Present and Future Aspects of the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God, also referred to as the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of Christ, or the Kingdom of David, signifies Christ's mediatorial authority and rule on earth, the blessings derived from this rule, and the collective body of its subjects, which is the Church [5]. This concept carries both present and future dimensions within biblical and theological understanding.
The present aspect of the Kingdom of God is characterized by its spiritual and moral reality. It is described as a "moral and spiritual kingdom which the God of grace is setting up in this fallen world," whose subjects are those who have submitted to God's "gracious scepter" with Jesus as its head [8]. This kingdom has existed in an inward reality since there were people who "walked with God" [8]. Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God does not come with outward observation or visible signs that can be watched for [9]. When asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus indicated that it was not coming in a way that could be physically observed, challenging the common Jewish expectation of a Messiah who would establish a physical kingdom by defeating enemies like the Romans [6]. Instead, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was "near" [2] and was already among them [6]. The book of Acts describes the early apostles "preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness" [4], indicating its active presence and expansion through their ministry.
The future aspect of the Kingdom of God points to its ultimate and full manifestation. The prophet Daniel foresaw a kingdom that the God of heaven would establish, which would "never be destroyed" and would "stand forever," consuming all other kingdoms [3]. This future kingdom is global in scope, with its glories extending "as wide as the world and lasting as eternity" [7]. Jesus himself spoke of a future time when the Son of Man would be "seated at the right hand of the power of God" [1]. Some interpretations connect the "seeing" of the Kingdom of God with its establishment and victorious progress within the lifetime of some of Jesus's contemporaries, serving as a pledge of His final glorious coming [12]. The book of Revelation describes a "new heaven and a new earth," which is understood as a new universe or a new state for humanity, signifying the ultimate and complete realization of God's kingdom [11]. This future kingdom will involve the power that earthly kingdoms once possessed being conferred upon Messiah's kingdom, establishing it on earth under the whole heaven [10].
Sources
- Luke “Luke 22:69 (BBE) — But in the future the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
- Luke “Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. -- Luke 21:31”
- Daniel “In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. -- Daniel 2:44”
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingdom of God — (Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of Christ" (Matt. 13:41; 20:21) = "kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5) = "kingdom of David" (Mark 11:10) = "the kingdom" (Matt. 8:12; 13:19) = "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 13:41), all denote the same thing under different aspects, viz.: (1) Christ's mediatorial authority, or his rule on the earth; (2) the blessings and advantages of all kinds that flow from this rule; (3) the subjects of this kingdom taken collectively, or the Church.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 17:20: 17:20-37 This is the first of two discourses in Luke’s Gospel on the coming of the Kingdom and the return of the Son of Man (see also ch 21). 17:20-21 When will the Kingdom of God come? The common understanding among Jews was that the Messiah would establish God’s Kingdom in Jerusalem; he would defeat Israel’s enemies and bring in a period of peace, prosperity, justice, and righteousness (see 3:15; cp. Acts 1:6). The Pharisees were apparently challenging Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah because he was not defeating the Romans or establishing his Kingdom physically on”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 45:17: The glories of this empire shall be as wide as the world and lasting as eternity. therefore--Because thus glorious, the praise shall be universal and perpetual. Some writers have taxed their ingenuity to find in the history and fortunes of Christ and His Church exact parallels for every part of this splendid allegory, not excepting its gorgeous Oriental imagery. Thus, by the dresses of the king and queen, are thought to be meant the eminent endowments and graces of Christ and His people. The attendant women, supposed (though inconsistently it might ”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 6:10: Thy kingdom come--The kingdom of God is that moral and spiritual kingdom which the God of grace is setting up in this fallen world, whose subjects consist of as many as have been brought into hearty subjection to His gracious scepter, and of which His Son Jesus is the glorious Head. In the inward reality of it, this kingdom existed ever since there were men who "walked with God" (Gen 5:24), and "waited for His salvation" (Gen 49:18); who were "continually with Him, holden by His right hand" (Psa 73:23), and who, even in the valley of the shadow of dea”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 17:20: COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND OF THE SON OF MAN. (Luke 17:20-37) when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects. It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 7:27: greatness of the kingdom under . . . whole heaven--The power, which those several kingdoms had possessed, shall all be conferred on Messiah's kingdom. "Under . . . heaven" shows it is a kingdom on earth, not in heaven. people of . . . saints of . . . Most High--"the people of the saints," or "holy ones" (Dan 8:24, Margin): the Jews, the people to whom the saints stand in a peculiar relation. The saints are gathered out of Jews and Gentiles, but the stock of the Church is Jewish (Rom 9:24; Rom 11:24); God's faithfulness to this election Church is thus”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 21:1: We have here a more general account of the happiness of the church of God in the future state, by which it seems most safe to understand the heavenly state. I. A new world now opens to our view (Rev 21:1): I saw a new heaven and a new earth; that is, a new universe; for we suppose the world to be made up of heaven and earth. By the new earth we may understand a new state for the bodies of men, as well as a heaven for their souls. This world is not now newly created, but newly opened, and filled with all those who were the heirs of it. The new heaven and the ne”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 9:27: not taste of death fill they see the kingdom of God--"see it come with power" (Mar 9:1); or see "the Son of man coming in His kingdom" (Mat 16:28). The reference, beyond doubt, is to the firm establishment and victorious progress, in the lifetime of some then present, of that new Kingdom of Christ, which was destined to work the greatest of all changes on this earth, and be the grand pledge of His final coming in glory.”