Articles
The Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God
God is King. He created, sustains, and rules the universe. The words "king" and "kingdom" point to the concept of reigning and ruling. Robert Stein wrote: " The expression “kingdom of God” should be interpreted dynamically rather than statically, for it involves the dynamic of God’s reign rather than a territory with static borders. The term “kingdom” in the Bible usually refers to the rule of someone rather than the territory controlled." (New Amer. Comm. On Luke).
We see as we read through the Bible that God rules over all men. When the world became corrupt, He ruled in the flood. He reigned by blessing and condemning men. All men are accountable unto Him as King.
We see him take the offspring of Abraham through Jacob (Israel) as a nation of people to rule in a peculiar way. He give unto them His law (Psalm ). He was their ruler, leader, provider, lawmaker, and judge. He raised up leaders like Gideon yet He still ruled over Israel.
When they rejected Him as king, He appointed them a human king to reign over them. HOWEVER, God did NOT quit reigning but rather added this intermediate level of rule. David sat on God's throne over Israel. It is God reigning THROUGH David. This concept continues throughout the whole history of the kings.
While God is thus reigning over Israel in particular, He yet reigns over the whole universe and over all peoples. Nebuchadnezzar learned that "the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will" (Dan. 4:32). Nebuchadnezzar thus said: "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Dan. 4:34-35).
When we come to the New Testament we come to the time of the fulfillment of God's promise of the kingdom. The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mark 1:14-15). The kingdom is among you (Luke 17:21-22). God became flesh as the son of David and we see the kingship of David and the reign of God united in Jesus. The kingdom of David has now been enlarged under David's heir, Jesus. This new king rules not just over Israel but over ALL.
Luke consistently speaks of this as the 'kingdom of God'. Jesus is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14). He reigns / has authority over heaven and earth. He sits at the right of the Father in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come" (Eph. 1:20-21). He reigns in the midst of His enemies but will have them one day bow their knee and confess that HE is Lord of all (Phil. 2:9-11). He reigns until ALL enemies are under His feet and the last enemy to be defeated will be death (1Cor. 15:24-25).
When we surrender our will unto Him we are translated into the kingdom of God's son (Col. 1:13). We become a kingdom of priests as we serve in His kingdom (Rev. 1:6,9). When we are born again we 'enter the kingdom' by submitting to the reign of Jesus (John 3:5). We now live by HIS will: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col. 3:17). We make disciples by HIS authority and we teach them to observe all that HE commands (Matt. 28:18-19).
There is coming the time when this King will remove from his presence all that are ungodly and sinful (Matt. 25:31-46). Those that have trusted and served the king will live with Him forever. Those that rebel against this King will yet bow their knee in submission and acknowledgement of His rule and then be cast out of His presence forever. Hugh DeLong
