For millennia mankind has sought a place or condition of ideal life. Three fabled sites were: 1) The mythological Elysian Fields, “any place or condition of ideal bliss or complete happiness”. 2) The fictional Shangri-La, a Himalayan hidden paradise or utopia. 3) The Fountain of Youth, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon is said to have searched Florida in 1513 AD for a “legendary spring which if discovered would restore youth to its drinker”.
The ideal life and message of the Bible is the Kingdom of God (KOG), and Kingdom values. The four gospels contain 100 references to the KOG! And the Holy Bible has been called the Constitution of the KOG. What is the KOG, this Kingdom or government (govt) of God?
Father God is the King of heaven. Heaven is His domain. A kingdom is the king dom-ain. A king extends his rule by colonizing. Earth is God’s colony, in a sense. God said in Ge.1:26-28, “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over all the earth”. Humanity is to rule over the earth. Mankind, made in God’s image & likeness, was given bodily legal authority on earth. Man was given the mandate to have dominion and be resource managers over colony earth. Man is given rulership of earth, not ownership. (Ps.24:1 the earth is the Lord’s.)
Divine guidance to rule and transmit the Lord’s Kingdom culture & values to the raw colony would come from God via the Holy Spirit (HS). As Christian author Myles Munroe puts it in Rediscovering the Kingdom, p.43, “God’s original purpose and intent was to rule that which is seen (the visible world) through that which is unseen (the invisible world). He would do this through the unseen (the Spirit of God in man), living in the unseen (the spirit of man) and living in the seen (man’s physical body) on the scene (the earth)”.
Myles Munroe refers to the HS as the Governor. Man with his human spirit would rule God’s colony as local lieutenant or vice-governors or viceroys, through the influence of the governing HS.
But…Ge.3:1-6 man disobeyed God by eating the forbidden tree that gave them determination of good & evil! Man wanted to choose by himself what’s right & wrong, making his own laws…as if man is God! (There is only One true Lawgiver, Ja.4:12.) Man’s method, apart from the Spirit of God, is humanism; exercising dominion through man’s own laws/purposes. (see the topic “Tree Symbolism in Scripture”.)
Adam & Eve made a type of ‘declaration of independence’ from God; an act of treason! They disobeyed the sovereign God, were separated from the HS (and Tree of Life), and became disqualified as God’s vice-governors…defecting and handing colony rule to satan via the Kingdom of Man. Colony governance as an extension of God’s rule…ceased. Colony rule wouldn’t reflect the KOG.
The governing HS was ‘recalled’ by God. Heavenly host “powers” (e.g. 1Pe.3:22) would direct human kings. Some future rulers would be more like governors of vice; not vice-governors for the HS God.
But God determined to restore His purposed KOG to mankind! History chronicles the process of restoration of the KOG; it’s called His-story. God began the process with Abraham, then Jacob/Israel.
All false religions (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age, etc.) are a mixture of good & evil values and principles; man’s humanistic substitute or counterfeit for the KOG.
Ancient Egypt was a kingdom of man, with pagan gods. The Lord YHVH extracted Israel to become His holy kingdom of priests (Ex.19:4-6, De.32:8-9 Septúagint). Ca 1600 BC, Christ gave His laws for His kingdom to Moses/Israel. The exodus and God’s laws are in the Péntateuch; e.g. De.4:7-9, 34-35.
From the time of Moses, God’s holy nation of Israel was a theocracy administered by judges and tribal local govt. But Israel didn’t want to follow God’s ways from their heart. So the Lord gave them a human king, as other nations had (1Sm.8:6-7). With a king it became a monarchy. Then Israel represented the Kingdom of YHVH with a human king (1Ch.28:5). A Davidic dynasty was promised by an oath (Ps.89:35-37). see the topic “Jesus’ Genealogy”.
The Israelite people didn’t become good representatives or examples for other nations. Instead, they disobeyed and broke their covenant with YHVH. So He sent away the northern Israel into captivity to Assyria (721 BC), and the southern Judah to the Babylon of Nebuchadnézzar (597 BC).
Da.2:31-45 the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar was a Kingdom of Man statue of gentile kingdoms of man (e.g. Da.8:20-21), which God would eventually crush! Daniel prophesied in Da.7:13-14, “The Son of Man was given dominion, glory and a Kingdom”. The future apocalyptic Son of Man would be given dominion in the Kingdom of God. Da.9:24-25 at the set time, the Son of Man was to reintroduce the KOG to replace the kingdoms of man. Is.9:6-7 He is to sit on David’s throne (of Israel, not Judah…ref 1Ki.2:4, 8:25, 9:5; 2Ki.10:30).
