5/10 Future of the Kingdom of God and Returns of God the son, Jesus Christ (77-87)
"Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed
the nearness of God's kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15). A literal translation is
"has come near." The long-awaited rule of God was nearby. This message was called
the gospel, the good news. Thousands of people were glad to hear this, and many
responded to this message of John and Jesus.
John and Jesus preached a kingdom that was near in time to their audiences. The
message said something about what people should do now; it had immediate relevance
and urgency. It aroused interest and jealousy. The message challenged the status quo
and implied that changes were needed in civil government, in religious teachings, and in
personal behavior.
Many first-century Jews could identify with the phrase "kingdom of God." They eagerly
wanted God to send them a leader who would throw off Roman rule and make Judea an
independent nation again—a nation of righteousness, glory and blessings, a nation
everyone would be attracted to.
In this cultural longing for national restoration, John and Jesus preached the nearness
of God's kingdom. Mid-way through Jesus' earthly ministry, the message continued. He
told his disciples to preach "The kingdom of heaven has come near" and to heal the sick
(Matt. 10:7; cf. Luke 10:9, 11).
The kingdom of God was "not of this world" (John 18:36). When he talked about the
"kingdom of God," Jesus used a phrase the people knew, but he was giving it a different
meaning. He told Nicodemus that God's kingdom was invisible to most people (John
3:3)-to understand it or experience it, a person must be renewed by God's Spirit (verse
6). The kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom, not a civil and physical organization.
The kingdom of God is envisioned as both a present reality and a future fulfillment.
While believers strive to live according to the principles of God's kingdom in the present,
they understand that the fullness of the kingdom is yet to come.
The arrival of the kingdom is anticipated through divine intervention and dramatic
events, as described in biblical prophecies such as those in the book of Daniel and
Revelation. The book of Daniel predicts a kingdom of God that will rule the earth (Daniel
2:44, 7:13-14, 22); the New Testament Apocalypse describes its arrival (Revelation
11:15, 19:11-16).
Paul speaks several times of "inheriting the kingdom of God" as a future experience (1
Corinthians 6:9, 10; 15:50; Galatians 5:21; cf. Ephesians 5:5), and otherwise indicates
by his language that he thinks of it as realized only at the end of the age (1
Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 4:11; cf. 2 Timothy 4:1, 18). The
apostle Paul spoke of inheriting the kingdom as a future experience, emphasizing that it
will be fully realized at the end of the age. Paul tends to introduce the term “justice”
when he wants to focus on the present manifestation of the kingdom.
“Righteousness” with “kingdom” (Romans 14:17) or linking the kingdom to Jesus Christ
rather than to God the Father (Colossians 1:13).
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples asked, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to
Israel at this time?” (Acts 1:6). The disciples were thinking in terms of a nationalistic
kingdom, rather than a family of all peoples that Jesus was teaching. So, Jesus did not
directly answer their question but simply told them that they had a job to do and the
ability to do it (verses 7-8).
In the perspective of eternal life in Christ, the kind of world one would desire to live in
contrasts sharply with the self-serving, competitive, and distrustful nature of the current
world. Rather, it is envisioned as a world where kindness, cooperation, and love prevail,
where those in power use it to help others, and where everyone works together for the
common good. This is the kingdom that Jesus offers, reflective of his character as a
benevolent and compassionate ruler.
Living according to the principles of this future kingdom involves choosing to embody its
values in the present. It entails striving for behaviors and attitudes that align with the
way of Jesus, even amidst difficulties and challenges. While this path may not be easy
and may involve sacrifices, it ultimately leads to eternal life in a world free from pain,
sorrow, and sin. Jesus has taken care of the ultimate penalty, but he does not change
the fact that sin causes pain in our lives. Jesus helps us avoid the negative
consequences by working in us to change the behavior and the desires that lead to bad
behavior and bad results. This transformation doesn't happen instantly, so we always
need to trust in the grace he has promised. We have to the recognition of the need for
both grace and behavioral transformation. Also, we are assured that he helps us in the
present age as well as the future judgment.
Eternal life with the triune God will be good primarily because of the relationships of love
that will be in eternity honesty and kindness will prevail. Good behavior, and right ways
of thinking, have consequences in this age and in the next. So, God invites us into this
way of life. The kingdom is not just a future reality - people are even now entering God's
kingdom by responding to what he offers.
The way of Jesus comes with the good news that we will live again. The good news is
that such a world will come, and right behavior and right ways of thinking will prevail,
and Jesus has already qualified us to be in that kingdom of kindness.
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and
caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then
they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets but threw the bad away. This is
how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from
the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. (vs. 47-50)
When Jesus described the kingdom, he did not describe the world after his return.
Rather, he described the world in this age, the age in which we hear the gospel, choose
to respond, and choose to be faithful. The kingdom of God captures both good and bad
people, offering all the opportunity to respond to the gospel and choose faithfulness.
Though trials come our way, we need to keep our eyes on the goal. Through faith, we
bear fruit for the kingdom.
As a result, the Kingdom of God encompasses both a present reality and a future hope,
characterized by righteousness, kindness, and eternal life. Jesus' teachings invite
believers to embody its values in the present while looking forward to its ultimate
fulfillment.