The Kingdom of God

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.” – John 18:36

Jesús le respondió: «Mi reino no es de este mundo». – Juan 18:36

All Christians should have a basic understanding of “the kingdom of God” (Mat 12:28; 19:24; 21:31, 43; Mar 1:15; 10:14; Luk 4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 9:2; Rom 14:17; 1Co 4:20; 2Th 1:5; cf. Col 1:13; 1Th 2:12; Rev 1:6, 9; 5:10), for your “King” (Mat 2:2; 25:31–40; 27:11, 37; Joh 12:13; 1Ti 1:17; 6:15; Rev 15:3; 17:14; 19:16) is ruling and reigning in His kingdom today (Mat 22:44; 26:64; Mar 14:62; 16:19; Luk 22:69; Eph 1:20–22; Act 1:9; 7:55; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; 1Pe 3:21–22; Heb 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Rev 1:5; 19:15; Psa 110:1; cf. Mat 28:18; Col 1:15–16; 2:10, 15; Php 2:9–10), and you are a “fellow partaker” of His Kingdom (Rev 1:9; cf. Mat 24:9; Joh 16:33; Act 14:22; Rom 5:3; 8:35; 12:12; 14:7–8; Php 1:21; Eph 3:13; Heb 10:33; Rev 2:9–10; 7:14), a “fellow worker and fellow soldier” in it (see Php 2:25; 4:3; Rom 16:3, 9, 21; 1Co 3:9; 2Co 8:23; Col 4:11; 1Th 3:2; Phm 2, 24; 3Jn 8), a “priest” (see Rev 1:6; 5:10), and even further, an “ambassador for Christ” (see 2Co 5:20; cf. Php 1:27; Eph 6:20) for His kingdom.

Below are some notes about “the kingdom of God”:

The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom—a spiritual monarchy, if you will (Joh 18:36; Luk 17:20–21; Rom 14:17; cf. Isa 9:6–7; Dan 2:44; 7:14). It is not an earthly, political, nationalistic, militant kingdom but one of love, peace, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, purity, truth, wisdom, holiness, power, and glory above (Rom 14:17, 19; 1Co 4:20).[1]
Unless one is born again and becomes obedient to the Gospel, one cannot enter into (Joh 3:3–8; cf. Mat 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 23:13; Mar 10:15) or even understand the kingdom of God (1Co 2:14; cf. Mat 13:11–17; Joh 8:43; 10:26–27; 15:26; 1Co 1:18; 2:12; 2Co 4:4; 1Jn 5:20).
Unless one remains obedient to the Gospel, one cannot stay in the kingdom of God (Mat 25:1–13).[2]^{, [3], [4]}
The kingdom of God is referred to by various names:

“The kingdom of God” (66 times),[5]
“The kingdom of heaven” (32 times),
“My Father’s kingdom” (Mat 26:29),
“My [Jesus’] kingdom” (Luk 22:30),
“The kingdom of the Son of Man” (see Mat 13:41),
“The kingdom of Jesus” (see Rev 1:9),
“The kingdom of Christ Jesus” (see 2Ti 4:1),
“The kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph 5:5),
“The kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15),
“The kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ” (Rev 12:10),
“The kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), and
“Mount Zion,” the “holy mountain” of the Lord (see Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1; Psa 2:6; 3:4; 48:1; 87:1; Isa 11:9; 27:13; 56:7; 57:13; 65:25; 66:20; Dan 9:16, 20; Zep 3:11; Zec 8:3), which will be set up in “the last days” (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1)—which is this church age of grace we now live in.

