Divine Kingdom of God It is well to stipulate that God is the Almighty King over all in--and outside--the universe! This the eternal Kingdom spoken of in the Tanakh (Old Testament; Psalm 103:19).
But then the ancient prophets foretold of a specific Kingdom on earth that was to be established by Messiah, a descendent (son) of David. (Daniel 2:44, 7:27; Isaiah 9:6,7) The rabbis of the first centuries taught this as well: the Kingdom of God would take on a new dimension under Messsiah. What that Kingdom was to be like was debated by the rabbis, and the writers of the Apocrapha books. They did teach that it would be inaugurated by a series of birth pangs (Compare Matthew 24:8).
According to the rabbis, the Messianic (Davidic) Kingdom would establish a new age. They spoke of "this Age, and the Age to come." What part the Gentiles played was also a matter of discussion. Some taught that they would exist, but as servants. Other, that the Gentiles would be destroyed except for a few "God-fearers." (Gentile proselytes). But Jerusalem was to rule over the physical earth and over all kingdoms by physical force.
Enter Jesus As pointed out by the poster of this question, Jesus claimed to be setting up a spiritual Kingdom in the hearts of men--not a political, physical one. (Matthew 12:28, Mark 1:15, Luke 17:20-21, 10:9, compare Colossians 1:13, Romans 14:17). He refused a political one (John 6:15; 18:36).
This, of course, did not set well with the rabbinical establishment, and they vehemently rejected entrance into this spiritual kingdom. So Jesus opened citizenship to all people groups (John 6:15, Matthew 21:43, Luke 13:28-30). They did not understand that the references to "David's Throne" were metaphors, or as the Apostles taught: shadows, types, symbols, copies, illustrations. (Hebrews 9:9, 23, 10:1)
We first learn of Jesus's as Prince Regent from the Magi (Matthew 2:2), and we are confirmed of Jesus's royalty in the end when Jesus stood before Pilate (John 18:37) And we know that Jesus has been coronated by His own admission (Matthew 28:18, compare Daniel 7:13-14).
Overwhelming Evidence There is overwhelming Scriptural evidence that Jesus is now King, and that He reigns over a Spiritual Kingdom now. And at an indefinite time in the future He will hand over His earthly Kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) This will coincide with the Great Resurrection when Death itself will be "defeated."
But it is at this juncture that modern theologians diverge down two separate lanes, and if they meet, they knock heads! While recognizing the Church's involvement in a present Spiritual Kingdom, some add that God's plan is to get the Church out of the way so He can establish a Physical Kingdom for the Jewish race.
Synonymous Terms Some contend that there are two different Kingdoms of Christ: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. And further, that the Church is the main player in the spiritual one, and the Israelis are the main participants in a physical one later on. (See Scofield Reference Bible, 1916, footnotes; for example). Here, however, is the scriptural answer:
Basilei'a (Kingdom. Gk.) The Greek words for Kingdom occur as follows (Greek/English Concordance, J.B. Smith, 1955, Mennonite Publishing House):
- Kingdom of God--71 times (Only used in Mark thru Revelation)
- Kingdom of Heaven--32 times (Only in Matthew)
- Kingdom (general usage)--20 times
- Thy Kingdom--6 times
- His Kingdom--6 times
- The Kingdom--5 times
- My Kingdom--4 times
- Misc. Gospel of (3)...Children of...Word of... Father's (3)...Dear Son's...Of Christ and of God...Heirs of...Lord's.
[Also the word, "King" appears as King of the Jews (21 x), King (God/Christ, 11x), King (of Israel, 4x).]
The usage of Kingdom in the Synoptic Gospels reveals that "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God" are synonymous terms. There is no different, as some contend. Because of his audience, Matthew used "Kingdom of Heaven" instead of using "God" so as not to offend the Jewish rabbis who were shy about using the word, "God" lest they mistakenly blaspheme His Name.
Has the Kingdom Arrived? Absolutely! And if we recognize that the one Jesus intended to establish was a Spiritual Kingdom then it can be clearly seen to be so. After the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostles never again interpreted the Kingdom as physical. (Romans 14:17)
In fact, to show how crucial this matter was: if Jesus had told the Disciples (at the Ascension) that they were to engage in a physical kingdom, all their efforts would have come to naught!!! The whole land of Judea was laid waste by the Romans in 67-70 A.D. Razed to the ground!
But the true Kingdom is spiritual, and can never be defeated! The Church is triumphant because it lives and works in an everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:27; Luke 22:29).
Future Dimension Is there a different, future dimension to Jesus's Kingdom? Is there another Age? Should the Church think that they are just a temporary institution, with a greater fulfilment of the Kingdom for others?
The answer to this depends on whether due weight is given to the concept, taught by the New Testament, that there is now no longer any difference between Jew and Gentile. (Galatians 3:28, Acts 10:34, Luke 24:47, Romans 2:11, 10:12, Colossians 3:11, 25, Ephesians 2:14-18)
If this unity is ignored, and insistence is made that the Old Testament prophecies are still future (ignoring the time context) and must be fulfilled in a literal (physical) way, instead of being "shadows" of better things to come", then a whole scenario of alleged "end time " events are imagined.
But if full weight is given to the declaration that "the wall of separation is torn down", and that the Old Testament was a "shadow" of a New Covenant spiritual reality, then the Church is on track doing the work of the Lord evangelizing and worshipping the Majestic King of Kings in the here and now!
P.S. The Answerer has written a book commenting on every instance where the word Kingdom appeared in the Greek New Testament. In it he placed each reference on a time-line chart to get a picture of the existence of the Kingdom of God chronologically. And overwhelmingly the dots centered around the ministry of Jesus in the first century, and continued on through the Church Age until the Second Coming.
