After this manner therefore pray ye: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come... Matthew 6:9-13
The “Lord’s Prayer” has been recited by Christ Followers for 2000 years. But, do we as Christ Followers have a firm understanding of what the term “kingdom” means exactly when we say that prayer? Do we understand fully what praying for "thy kingdom come" actually means?
When we look at how the term “kingdom” (basileia in Greek) is used in the New Testament, we notice a few things. The phrase “kingdom of heaven” (basileia ho ouranos) is used 31 times in the New Testament, and is used exclusively by Matthew in his gospel account alone. His use of the phrase “kingdom of heaven”, or more correctly the “kingdom FROM heaven”, points to the source of this kingdom. The phrase “kingdom of God” (basileia theos) is used 65 times in the New Testament, in all four gospel accounts by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and Paul also uses the phrase as well in his epistles. The phrase clarifies who this kingdom belongs to, it is a kingdom belonging to God alone. Both phrases refer to the same kingdom, one that is both present and future in scope.
The present kingdom is the one that resides within us as Christ followers. “He (God) has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14. The kingdom of God is promised to Christians as something we will inherit in the future, but that we enjoy the benefits of presently too. The kingdom of God is eternal, and is what we as the Church and Bride of Christ are grafted into (Romans 11).
During the time of Jesus’ first coming to this world, the Bible says that the kingdom of God had come, in Christ Himself. “After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! " Mark 1:14-15. Luke 17:20-25 says “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; "no one will say, 'See here! ' or 'There! ' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Then he told the disciples… "But first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Jesus responded to the Pharisee’s question of when the kingdom would come by telling them there would not be anything observable, for instance no Messiah freeing the Jews from Roman rule as all were expecting. Instead, the kingdom was already “in their midst”, He was already with them, but they did not recognize Him and would reject Him as a result.
The majority of references to the kingdom however are that of a future kingdom, one that we “attain”, “inherit”, or “enter into.” This kingdom will come physically after the tribulation period, and will last a literal one thousand years. This one-thousand year period is what is commonly called the “Millennial Kingdom.” Jesus told His disciples that just as you can tell by the fig tree's leaves that summer is near, in the same way when they saw the signs He gave during the Olivet Prophecy coming to pass, then the Kingdom of God was near. “Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:29-31. The promised kingdom of God would appear after the signs were observed during the tribulation period.
We also see a shift in the New Testament in references to the kingdom. During the time period covered by the four gospels, the kingdom of God was said to be present, but then rejected. As a result, there are over 100 references to “kingdom” in the four gospels. However, as we move into the Church Age which is the time period covered by the epistles, there are only about 25 references to “kingdom” in total. Jesus explains it like this in Luke 16:16: "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed…”. Prior to His first coming, the Law was present and in place, but with His coming, the “good news” (gospel) of the kingdom of God was now present. But, as Jesus said above, the Jews rejected the gospel of the kingdom, and as a result a “partial hardening” came upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles was fulfilled. “I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25.
The gospels use the phrase “the good news” almost exclusively in relation to the kingdom of God. But, then another switch occurs as we leave the gospel accounts of Jesus the Messiah, and enter into the epistles which discuss the church age. The epistles use the phrase “good news” almost exclusively in relation to Jesus, and His redemptive action on the cross for all. The “kingdom of God” is not mentioned nearly as much because Israel rejected their long-promised Messiah, and the physical kingdom was postponed until after the tribulation period. Instead the Church Age began and will remain until the “fullness of the Gentiles” is realized. This period is instead focused on the gospel of Jesus, the Lamb of God whose blood shed on the cross covers the sins of mankind.
The kingdom of God is not physically present on the earth at this time. Instead, it is in the heavenly realm, and is a kingdom we are transferred into when we follow Jesus. But, the future kingdom of God will be a physical one present on the earth. After the tribulation period, also known as "Daniel's seventieth week", the one-thousand year millennial kingdom will begin. The Lord Jesus will rule and reign from Jerusalem over the entire earth. The kingdom of God that Jesus introduced and presented at His first coming, will be instituted during His second coming.