The expressions “the kingdom of God” and “the kingdom of heaven” are synonymous, and in many ways, the Bible equates the Kingdom with the Church (i.e., the worldwide body of believers; see Luk 17:20–21; cf. Mat 12:28; 13:47; 16:18–19; 21:31; Luk 10:11; 16:16; Joh 3:5; Rom 14:17; Col 1:13; Heb 12:28; 1Th 2:12; 2Pe 1:11; Rev 1:9). You enter both the Church and the Kingdom at baptism (Col 1:13).[6]
The kingdom is now—it is not some future “thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth”![7]^{, [8]} Consider the following:
- Jesus said that His kingdom was “at hand” when He lived (Mat 3:2; 4:17; 10:7; Mar 1:15), that some of His disciples would “see the Son of Man [Jesus] coming in His kingdom” before they died (Mat 16:28), and that the kingdom was to arrive visibly and “with power” (Mar 9:1). This happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was “poured out” (see Act 2:1–4, 17–21; 10:44–45; cf. Pro 1:23; Isa 44:3; Joe 2:28–29).
- Paul and John wrote that they were “fellow workers” (Col 4:11) and “fellow partakers” (see Rev 1:9) in the kingdom. So if the kingdom was already in effect then, it surely is in effect now—for the kingdom of heaven is to endure for eternity (Dan 2:44; 7:13–14; Luk 1:33; Mic 4:7; Heb 1:8; Psa 45:6; 145:13; 1Co 15:24). We are not to look for still yet another “earthly millennial kingdom” in the future.
- Paul wrote that he, along with other saints, had already been (past tense) “transferred [into] the kingdom of His beloved Son” (see Col 1:13), so the kingdom had to exist when that was written.
- Jesus wrote that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world” (Mat 24:14), so again, we can’t have a Gospel of the kingdom without having a kingdom already in effect.
- Christ’s kingdom is symbolically portrayed as lasting “a thousand years” (Rev 20:1–6; 2Pe 3:8), which represents this church age of grace.[9]
- Sadly, many who profess faith in Christ do not realize that Jesus, their own “Lord” and “King” (1Ti 6:15; Rev 15:3; 17:14; 19:16), is right now, this very instant, “seated … far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:20–21), ruling and reigning large and in charge in His kingdom (Mat 22:44; 26:64; 18:18; Mar 14:62; 16:19; Luk 22:69; Eph 1:20–22; Act 1:9; 7:55; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; 1Pe 3:21–22; Heb 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Rev 1:5; 3:21; 19:15; Psa 110:1; cf. Mat 28:18; Col 1:15–16; 2:10, 15; Php 2:9–10; 1Ti 2:5; Heb 7:25), and that all things are under His care and control, including you (Rom 8:28–39; cf. Php 1:12; Mat 10:29–31; 1Pe 3:12; Gen 45:5; 2Ch 16:9; Psa 34:15; 145:18; Pro 5:21; 15:3).
- Furthermore, note that we “reign with Him [Jesus]” (Rev 20:6) as we “sit down with Me [Jesus] on My throne”[10] (see Rev 3:21; 20:4, 6) and “rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (Rev 12:5; cf. Rev 2:26–27; 6:9–11; 19:15; 20:4, 6). Please realize that we do not rule over others physically, politically, socially, or economically, nor do we rule by force, threat, coercion, intimidation, or violence of any kind—that is the worldly, non-spiritual thinking of the heathen. We rule with Jesus only by and through love, service, self-sacrifice, “good deeds” (Tit 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14; Heb 10:24; 1Pe 2:12), and through the “preaching the gospel of God” (Mar 1:14; cf. Mar 16:15; 13:10; Mat 28:19; Luk 14:21–23; 24:47–48; Eph 6:19–20; Luk 9:6; 20:1; Act 1:8; 8:25, 40; Rom 1:9; 16:25; Col 1:23; Php 4:15; Rev 14:6), which is “the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15; cf. Mat 5:9; Isa 9:6). It is the Word of God that has “the power of God” to rule (Mat 22:29; Luk 22:69; Rom 1:16; 1Co 1:18, 24; 2:5; 2Co 6:7; 13:4; 2Ti 1:8), not us (Eph 2:6; Rev 12:5; cf. Rev 11:1–12).[11]

The kingdom has two realms (or natures):

Heavenly: It is heavenly above (now) where Christ is reigning. It will also be future heavenly (glorified) after Jesus’ return, when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Rev 21:4) as He “makes all things new” (see Rev 21:5), and there will be no more curse, corruption, sin, suffering, pain, disease, or death. This is wonderfully described using symbolism in the closing chapters of the Book of Revelation (Rev 21:1–22:21).
Earthly: It is earthly here and now, “in your [our] midst” (Luk 17:20–21), among the worldwide body of believers, which is “the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12), the Church, and “the bride of Christ.”[12] You now “abide in Me [Jesus], and I in him [you],”[13] as He reigns in the hearts of believers (2Co 3:3; Heb 8:10). Jesus is, therefore, “in your midst” (i.e., among us), and so the kingdom is also “in your midst”—for wherever the King is there also is a kingdom.

