“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).
Hope will be fulfilled in God’s Kingdom
There is a place that is so special that grown people become like children. Families sacrifice for months, or years, to save money in order to enjoy their time there. Little children have the time of their lives. Happiness is the simple goal for all involved. People experience things that they can normally only dream about. It’s a pretend world where animals take on human forms, and entertain both young and old. Even superstar football players talk of going there at the end of the Super bowl. That is — to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the most visited theme park in the world. This man-made “kingdom” may be a dream world to some people, but mortality limits the amount of enjoyment that anyone can have there. Ironically, Walt Disney, dreamer extraordinaire, died five years before Disney World was complete. He never saw his dream fulfilled as his life ended in 1966, and Walt Disney World opened in 1971.
The Kingdom of God will be different, and vastly superior, to any kingdom ever known. The Bible describes the Kingdom in the past tense as the Kingdom of Israel, which had a literal King (2Chron 13:8; Isa 43:15). It is also described in the present tense, in a limited manner, as applied to the Christian church. Jesus taught that in a small sense “the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). He told the people of his day that the Kingdom had come near to them. Both of these were mere shadows of the main event yet to come. Jesus spoke about a wonderful, future, worldwide Kingdom when “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Dan 2:44). His future Kingdom on earth is where Jesus chose to focus (Matt 8:11; 13:44-46; 16:19; 19:23-24).
When Jesus began his ministry, the first thing he did was to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 4:17). This shows the priority that Jesus applied to this vital subject of hope. The four gospel writers mentioned the Kingdom 88 times, which confirms that Jesus continued to talk about it often. “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent” (Luke 4:43). When Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, he commanded that they teach about the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:2). Even after his resurrection, Jesus showed himself for forty days to his disciples with a loud-and-clear message about the Kingdom (Acts 1:3). Jesus also spoke about the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven no less than twelve times in parables.
Kingdom of God or Heaven?
Jesus used the term ‘Kingdom of God’ 57 times and ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ 31 times in the four gospels. Nowhere is the term ‘Kingdom in Heaven’ used in Scripture. The Kingdom will be heavenly, and of God, but not located in heaven. Jesus repeatedly talks about the Kingdom on earth (Matt 5:5; 6:10; Mark 11:10). These two terms are used interchangeably as ‘heaven’ is often used in place of ‘God’ in this connection (Matt 21:25; Luke 15:18; John 3:27). Jesus gave an explicit example when he spoke about a rich young ruler. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ’Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’” (Matt 19:23-24). This confirms that Jesus’ message about the Kingdom is perfectly in tune with the promises to Abraham and David. God plans to re-establish the Kingdom of Israel, only this time as a glorified, heavenly Kingdom on earth.
What will Jesus do in his Kingdom?
Jesus will, first of all, raise the dead and judge those whom he chooses (2 Tim 4:1; John 5:28-29; Acts 10:42). The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is but one example where Jesus described the process of how people will be judged by him. This parable is not meant to be taken literally, but does give disciples something serious to think about. The faithful will be given their reward of eternal life and the unfaithful will receive their penalty of punishment and death (Matt 25:23-30; 25:34-46; 11:24). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10). After that the Bible gives many clues regarding what will happen, but without a timeline. We know that Jesus will appoint his followers as judges to help rule the land (Matt 19:28-29; 1 Cor 6:2; Dan 7:18-27). Those who are counted as worthy will also act as kings and priests to the remaining mortals in the Kingdom (Exod 19:6; Rev 1:6; 5:10). Eventually every person and every nation will come to recognize Jesus as Messiah and King (Heb 8:8-12; Ezek 39:7). Jesus will judge and teach the nations from Jerusalem. Every nation must worship Jesus as King, or they will suffer plagues and drought (Zech 14:16-18; Isa 66:18-21).
The earth will need to be cleansed and this will be a gradual process. From the final battle of Armageddon, it will take seven months just to bury the dead (Ezek 39:12). It will also take seven years to rid the earth of weapons by fire (Ezek 39:9 10). Somehow Jesus will execute judgment by fire on the earth, in order to burn up the sinful works (Isa 66:15-16; 2 Pet 3:7-13). The land of Israel, and the whole earth, will be renewed as the planet will receive a divine face-lift (Rev 21:2, 10).
Eventually a temple will be built in Jerusalem, but unlike any house of God ever seen (Zech 6:12-15). Jesus will be the focal point as God’s perfect representative. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:9-10). Jesus will oversee sacrifices in the Kingdom, but not like those in former days. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb 13:15-16).
What is the Millennium?
Y2K opened people’s eyes to the impact of a millennial change. In the years prior to the year 2000, computer experts warned of cataclysmal effects due to a subtle flaw that affected all computers. Due to fear of the potential consequences, millions of companies and governments worldwide took action to upgrade systems and prevent any problems. Fortunately, negative effects were minimal and there were no significant problems when January 1, 2000 arrived.
The Millennium is different: it is a 1,000-year Kingdom concept that originates in the last book of the Bible. It is understood by many Christians to be a literal time period because the Bible states: “They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” (Rev 20:4-6). Combined with Peter’s writings (2 Pet 3:8), an explicit case can be made for such a literal Kingdom time period.
In addition, there is significant rationale for a millennial time period in the Bible. There are many examples of events in the Kingdom that require a gradual time period to accommodate changes. Jesus told us that the primary reward for faithful believers is eternal life, yet we also read that people will still die in the Kingdom (Isa 65:20). He said that believers who are given immortality would become like angels and not marry (Matt 22:30), yet we read elsewhere that babies will still be born (Isa 65:23). Though joy and peace are promised on earth (Isa 35:10; Rev 21:4), there will still be war (Ezek 38; Joel 3:9-11) and disputes to settle (Isa 2:4). How do these conflicting statements fit together? Why won’t God change everything all at once?
The answer seems to be that the first time period of God’s Kingdom will last 1,000 years, or a millennium. It will be a gradual cleansing of the earth and, ultimately, a return of man to God. Mortal people who are alive during the Kingdom age will die and await the second resurrection. Since the fall of Adam, mankind has been separated from God’s presence due to our sin (Isa 59:2), but God’s intention has always been to reward faithful followers with His eternal glory. Jesus will be king in God’s Kingdom, leading his followers back to oneness with his Father. “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor 15:24-25).
The Bible hope is to gain eternal life in God’s Kingdom with Jesus as king. It is to return to our Creator and see the face of God (Matt 5:8; Exod 33:18-22). It is to live in a sinless state, in a glorified body (1 Cor 15:42-44). It is to live in the presence of God and be with Him always. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
“God’s Kingdom is present in its beginnings, but still future in its fullness” Timothy Keller.
“The doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought” H. G. Wells.
“They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations” (Psa 145:11-13).
The Bible says:
- Mankind’s great hope is to enter the Kingdom of God. Acts 8:12; Matt 6:10; Luke 6:20.
- Jesus will be King in the Kingdom on earth. Matt 25:31-34; Rev 11:15; Matt 19:28-29.
The Millennium will usher in eternity with God. 1 Cor 15:24-26; Rev 21:2-4; 2 Pet 3:7-13. Chicago, IL Ecclesia
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One