My Kingdom Is Not Of This World “Now”
Let’s take a closer look at that intriguing statement of the Messiah, which He spoke during His interrogation before Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. Christ’s words are important for coming to a true understanding of the Divine Kingdom. Even Pilate wanted to understand, “Art thou a King then?” (John 18:37) Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a King.”
That has been interpreted in multiple ways, but in modern jargon He was in effect saying, “You bet I am! You got that right!” Perhaps over dramatizing a bit, but this is a correct interpretation as Christ elaborates, “To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness to the Truth.” Before literally washing his hands of the matter and handing Him over for a trial and condemnation by the Jews, Pilate seemed to chuckle at His reply as he asked sarcastically, “What is truth?”
Today, a great confusion exists among various Christian denominations concerning the timing and nature of the Kingdom of God. Two main theories exist. One is Amillennialism, which makes the case that Christ’s prophesied Kingdom of righteousness is found in our Lord’s body as the present-day church. The other is Premillennialism. It understands Christ’s Kingdom to be solely future after Messiah’s return to earth. A third view proclaims that it is both presentand future.Present: “He delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14) Future: “I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
The Bible reveals that the Divine Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom throughout history and not limited to one era. It existed in Daniel’s time: “How great are His signs and how mighty His wonders! His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and His dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:3) “I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him, who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion and His Kingdom is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:34) “Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.” (Psalm 145:13)
The Everlasting Kingdom! Bible scholar John Peter Lange in his monumental 19th century 24-volume Commentary wrote, “A Kingdom of God has existed ever since God has created and governed the world, but it has passed through different periods. . . exhibited manifold forms. . . . Viewed in this light, the whole history of the world itself is simply the history of the restoration and transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God.” (XV:2; XVIII:14)
God’s Kingdom exists wherever His Divinity dwells. The Divine Kingdom was present in Eden with Adam and Eve: “They heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” (Genesis 3:8)There was no sorrow, no death, no suffering, no want of any good thing, and all things were perfect. “The Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground He made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” (Genesis 2:8-9)
Although mankind lost that first chance at ‘heaven on earth’ the whole subsequent history of the world comprises man’s attempt to regain the peace and plenty that was lost in Eden. Indeed, the New Testament closes with its re-fulfillment on earth in Revelation 21 and 22.
What are the Kingdom Stages? The Lord has interacted with mankind throughout history. Since a major focus of the Old Testament was upon Passover and the Temple rituals, this period can be called the Kingdom’s Passover Stage. Centuries later, a new age dawned with Christ’s resurrection to Heaven along with His sending the Holy Spirit into the world to dwell in the lives of Believers. This can be called the Kingdom’s Pentecostal Stage. In the future, when Messiah returns (epiphany) and His presence (parousia) dwells with us, mankind will be witness to a dawning of the final stage of Christ’s Kingdom. As Christ will tabernacle with us in an earthly Kingdom, this can be called the Tabernacles Stage.
These three stages of the Divine Kingdom on earth are symbolized in the rituals of the three Festivals of Passover (Pesach means sacrifice), Pentecost, (Shavuot or Weeks) and Tabernacles (Sukkot means booths). These ceremonial days “are a shadow of things to come” or in other words, prophetic: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17).
The Reign of the Holy Spirit today! The Kingdom existing today operates internally within the lives of Believers. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) “Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)
This stage is necessary because human hearts had to be converted before nations could be converted. Yet, the internal Kingdom can be discerned only by those who understand the Spirit’s infilling in the lives of Believers. Today, Christ reigns in the midst of His enemies in the hearts of His people. But a time is coming when He returns and the Kingdom will hold physical sway over the entire earth. Until then, we are to proclaim Christ’s Word to an ignorant and rebellious world through practicing the revealed Biblical principles of “Kingdom Living” as our Messiah taught: “Seek first the Kingdom of Christ and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
The Future Kingdom of Christ! Some read John 18:36 to say that Christ’s Kingdom and reign are just spiritual. Not true! The prophets spoke of Messiah’s literal Kingdom and iron rod rule over nations: You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’(Psalm 2:9) “With righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:4)
The New Testament also identifies a King whose reign gets the attention of people! “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty Christ. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:15-16)
One fact above all is certain: the Bible does in fact speak of Christ’s physical Kingdom Reign coming at the end of this Church Age with His return: “Then the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Amen!
