By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #91 ~
The primary, overarching theme of the Bible is God’s kingdom and glory. From Genesis to Revelation, this is the message God wants you to understand and be passionate about. In this post, I will focus on 3 different aspects of the kingdom of God: 1st, the broad and comprehensive view of God’s kingdom; 2nd, the invisible, internal and spiritual aspect of God’s kingdom; and 3rd, the visible, external and physical aspect of God’s kingdom.
1. A long, long time ago, God created the heavens, the earth, and people. Since He is the Creator, since He made everything and everyone, then He was, and is, and will always be the King! He is the King over the stars and planets. He is the King over people, angels, the devil and demons. He is the King over the land and sea, over animals, birds, and fish. He is the King over cities and countries. He is the King over the kings. He is the King over all that is physical and all that is spiritual. He has absolute authority, power and sovereignty over all of His creation. He has perfect knowledge and wisdom, doing exactly what He wants, when He wants, and where He wants! No one can ever stop Him, for He is the King!
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Psalm 145:13). “The Lord shall reign forever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). These and many other verses (1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 9:7, Psalm 22:8, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 66:7, Psalm 90:2, Psalm 103:19) give us the big picture, the broad perspective of God’s kingdom, that He is a sovereign King, and rules over His kingdom, the entire universe, and all people and things in it. But what about His spiritual kingdom?
2. After the creation, Adam and Eve began to rule the world. They were perfect for a while, but then there was a problem. They rebelled against the King, and they spiritually died, becoming spiritually and relationally separated from Him. Because of sin, all creation was cursed, all mankind was cursed, and people became sinners, resulting in their physical death. What was the King going to do? His answer to this problem of sin is given in Genesis 3:15, where it was prophesied that a future Savior and King would crush the head of the devil, and redeem man from this curse of sin. This would result in the King’s spiritual rule in the heart of man, and eventually His physical rule over the entire earth. This Savior-King is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only One who could and would defeat sin, death, and the devil. This is very good news, the gospel of the kingdom! Matthew 4:23
Since the sin of Adam and Eve, God has been building His invisible and spiritual kingdom. Those living before Christ’s coming would look ahead and believe that He would live on earth, and die and pay for their sins. Those living after Christ’s coming would look back, and believe that He did die and pay for their sins. In either case, the person who repents of his sin and believes Christ paid for his sin, is made righteous in God’s sight, and spiritually speaking, becomes a member of His kingdom. Christ the King then lives in his heart, and freely gives him His love, joy and peace. Romans 13:17
For the past 2000 years, God’s spiritual kingdom has continued to grow. Sinners are being born again, and are entering into His kingdom (John 3:5). They are being rescued from the domain of the devil, and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). All who repent of their sins and receive Christ as Savior and King become members of the church, this spiritual kingdom that He is building. Here is Jesus’ promise to us, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, Psalm 2
3. Now that we live in the end-times, we know this church age will soon come to an end, and Jesus Christ will return and gather all the believers to Himself. Then during the Day of the Lord, the unbelievers will be rightfully punished. Then it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will take control of the earth, and for 1000 years, He will establish His visible and physical kingdom over the entire world. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). During these wonderful years, God’s spiritual kingdom will still be growing. People will be getting saved, and Christ will be ruling in their hearts, and at the same time, ruling over the world. Psalm 67 prophesied this, “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all peoples… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the people’s with uprightness, and guide the nations of the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God.”
After Christ’s glorious, 1000-year reign on earth, “then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24). This millennial kingdom will merge into the eternal kingdom. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and all that is physical and spiritual will be perfect. This good news should fill you with great joy, for it will finally and forever be seen that there’s one perfect Kingdom and God is the King, “so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17
P.S. There are two previous posts that directly relate to this one about the kingdom of God: “The Glory of God – The Most Important Thing of All!!!, and “More On the Glory of God, The Most Important Thing of All!!”