Author : Emannuel (Manny) Ebong
It is true that some people are still expecting the kingdom of God to come. But the kingdom has already come and was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The terms “kingdom” and “church” are used interchangeably.
The coming of the kingdom was preached by many. In Matthew 3:2, John the Baptist preached the kingdom, saying “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus Himself preached this kingdom even after John the Baptist was thrown into prison (Mark 1:14-15). He also put forth many parables concerning this kingdom (Matthew 13:1-58), and He called the kingdom “His church” (Matthew 16:18-19).
God promised in Daniel 2:44:
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Please note that this event, setting up the indestructible kingdom, was to happen in the days of these Romans kings yet to be mentioned in Luke 3:1:
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontus Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene.”
Jesus, in Luke 9:27 and Mark 9:1, said that there were “some” who were among the crowd “who would not taste of death until they witnessed the kingdom come with power.” The kingdom came and there were witnesses just as Christ foretold. If the kingdom never came, it would imply the following:
(1) we would be having some pretty old folks from the crowd Jesus addressed still living today. Even the apostles who were prime witnesses had already passed away
(2)Jesus lied to the men of His generation prior to His ascension.
But this is not what the Book of Acts says about Jesus. Acts 2 confirms the establishment of the kingdom on the day of Pentecost.
The kingdom of God was not and still is not a physical kingdom. The Jews expected a physical kingdom whereas the kingdom of God is spiritual (Romans 14:17). Jesus cleared this point when He responded to Pilate’s query by explaining, “My kingdom is not of this world…” (John 18:36).
Before Pentecost, the church or kingdom was spoken of as something in the future. However, this same kingdom or church was spoken of as already being in existence after the day of Pentecost, and people were baptized into it (Acts 8:12). And today “since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
The church on earth is the extension of the kingdom above. This is what Paul meant in Ephesians 3:14-16:
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…
The kingdom of Heaven is the church established by Christ upon His death and resurrection. If the kingdom is the church, the question then should be “if one is in the kingdom?” What is one’s religion based on? Is it based on human creed rather than the Word of God, which expresses the unshakable principles and foundation of God? May we be careful with the word of God and do exactly as He wills for us to do, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).
Christ will come again to deliver the kingdom to the Father. For those who do not believe that the kingdom is already in existence, the question is Which kingdom will Christ deliver to the Father if the kingdom is not in existence already? Will you be among those who inherit the mansions and eternal life in the kingdom above? (1 Corinthians 15:24).
The kingdom of God is the kingdom of His dear Son (Ephesians 5:5; John 17:10). It is a kingdom of light, for we are being called out by the gospel into this marvelous kingdom (Matthew 21:43; 1 Peter 2:9).
We should be thankful for being partakers in this kingdom.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins… (Colossians 1:12-14).
Are you in God’s kingdom?