On Judgment Day, we will be translated from the earthly kingdom into the heavenly kingdom, as we are “raised imperishable” (see 1Co 15:42–57; cf. Joh 3:15–16; 6:39–40, 44, 54; Mat 25:21, 23, 34, 46; Rom 8:18; 1Co 6:14; 2Co 3:18; 4:17; 5:6–8; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 1Pe 5:6; 1Jn 3:2; Heb 9:28; Rev 21:3–4) and we “put on immortality” (see 1Co 15:42, 50–57) with our new eternal, spiritual, glorified, and heavenly bodies, which will be “in the likeness of His [Jesus’] resurrection” (Rom 6:5; cf. Rom 8:30; Php 3:20–21; Col 3:4; 1Jn 3:2; Act 24:15; Joh 5:25; 1Th 2:12; 4:16; 1Co 15:40–57; 2Co 3:18; 5:1–4).[14]
Note that the city of “New Jerusalem” (Rev 3:12; 21:2; cf. Heb 11:16; 12:22) described in the Book of Revelation is not some literal city here on earth but a beautiful, symbolic depiction of (a metaphor for) all of the following: (a) The Church (here and now)—that is, the people of God, and as a Christian, you now dwell in this city, (b) The kingdom of God (here and now)—you are part of that kingdom today, and (c) the kingdom of Heaven (future, glorified)—the heavenly kingdom of God, where we will dwell together with God for eternity.[15]
Note also that “New Jerusalem” is itself built on “Mount Zion,” which is the “holy mountain” of the Lord (see Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1; Psa 2:6; 3:4; 48:1; 87:1; Isa 11:9; 27:13; 56:7; 57:13; 65:25; 66:20; Dan 9:16, 20; Zep 3:11; Zec 8:3). “Mount Zion” is also representative of the government of God that will be set up in “the last days” (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1), which is this church age of grace we now live in, and it is built on “the gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:14).[16] So you see, at its foundation, everything about the kingdom of God is built upon the Gospel, and it is unmovable and “cannot be shaken” (Heb 12:27–28; cf. Isa 9:7; Dan 2:44; 7:14, 27; Psa 125:1; Luk 1:33; 1Pe 1:4–5; Rev 22:5).
As a Christian, you have now come to “Mount Zion” (see Rev 14:1) and “New Jerusalem.” We must always remember that the “heavenly Jerusalem”[17] is our eternal home, where our “citizenship” lies (Php 3:20–21; cf. Joh 14:2–3; Col 3:2; Eph 2:6, 19; 1Pe 2:9; Heb 11:10, 13, 16; 13:14; 12:22; Rev 3:20–21; 21:2) and where our King is (Mat 22:44; Joh 14:2–3; Act 1:11; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20–21; Col 3:1; Heb 6:19–20; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1Pe 3:22)—we are not “of this world” any longer (Joh 15:19).[18]
We are called to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1Co 15:58), which is to help build His kingdom. One of the ways that we do this is by obeying Jesus’ commandment to preach the Gospel.[19]^{, [20]}

Let us look to our “Lord” and “King” in confidence, knowing He is “seated at the right hand of God [the Father],” ruling and reigning in His kingdom, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:20–21).

Brother or sister in Christ, please don’t be “tricked” or “deceived”[21] into thinking that Jesus’ kingdom has not come yet—you are in the kingdom right now! As I explained previously, when Jesus returns, it will not be to start another “thousand-year earthly reign”; it will be the “last day” of human history, which is also “the day of judgment” and “the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father.”[22] Amen.

[1] The Jewish rulers of Jesus’ day (the Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.) and even the apostles had great difficulty comprehending and accepting the spiritual nature of God’s kingdom. They kept asking Jesus when He was going to restore the kingdom (in Israel, on Earth) and asked Him questions implying a physical, earthly kingdom (Mat 20:20–28; Mar 10:35–45; Joh 2:19; 18:33–37; Act 1:6). They also welcomed Him to Jerusalem as a King with pageantry, expecting Him to eject the Roman rulers and setup His government there (Mat 21:1–11; Mar 11:1–11; Joh 6:15).

