The kingdom is what the scriptures are all about. In the New Testament, there are numerous instances where the phrase “kingdom” is mentioned. Jesus, for example, instructed His disciples to pray when He taught them how they should pray. Jesus refers to God’s kingdom when he sends His disciples to preach about the gospel. He instructed them to preach the gospel of the kingdom …”. (Luke 9; 1-2). Paul the Apostle speaks in the New Testament about the kingdom, as he preaches (Acts 20.25-28.23, 28.31).

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the term “kingdom God” is also called “kingdom in heaven.” The kingdom of God is not different from the kingdom. They say that Jews were used to substituting divine words for different words. The reason they used the word God’ instead of ‘heaven’ was for circumlocution and not other reasons. Other scholars disagree and argue that there is a difference between the kingdoms God and the kingdoms heaven. This is because the kingdoms God and heaven exist in the past (already on the earth), while the kingdoms God and heaven will be here in the future. The general meaning of the term “kingdom” is to have rule, kingship or government. Jesus’ New Testament teachings regarding the kingdom and its existence imply that it is now (Livingstone2000). The Kingdom of God refers establishing God’s rule in the world through the destruction or all the evils. This results in world peace, prosperity, and happiness.

Browning (1997) says that synoptic passages show evidence that God’s kingdom was already established at the time Jesus Christ lived. Because Jesus taught that the kingdom was already established in His ministry. Luke 11:20 shows this well. Jesus said that if He cast out demons in His finger, the kingdom of God will come upon him. Jesus spoke these words while cursing out demons from an adolescent who was blind.

Jesus continued to speak of the mysterious arrival in His parables. Jesus referred to the kingdom of God as a hidden treasure in the parable about the hidden treasure. Jesus implied that the kingdom and treasure of God were already present on Earth by using the hidden treasure metaphor (Browning 1998). It was upon the people of God to seek it: by abstaining completely from evil. The New Testament mentions that Solomon was the greatest (Browning, 1997). This statement implies that the kingdom and power of God was present in the world at the same time as Jesus Christ.

Bradshaw (1991), using the parable with the mustard seeds, argues that the kingdom God will be a reality in the near future. Jesus compares heaven’s kingdom to a mustard seeds in his parable. Jesus spoke of a mustard-seed as a tiny seed that is almost invisible. The seeds are buried in the soil. This causes them to germinate and grow into big trees. Jesus made a comparison between the growth, growth, and destruction of the kingdom. Bradshaw says the kingdom of God began on Earth when God sent Jesus Christ (1991). The arrival of Jesus Christ can be compared to the planting of mustard seeds in the soil.

Jesus, while on earth, taught His disciples how to avoid evil. This was demonstrated by His willingness to suffer and his ability to endure temptations. He died later and returned to his father. He did not leave the mission of spreading the gospel of God’s kingdom to His disciples. The gospel of God’s kingdom has been spread throughout the globe for many centuries. Bradshaw likens this to the rise of the mustard plant (1991). Jesus will pass the kingdom to God in the end, when all evil is gone from the earth. God will still be the ruler of His kingdom forever after that point. This analysis of “The Parable of the Mustard Seed” demonstrates clearly what the scriptures are referring to: The reign of God through Jesus Christ on Earth and the passing over of the kingdom (Bradshaw, 1991).

Further evidence is provided by Mark’s book. It shows that the kingdom God covers both the past and future. “Now John was sentenced to death, Jesus arrived in Galilee and preached the gospel of God’s kingdom. He said, “The time has come and the kingdom God is here. Repent and believe the gospel. Mark 1:14-15. This scripture proves that Jesus believed the kingdom was established upon His ascension to heaven and took shape through His efforts in spreading the gospel. Bradshaw argues Jesus spoke Mark 1:5 in order to convey that the kingdom, present and future, of God. It also required His followers to believe that God’s kingdom included abstaining all evil through the acceptance of the gospel. (Bradshaw. 1991).

Ladd says that the kingdom is God’s establishment on earth of God’s rule through Jesus Christ (1959). The ultimate goal of the establishment and maintenance of the kingdom God is God’s “perfect ruling in all of creation” (Ladd, 1959). However, God’s reign on earth cannot be accomplished in one act. It is made up of three stages. These are the stages that give rise to the present and future aspects of God’s kingdom. Ladd refers specifically to Paul’s teachings on the establishment the kingdom. John the Baptist prepares for the coming the kingdom, followed by Jesus Christ’s arrival and the final stage is the coming the end. The two previous stages are the current kingdom of God. The third stage is the future kingdom, in which Jesus will give the kingdom to His Father (Ladd 1959).

Ladd’s view of the kingdom is in the Revelation, which states that Jesus is working to defeat the enemy of God. This is in order for God to establish an eternal reign in the universe. The current kingdom is set to continue until Jesus defeats all enemies. Jesus showed His power to conquer the enemy by rising from death (Ladd 1959). Paul refers to the death of Jesus as one of His enemies. Since one sins, death is a enemy (Romans 6;23). After Jesus conquers all evil, even death, the future kingdom will come into effect. The book of Revelation describes God’s future kingdom as being characterized in God’s goodness and abundance on earth. There will never be evil or death. This kingdom will endure forever.

Bowker (1997) states that the term the kingdom’ refers to ‘the Kingdom of God’. Jesus’ parables illustrate the present kingdom. The Concise Oxford Dictionary views the kingdom as God from a similar perspective to other religious scholars. Accordingly, the kingdom is defined as the destruction of God’s enemies on Earth through Jesus Christ.

Augustine, one of the most prominent religious scholars in antiquity, tried to establish the kingdom God through the twinning of it with Christianity. Augustine thought that the kingdom or God is when humans do God’s will. It is not the same as the kingdom and kingdom of Satan. The mediaeval period saw the kingdom of God as visible through the church. This was also the view of religious scholars (Bowker 1997). The kingdom of God is viewed by theologians as the “state of human affairs in accordance to God’s will” in the modern era (Bowker 1997).

Different theologians and religious scholars have taken different approaches to understanding the meanings of the kingdom, which was repeatedly referred to throughout the New Testament through Jesus’ teachings. The kingdom of God is both present- and future-oriented. Through Jesus Christ, God has conquered evil through the present aspects. This began when God sent Jesus Christ to the earth. Jesus spoke about the kingdom and God’s love through His gospel. He also instructed His disciples that they continue to preach the gospel after Jesus returned from heaven. Christians must follow Jesus’ teachings and they can eliminate evil. The final victory of Jesus over evil will bring about the future kingdom where God will rule for eternity.

elliotjones

Elliot Jones is a 29-year-old middle school teacher and blogger. He has been writing since he was a teenager, and his writings have been featured on various websites and in magazines. He enjoys writing about education, parenting, and lifestyle topics.