Lk.1:31-33 “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” Jesus is to be King in the KOG, on David’s throne. Also ref Jn.18:37. Jesus had to come as a human in order to have legal authority on earth (cf. Ge.1:26)! Authority had been satan’s by default from Genesis 3. The devil said in Lk.4:5-8, “It has been handed over to me”. Mt.12:26-28 satan rules in the kingdom of man.
Now, the KOG restoration process continues after its earthly King was born as a man. Yet not all that much is heard from pulpits these days about the KOG; their emphasis is more on personal salvation.
But in Mark’s gospel, Jesus’ first preaching was about the KOG! Mk.1:14-15 “Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (cf. Da.9:24-26) Expositor’s Greek Testament Mk.1:15 “This defines more precisely the gospel Jesus preaches. It is the gospel of the Kingdom of God.” Vincent Word Studies Mk.1:15 “The period completed by the setting up of Messiah’s kingdom.” Cambridge Bible “The great foreordained and predicted time of the Messiah.” It was inaugurated with the appearance of Jesus the Messiah on earth.
Later, as Acts begins, the resurrected Jesus “spoke of things concerning the Kingdom of God” for 40 days (Ac.1:3). And Acts ends with the apostle Paul proclaiming the KOG! In Ac.28:23, 31 Paul was “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Mt.25:34 the KOG had been prepared since the foundation, when the earth colony was undeveloped.
The following Bible passages identify or describe characteristics of the KOG (also called the Kingdom of Heaven). A kingdom has: 1) a king, 2) a territory/realm, 3) laws, 4) subjects/citizens.
Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Re.19:16) Jesus, who came as a Man, has dominion. The KOG isn’t a voting democracy. Rather, the King’s word is law!
The KOG is also the government of God. Is.33:22 “The Lord is our Judge…our Lawgiver…our King.” Christ heads the three branches of govt – judicial, legislative, executive.
Jesus said in Mt.6:9-10, “Pray in this way, ‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. The rule of God will extend from the realm of heaven to colony earth. (The coming KOG isn’t something to be feared, else Jesus wouldn’t have said to pray for it!)
Mt.13:31-33 the kingdom of heaven/God is as a mustard seed and as leaven on the surface of colony earth. Kingdom govt increases and spreads to all peoples & nations (cf. Da.7:14). Is.9:7 Septuagint “His government shall be great, and of His peace there is no end; upon the throne of David and upon His kingdom.” Mt.5:19-20 Jesus refers to the least and the great citizens in the Kingdom. (Mt.7:13-14 & Lk.18:17 the humble who are small in their own eyes are able to go through a “narrow gate”.)
Mt.28:18 the resurrected Jesus is given all authority by Father God. Jesus is King of kings…Emperor. There’s no clear separation between church & state in the KOG. (Melchisedek is both priest & king, Ge.14:18. see the topic “Melchisedek Order Priesthood”.)
Ac.2:29-36 Jesus rules at His Father’s right hand in heaven (as the KOG increases), until all opposing kingdoms of man are subdued. 1Co.15:25 “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” (ref Ge.1:28 dominion.) Barnes Notes 1Co.15:25 “The mediatorial kingdom should continue until this great work is effected. He came to subdue all His enemies.” Gill Exposition 1Co.15:25 “He is King of saints; He is made and declared to be both Lord and Christ; He is exalted at the right hand of God as a Prince, where He sits, rules and reigns.” (also see “Heavenly Host Authorities and Powers”.)
Jesus died, arose, and sat down at the right hand of God in the heavenlies. He.10:12-13 “From now on waiting until His enemies be made His footstool.” Meyer NT Commentary He.10:13 “The destruction of the enemies of Christ is to be looked for even before His Parousía [coming].” (also cf. Mt.22:44.)
David wrote in Ps.110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool”. Treasury of David Ps.110:1 “Jesus is placed in the seat of power, dominion, and dignity, and is to sit there by divine appointment while Jehovah [Father God] fights for him, and lays every rebel beneath His feet. He sits there and will sit there despite all the raging of His adversaries, till they are all brought to utter shame by his putting His foot upon their necks. In this sitting He is our representative. The mediatorial [1Ti.2:5] kingdom will last until the last enemy shall be destroyed. The work of subduing the nations is now in the hand of the great God, who by His Providence will accomplish it to the glory of His Son; His word is pledged to it, and the session of His Son at His right hand is the guarantee thereof; therefore let us never fear as to the future.” Nations come and go; over the centuries they rise and fall during the process. Yet Christ will not fail!
