell into idolatry and broke the covenant God made with them. He warned them of the consequences for this in Leviticus 26:14 and following. In Leviticus 26:32-33, we read, “And I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled at it. And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.” The Israelites indeed received their land promise, and lost it when they fell into sin and idolatry. During the Babylonian captivity, they lost their land.
Conclusion:
The Kingdom of God, manifested as the body of Christ and the church, is one and the same. Established on Pentecost, it exists today with Jesus reigning over His people from Heaven. There is no future kingdom coming; it is here now. God’s plans were never affected by the actions of men. The kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament is the spiritual kingdom we have now. It aligns perfectly with everything foretold about it in prophecy and written about in the New Testament. It came at the right time, in the right place, under the right circumstances, and with the right characteristics.
When one is in the church Jesus established, they are simultaneously in the body of Christ and in His kingdom.