Has the Kingdom come?
Introduction. Our question is a little ambiguous. "Kingdom is used in different ways in the scriptures. However, kingdom - the sovereignty and power of God and the sphere in which this influence is exerted - is generally used in two senses.
The kingdom viewed as future. When you find the kingdom being considered as future, the reference is often to the upper kingdom, heaven. Christians are not now in this kingdom. "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 1: 11). In Peter's first epistle he mentioned the fact that these Christians' inheritance was reserved in heaven (1 Pet. 1: 4, cf. Matt. 25: 34).
The kingdom presently considered. John and Jesus preached the imminence of the kingdom ("at hand," Matt. 3: 1, 4: 17). Some would not die until the kingdom came (Mk. 9: 1). Joseph "waited for the kingdom of God" (Mk. 15: 43). Jesus used "church" and "kingdom" interchangeably (Matt. 16: 18, 19). The kingdom was not to be secular when it came (Luke 17: 20, 21; John 18: 36). One has to be born again to see and enter the kingdom (John 3: 3, 5). The kingdom was a main topic of inspired preachers (Matt. 3: 1, 4: 17; Acts 8: 12, 19: 8; Jas 2: 5). The Lord's Supper is to be partaken of in the kingdom (Luke 22: 15-18, cf. 1 Cor. 11: 23-34, 10: 16). The kingdom of God is not meat and drink (Rom. 14: 17). The Colossian Christians were in the kingdom (Col. 1: 13). The "Hebrews," John, and those comprising the seven churches of Asia were in the kingdom (Heb. 12: 28; Rev. 1: 9).
Conclusion. Daniel had prophesied that in the "days of these kings" God would set up the kingdom. The "kings" refer to Rome (Dan. 2: 36-44). Jesus began to reign as king in Acts 2 (Acts 2: 30-34). The church came into existence in Acts 2 (vs. 47, KJV). Hence, the kingdom has come. Are you in God's sphere of rule?
The kingdom viewed as future. When you find the kingdom being considered as future, the reference is often to the upper kingdom, heaven. Christians are not now in this kingdom. "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 1: 11). In Peter's first epistle he mentioned the fact that these Christians' inheritance was reserved in heaven (1 Pet. 1: 4, cf. Matt. 25: 34).
The kingdom presently considered. John and Jesus preached the imminence of the kingdom ("at hand," Matt. 3: 1, 4: 17). Some would not die until the kingdom came (Mk. 9: 1). Joseph "waited for the kingdom of God" (Mk. 15: 43). Jesus used "church" and "kingdom" interchangeably (Matt. 16: 18, 19). The kingdom was not to be secular when it came (Luke 17: 20, 21; John 18: 36). One has to be born again to see and enter the kingdom (John 3: 3, 5). The kingdom was a main topic of inspired preachers (Matt. 3: 1, 4: 17; Acts 8: 12, 19: 8; Jas 2: 5). The Lord's Supper is to be partaken of in the kingdom (Luke 22: 15-18, cf. 1 Cor. 11: 23-34, 10: 16). The kingdom of God is not meat and drink (Rom. 14: 17). The Colossian Christians were in the kingdom (Col. 1: 13). The "Hebrews," John, and those comprising the seven churches of Asia were in the kingdom (Heb. 12: 28; Rev. 1: 9).
Conclusion. Daniel had prophesied that in the "days of these kings" God would set up the kingdom. The "kings" refer to Rome (Dan. 2: 36-44). Jesus began to reign as king in Acts 2 (Acts 2: 30-34). The church came into existence in Acts 2 (vs. 47, KJV). Hence, the kingdom has come. Are you in God's sphere of rule?