Answering Five Key Questions About the Kingdom of God

The kingdom of this world is the dark domain of the dark lord, who exercises dominion to keep his people in darkness. He goes so far as to blind them from seeing the light of salvation from their bondage to sin (Rom 6:6; 2 Cor 4:4).

The kingdom of God is the kingdom of light and life (Job 33:28–30; Ps 27:1; 36:9; Jn 1:4; 8:12). It is a spiritual kingdom, as described by the apostle Paul, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).”

It is the Holy Spirit who brings the elect child of God into the kingdom of light, by shining the light of God’s love in the hearts of His redeemed and reconciled citizens (2 Cor 4:6). The righteousness of King Jesus is imputed to His body, the church (Rom 3:26; 4:1–22; 5:18; 1 Cor 1:30). This is manifest by the peace of God present in those who were at enmity with God, but who have been transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13). The fruit of this is joy in the Lord (Gal 5:22), which is our strength (1 Chron 16:27; Neh 8:10). This is the kingdom, today.

The significance of this is the refutation of the false teaching that Christ’s kingdom is future and earthly (millennial kingdom interpretation). The kingdom of God was at hand with the incarnation of Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14), and it is all the more present, today, wherever the Holy Spirit indwells God’s gathered people in local churches (1 Cor 12:13).

The question where(?) and when(?) answered, along with the who(?) and what(?), invites a clear statement:

The kingdom of God is the rule of God in Christ. King Jesus, enthroned in glory and majesty in heaven, reigns and rules over all the earth. The progressive realization of this kingdom is recognized by the gathering of Christ’s church, in time on the earth, and in eternity in His presence, in heaven. The kingdom of God is the church militant on the earth and the church victorious in heaven. It is a spiritual kingdom originated in heaven, brought to earth with Christ incarnate. It continues with the Spirit, sent from heaven to earth, to gather the citizens of heaven, predestined by God, to be saved from sin-laden slavery in the kingdom of this world.

The kingdom is here. The kingdom is now. The kingdom is Christ’s rule of His redeemed and gathered citizens. The church of King Jesus in the world is the gathering point, the city of refuge, for pilgrims en route to heavenly Zion, the eternal city of our God (Rev 21–22).

The final question then is how(?). How does one become a citizen in the kingdom of God here and now?

First, every citizen of God’s kingdom has his or her name written in the Lamb’s (Jesus’) Book of Life from eternity (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27).

Second, citizens are chosen by God the Father, and given to God the Son (Jesus) before creation (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; Rom 11:5; Eph 1:4–5; 1 Pet 2:9).

Third, citizens have their admittance fee into the kingdom paid for by the King Himself. He grants free admission for His citizens to enter His realm at His expense (Acts 20:28; Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23; 1 Pet 1:19; Rev 5:9).

Fourth, God’s omnipresent Spirit, in the kingdom of this world, moves ambassadors for Christ and His unregenerate elect (2 Cor 5:20), to be in the same place for the heralding and hearing of the Gospel of the kingdom of Christ (Acts 13:48; Rom 10:14–17).

Fifth, the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the King’s decree, appropriates this word of life into the heart of the elect hearer . She listens to the call of her King and obeys His command to come into His spiritual kingdom on earth, the church (Prv 1:23; Is 59:21; Mt 11:28; Jn 6:63; Acts 4:31; 10:44).

Sixth, by faith, the elect regenerated soul receives the means of grace to thrive in the kingdom of heaven on earth (Gal 5:22–23; Eph 4:8; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2).

Finally, there is no way the citizen of the kingdom of God can lose her citizenship because her life is hidden with the eternal Christ in heaven (Col 3:3). The Good Shepherd has made promises to lose none of His own (Jn 10:28–29), for nothing can separate His beloved from Himself (Rom 8:35–39).

In conclusion, we have answered five key questions about the kingdom of God. We might now say to our somewhat superstitious friends, “Welcome to the Millennial Kingdom!” Our King reigns now and in every place. Proclaim Him to the rebels and the remnant. The war is over (at the cross), and God is always leading us in His triumph (2 Cor 7:14), until the last day (1 Thess 4:13–5:11; Rev 19:11–21), when He returns as the destroyer and rebuilder (Is 65–66; 2 Pet 3:10–12; Rev 21–22).”

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 18, 2022