Importance of the Kingdom
When I started this book, I knew that the Kingdom of God is one of the essential topics in the Bible. At the same time, I noticed that I needed to learn more about the Kingdom and understand many of Jesus' parables about the Kingdom. However, I did know the day would come when Jesus would physically become King on earth, but today's Kingdom was still a mystery to me in many ways. Before we get into the meaning of the Kingdom, in this chapter, we look at why the Kingdom is so vital to our lives.
John and the Kingdom
John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus. John was one of the greatest prophets who ever lived and paved the way for Jesus. John preached in the desert and baptized people with a baptism of repentance. However, after John came Someone (Jesus) greater than him. Before Jesus stood in His mission and traveled to Israel to preach and perform miracles, John's job was to prepare the people. John preached about an important subject.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying: Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:1-2)
John preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The King of this Kingdom had already been born, and He could reveal Himself at any moment. The King is the Lord Jesus. When the mother of Jesus, Mary, was still a virgin, she saw the angel Gabriel. Gabriel told her about the miracle God would perform in her—from her would be born the King, the Son of the Highest.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:31-33)
John shared that this King is near. His Kingdom may become visible at any moment. In our time, part of the Kingdom has already been revealed to believers, and they may walk in this Kingdom. Another part of the Kingdom has yet to be revealed. The Lord Jesus is not yet the physical King over Israel and the whole world; this remains to occur during the millennial Kingdom. The Lord Jesus came to earth as King and Servant. When the Lord Jesus was born, wise men came from the East to visit Jesus and give Him gifts.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying: Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him. (Matthew 2:1-2)
The wise men didn't ask if a King had been born but where He had been born. There was no doubt that an extraordinary person was coming into the world. Even John already knew that the King was born and that He might appear at any moment. John did crucial preliminary work, instructing people to repent, confess their sins, and be baptized. While John was baptizing, this King appeared. John saw Him and said this was the One He meant. He is the Son of God (John 1:34). The King of the Kingdom of God has been born and has come among men. God's Kingdom will be revealed from now on.
Jesus and the Kingdom
John baptized the Lord Jesus, and He was filled with the Holy Spirit. God anointed King Jesus, and His preaching of the Kingdom began. The Kingdom was finalized when Jesus died on the cross and conquered death. The devil knew Jesus had come to proclaim the Kingdom of God and wanted to prevent it at all costs. While Jesus was in the desert fasting, the devil tempted Him. The devil attacked Him on several points, one of which is about the Kingdom.
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the Kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him: All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours. (Luke 4:5-7)
All the world's Kingdoms were under the devil's possession at that time. He gained power over the nations because of Adam's fall. Adam was no longer ruler but surrendered his power to the devil. The devil wanted to give this to Jesus under one condition: Jesus had to worship him. The Son of God had to worship the devil, and this was the devil's greatest desire. The Lord Jesus refused to do this and said, "Depart from Me, Satan, for it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone" (Luke 4:8). The Lord Jesus resisted and accomplished the work He had to do. He overcame the devil and his accomplices and established His Kingdom on earth. Today, it is for believers, and in the future, it will be for all peoples and nations.
Jesus' teachings often focused on the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom isn't just a short topic in the Bible; it is that for which Jesus came to earth. The Kingdom isn't just theory; it brought forth miracles and signs.
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying: The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
But He said to them: I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent. (Luke 4:43)
More references about the Kingdom can be found, for example, in Matthew 6:33, 9:35, 10:7, 11:12, 12:28, 13:19, 18:3, Luke 8:1, 9:11, 11:20, 12:31, 16:16, John 3:3, 3:5 and 18:36.
The Lord Jesus often preached the Kingdom of God, and Jesus is the key to the Kingdom. He is the Head of this Kingdom, and to Him is given all power, authority, and dominion.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)
This Bible text doesn't say, "To Me in the future is given all power in heaven and on earth," but "To Me is given all power in heaven and on earth." It has already happened. Jesus' Kingdom is more powerful than the devil's Kingdom. Jesus has all power and authority today.
The Disciples and the Kingdom
Jesus is the Head of God's Kingdom. However, this wasn't visible to everyone; this news had yet to reach many people. The Lord Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God for three years and reached many Israelites. Still, the Lord Jesus couldn't reach everyone in His time, so He decided to send His disciples out, and they had to proclaim the things of the Kingdom.
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2)
The disciples were not required to preach with words alone; they also received power and authority to demonstrate this with miracles. After Jesus sent out twelve disciples, He later sent seventy more. They needed to bring the same message.
(…) heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you.' (Lukas 10:9)
The Lord Jesus spoke about the Kingdom and commanded His disciples to preach it. The Kingdom is not a nice option for some people, but it is an essential Biblical point. The Kingdom came after Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected. The price of the Kingdom was paid, and Jesus received all power and authority. After His resurrection, what did He say to the disciples? What was Jesus talking about?
To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)
And what did the apostles preach about after Jesus' ascension?
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
And he (Paul) went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God (Acts 19:8)
To whom he (Peter) explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. (...) preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 28:23-31)
We and the Kingdom
This chapter, until now, is an excellent theoretical study of the importance of the Kingdom from the Bible. The Lord Jesus thought this was important and sent His disciples to speak about it. However, this topic is also significant today. Today, we may preach the Kingdom, and we, too, have been given power and authority to put it into practice. Believers have been placed in the Kingdom by God the Father.
He (God) has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. (Colossians 1:13)
If you believe in Jesus, you are part of His Kingdom and may walk and dwell there. Our born-again spirit currently dwells in the Kingdom. The Kingdom wasn’t just of the past, for the future, or only for after our death; it is here today and working today.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (…). (1 Peter 2:9)
We are a royal priesthood and belong to a people whom God made His own. Believers today are in the Kingdom of God. The good news of the Kingdom is the existence of a completely new life under the rule of God. Today, we no longer have to live under the dominion of the devil with the curse, sin, and death but may live in the blessing and righteousness of God. We may remain in His Kingdom forever and belong to God's people forever. This applies to man until his physical death and the eternal period after death. From repentance, we are part of the Kingdom, and if we persevere in faith, we will remain in the Kingdom forever.
For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11)
The Kingdom of God is relevant today. In the next chapter, we will discuss the Kingdom and how we can live in it. The Kingdom is for all believers, and the promises are also for all believers. God wants to use everyone in His Kingdom, not just the "special" people.
The Lord Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will also your heart be" (Luke 12:34). When you talk to someone, you quickly know what interests that person. One person talks only about his work, which sometimes takes hours. Another talks about the VIPs and knows all their facts. Yet another one knows all soccer facts and all the soccer players by heart. It isn't a mistake to love your work or have hobbies and interests. But what do you prefer to talk about? Is it the things of the world, or is it the Kingdom of God? When we read about Jesus and the apostles, they often discussed the Kingdom of God. Their whole heart went out to that, and you could notice this in their actions. Where is your heart?
Summary
In the Bible, we read that John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus, and the apostles proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom isn't a minor topic in the Bible but is one of the main subjects of Jesus' teaching. However, we still find this a complex subject, and it is difficult to explain it to people. We may know that the Kingdom is present today and that believers may walk in it. So, this subject is a current topic, and the teaching about the Kingdom also applies today. Besides today's Kingdom, there will be a future Kingdom in which the Lord Jesus will rule the world. It is also an eternal Kingdom, and if we continue to persevere in faith, we may spend eternity in this Kingdom.