The KOG is ‘already but not yet’, so to speak. In other words, ‘God is now King…but He must become King’. We don’t see KOG fullness yet.
After Jesus ascended to heaven, beginning in Acts 2 the governing HS was made available for all races of people. Lk.12:32 “Don’t be afraid” refers to those chosen by the Father for Kingdom citizenship. 1Co.12:27 the church, filled with the governing HS, is figuratively Jesus’ “body” on colony earth.
It’s our calling to express the KOG in miniature. Jn.14:17 “The Spirit abides in you and will be with you.” Presently the KOG isn’t a sole physical locality. Jesus said in Lk.17:20-21, “The Kingdom of God is within you”. It’s not solely in a mountain, cave, ocean, Holy Land, Elysian Fields, Shangri-La, Fountain of Youth, etc. Rather, the KOG is extant through the influence of the indwelling HS. Ro.14:17 “The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
The Kingdom reflects God’s righteousness (Ps.119:172) and justice, which is being written upon the hearts of new covenant Christians. He.8:10 “I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.” Full conversion to Kingdom life is a lifelong process, as Kingdom laws & values become internalized within us (not just written on tablets of stone). see “Two Covenants – Heart of the Matter”. The KOG exists in yielded human hearts.
We might say the KOG is presently the HS Governor within people, within you & me! Col.1:13 “He transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son.” We’ve been transferred to the KOG and King Jesus, via the governing HS.
But not yet to glory. 1Th.2:12 God calls us to His own Kingdom and future glory. Not then as mere flesh. Ro.8:30 “Whom He called He also justified, and these He also glorified.” Ja.2:5 while in our physical bodies, now we’re only heirs of Kingdom glory. Our actual inheritance in Kingdom glory is yet future (Ep.5:5 “…an inheritance in the Kingdom of God”).
Mt.6:31-34 “Be not anxious. Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [physical needs] shall be provided.” The person who lacks adequate provision may not be putting the KOG or obedience to God as the first priority. A King takes care of citizens for His Name’s sake! Myles Munroe wrote, “We don’t seek the KOG because of its benefits, but its benefits come to us as we seek the Kingdom”! Paul in 2Co.5:20, “We are ambassadors for Christ”. Ambassadors are supported by the state/King! God will provide our needs (Php.4:19)! As ambassadors, we carry around the KOG within these bodies or mobile homes of the HS!
And there is still persecution affecting many living the Kingdom life worldwide (cf. Re.1:9). In China, e.g. The Pilgrims and Puritans came here to escape persecution, saying they were extending the KOG to the New World. They enacted God’s laws in American colonies (cf. Mal.4:4). ref Massachusetts Body of Liberties 1641. (Ja.4:12 there’s One Lawgiver in the KOG; the King’s word is law.)
But God allows individuals to decide which kingdom we want to obey…the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Man (humanism). Being a KOG citizen doesn’t only consist of attending church, while we obey the kingdom of man govt laws of one’s nation! KOG govt is to be obeyed as a priority (Ac.5:29), while we have dual citizenship on earth (Php.3:20). see “Governmental Loyalty for Christians”.
Let’s us have the heart of pilgrims by reflecting and spreading KOG culture & values in our lives and spheres of influence! As Dr. Munroe said…regardless of where or whether we’re employed in a job or career(s), we’re deployed by God as Christian “soldiers” to the service and work of the KOG. 2Ti.2:3 “As a good soldier for Jesus Christ.” Onward Christian Soldiers…He leads to Kingdom victory!
All enemies are to be eradicated. Jesus’ “body” (which is us collectively) won’t fail…because He’s the Head! Again Re.19:15-16, He’s the King of kings in the KOG! Da.2:34, 45 Christ is the figurative Stone made without hands, Who will crush the warring self-serving kingdoms of man. He will succeed!
Da.7:27 “The sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the saints of the Highest; His Kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” Jesus Christ is Lord!
So the saints should have an overcoming dominion mindset (Ge.1:26-28). As Christians, we have a dominion mandate to reflect and proclaim the Kingdom of God!
Made in the image & likeness of God, we were given a dominion spirit within us. Activating the royal Governor, the Holy Spirit, is key to living the Kingdom life…and to victory! Glory to our Lord and King!
Bible Topic Exposition 