5091 E. University, Pleasant Hill, IA, 50327, (515) 265-5714
  📖 LIBRARY  PRINT PAGE
  

Thy Kingdom Come. But When?

by Louis Garbi

INTRODUCTION

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10, KJV). Many people know these words. They come from Jesus teaching His disciples to pray. "Thy kingdom come." These words point to a great event. They make us wonder. When will God's kingdom come? Will it be on earth or in heaven? Time or eternity?

"THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE..."

The following quotes are taken from parables which Jesus told about the kingdom (Matthew 13:24-47). He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like..."

  • "a man who sowed good seed in his field" (vs. 24)
  • "a mustard seed" (vs. 31)
  • "leaven" (vs. 33)
  • "treasure hidden in a field" (vs. 44)
  • "a merchant seeking beautiful pearls" (vs. 45)
  • "a dragnet" (vs. 47)

An examination of these parables reveals that they have one theme in common-the work of God's kingdom among people on this earth. They show the kingdom as a dominion where we humans can know God's will, seek His favor, find protection, and live. Also, there is judgment stated or implied-eternal reward for those who receive the truth, condemnation for those who reject the work of the kingdom. Everyone who can reason is able to find personal application in these parables. They mean something to our relationship with God. We can easily see from them that the kingdom has a place on earth, in our time. If we understand God's kingdom is here, identifying the time of its arrival is not so difficult.

"THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND"

John the Baptist preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 3:2). Jesus preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). He also commanded the 12 apostles to preach, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:7). "At hand" means near, or something that will shortly come to pass. The very people who were in Jesus' presence heard Him say, "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom" (Matthew 16:28). So the kingdom came within the lifespan of those who were contemporary with Jesus.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE KINGDOM

The coming of the kingdom is founded on the victory of Jesus over sin and death. After His resurrection, Jesus declared, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18, KJV). These are the words of a King, and where there is a king there is a kingdom.

Jesus' victory and power give us access into this kingdom to be a part of it. Colossians 1:13, 14 reads: "He [the Father] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." To summarize:

  1. Jesus presides over the kingdom ("the kingdom of the Son")
  2. The Father places the redeemed into the kingdom ("He has...conveyed us into the kingdom")
  3. Placement is upon deliverance from "the power of darkness"
  4. The means of deliverance is in Jesus ("redemption through His blood")

Therefore, we have a place in the kingdom through the blood of Christ now. "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God night and day, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death'" (Revelation 12:10, 11). Faithful men and women who lay down their lives for the Lord do so because they are part of a kingdom that has come.

THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM

The kingdom is spiritual in nature. Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20, 21). It is a spiritual kingdom which we access through the inner man. Furthermore, when Pilate questioned Jesus, Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36). The aims of the kingdom are not the same as those of earthly kingdoms or governments. Its present work is that of redemption and bearing witness to the truth. Its effect is per-individual. In it, we have a place if "we walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

THE FUTURE OF THE KINGDOM

Some scriptures show another point of view, pointing to the kingdom as if it has not yet come. Let us briefly consider a couple:

  • Acts 14:22- "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
  • 2 Peter 1:11- "for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

These scriptures show a pending entrance into the kingdom, even in this kingdom age. The Bible gives a plain statement reconciling the seeming contradiction: "Then comes the end, when He [Jesus] delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet" (1 Corinthians 15:24, 25).

The kingdom has three phases. The first is under the reign of Jesus. It began with His conquest of sin and death. Through faith, we enjoy the power of this kingdom, and we can have a place in it. It endures through the judgment day. The second phase, the judgment, is transitional; it touches time and eternity. At that time, the Lord will say, "Well done" or "Depart" (Matthew 25:21, 41). The third phase is when Jesus "delivers the kingdom to God the Father" (1 Corinthians 15:24). This will be after the judgment, when "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:26). So there is a future state of this kingdom. In this respect, our entry is not complete.

TO BE PART OF ITS FUTURE GLORY...

It is a mistake to think this future phase (or state) of the kingdom is the only thing that matters. Without entering the kingdom, as it is now available, we cannot be a part of its future glory. If we abide faithfully in the kingdom of heaven here and now, we will be able to enjoy the fullness of the kingdom in the presence of God the Father. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28).