The Kingdom of God – Part 6
September 29, 2002
Dear Friends,
In John 18:36, Jesus says “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” This passage, along with so many others we have already quoted, can be a stumblingblock if we do not have a balanced perspective of both the Kingdom of God as a body politic opposed to the Kingdom of Men as well as the future Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus uses the Greek word here translated “world” meaning “the constitution or order of things.” In other words, Jesus was not saying he would never have a Kingdom on earth, he was saying that this Kingdom was not of this order of things. It was the Kingdom of Heaven rather than the Kingdom of Men. If Jesus were a worldly ruler with worldly ambitions, his followers would not suffer him to be killed nor would Jesus submit to such a brutal execution. His Kingdom was not of the political order of this world, but an order of things which contrary to all the logic of the Kingdom of Men taught “…whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” There are many references to the future Kingdom of God on earth when Jesus and the saints will fight. At that future time, Christ’s Kingdom will be the Kingdom of this world as this world will be transformed into a new world order. “And 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)
Some have suggested that the Kingdom came into existence at Pentecost. It seems to me that the more natural beginning of the spiritual aspect of the Kingdom of God is the resurrection of Jesus. Since the metaphor of the harvest is so obviously a reference to the future Kingdom of God on earth, we would expect, if our exposition is consistent, to find some evidence of this in the spiritual sense. We do in fact find this reference with the resurrection of Christ. Paul speaking of the resurrection of the dead in 1 Corinthians 15 uses the metaphor of Jesus as the firstfruits and “afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” Jesus is the firstfruits of the harvest of the Kingdom. If the harvest began with Jesus (the spiritual establishment of the Kingdom), the harvest will complete itself with Christ’s coming (the future Kingdom on earth). The firstfruit of that harvest was at Jesus’ resurrection, not at Pentecost. The choice of Pentecost as a beginning probably stems from the misunderstanding by some that the Kingdom of God refers only to the ecclesia (church).
We would also expect, that if the Kingdom was established in a spiritual sense, Jesus would have the title of King now. We don’t have to wait long to find out that this was so. In Luke 19:38, the angels testify to this saying, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” Perhaps the magi had a similar visitation as they came to the stable “Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”(Matt. 2:2) Jesus acknowledged this fact when he said to Pilate, “You are right in saying I am a king.” (John 18:37) Again we have another testimony that says “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”(Matt. 21:5) Of course in the book of Hebrews, Jesus is likened to Melchizedec the king-priest of Jerusalem. He now holds both positions being of the line of King David and a priest of the order of Melchizedek. If Jesus is King now, over what kingdom does he preside if only the future Kingdom of God will exist?
We have perhaps belabored this point for too long, but we think that it is a balanced approach to see both the present and future applications of the Kingdom of God. There is a lot more to cover on this subject, but we will have to leave it for your own consideration and study.
Have a great week!