[2] This is what the parable of the ten virgins is about (Mat 25:1–13). A Christian must live fully expecting Jesus’ return at any instant. We must be spotless, blameless, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. We must keep our lamp lit at all times (in active faith and obedience) as we walk on our pilgrimage to the heavenly city.

[3] See also the chapters “Understanding Obedience” and “Persevere in Faith.”

[4] See our book The Commandments of Christ.

[5] I’m not listing verse references for all of these, as you can easily search the Bible for them.

[6] See the chapter “What Happens at Baptism.” In effect, the Church is the visible part of the kingdom here on earth.

[7] The notion that the kingdom of God will start when Jesus returns to rule in Jerusalem for a thousand-year reign on earth, called dispensational premillennialism and its many variations and permutations, is a false teaching, and it is absolutely rampant today, being loudly shilled 24/7/365.25 (i.e., nonstop, all day, every day) by both secular and so-called “Christian” sources. The fact that secular sources are shilling it tells you all you need to know about it. See the chapter “Beware the Wolves.”

[8] Side note: The verses of Isaiah 55:6–9 do not describe literal wolves lying down with literal lambs and literal children playing with literal snakes in some future earthly kingdom. They are symbolically describing what the kingdom of God is like in the Gospel age and how the Gospel transforms men’s hearts—which is happening today. Many who were once “wolves” (e.g., Saul of Tarsus) will become like “lambs” and dwell together peacefully with other brothers and sisters in Christ (children). They (and you) received “a new nature” when they were born again (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10; 1Co 3:16; 2Co 4:16; Joh 3:3–6), and the kingdom of God is about love, harmony, and peace among all its members (Rom 14:17). This is why John echoes the “love your brother” sentiment strongly in his letters (see the Books of 1, 2, and 3 John). The wise student of Scripture must learn how to properly interpret symbolic and figurative language so they are not deceived by the “wolves,” “vipers,” “false prophets,” and modern-day “Pharisees.”

[9] In fact, much of the Book of Revelation is highly symbolic and figurative, and forcing literal interpretations of it leads to many false teachings and fake prophecies. See the chapter in our book The Message of Truth about the fact that not all prophecy is literally fulfilled (cases in point, Mat 11:14; Joh 2:19).

[10] Again, this is spiritual and symbolic, not physical and earthly.

[11] And what a great privilege it is indeed to know the “mystery of the kingdom” (Mar 4:8–12; cf. 1Co 2:9)—which is the “good news” of the Gospel “message of truth” (Eph 1:13), peace with God, and eternal salvation through “the blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13; Heb 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; 1Co 10:16). Amen!

[12] See the chapter “Finding a Church.”

[13] See the chapter “Living in the Spirit” for the verse references.

[14] See the chapter “All Things Made New.”

[15] All believers in Christ; also “the bride” of Christ.

[16] It is also built on the commandments of Christ, which are His government’s rules.

[17] The city is described as “heavenly,” denoting its spiritual (not physical) nature (Heb 12:22).

[18] See the chapter “The Day of Judgment” for “of this world” verse references.

[19] See the chapter “Go and Tell Others.”

[20] A Christian is not to worry about, support, participate in, or get entangled in worldly affairs or the nationalistic, political, social, and economic agendas of men and governments (2Ti 2:4). We must focus on what Christ has commanded us to do, which is to help build His kingdom by helping and reaching the lost. When we waste our time and energy worrying about, participating in, and endlessly arguing about worldly political matters, we are not giving our best to what is most important (eternally).

[21] See the chapter “Beware the Wolves” for “tricked” and “deceived” verse references.

[22] See the chapter “The Day of Judgment” for more information and verse references.

R. John Anderson

Photographer and author R. John Anderson has journeyed the world over to capture the natural beauty of God’s creation. Having traveled to many countries and continents in a span of over thirty years, he has seen the amazing artistry that can be found in all types of locations, from the glacial fjords of polar Greenland to the wild Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the rich rain forests of Costa Rica. Nature’s greatest natural beauty often lies in the harshest deserts, remotest wilderness, and sub-zero ice-covered regions.