“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has 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” (Colossians 1:9-14).

The prophets spoke of the kingdom of God. The interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 of the great image ultimately described a nation and a time when God would establish His Kingdom, “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44). 

What did the Scriptures mean when Daniel described the Kingdom of God that would stand forever? The Hebrew word alam is used in this passage, meaning the Kingdom of God would not be destroyed and would last in perpetuity. This is the “eternal purpose” revealed by God (Ephesians 3:11). 

The difficulty for many is understanding what this kingdom would be. Is it the church? Is it only in heaven? Is it a world empire? Much of this confusion stems from our inability to understand the interchangeability of words and phrases. 

“The word church, signifying the “called out” aspect of the nature of God’s people, is only one of several terms to designate them. In Matthew 16:18, after using the word church, Jesus used the expression “kingdom of heaven” to refer to the same group. This expression describes the position of people under the reign of God. The expressions “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Kingdom of God” are used interchangeably and always refer to the sovereignty of God, generally meaning the same that signified by the word church.” (Mattox, 1961)

Therefore, when Daniel describes the eternal, always-standing kingdom of God, he is describing the church that Jesus promised to build in Matthew 16:18. The body of believers that have been called out of the world by the blood of the Lamb is the church, the kingdom, the everlasting Kingdom of God!

“Of all the metaphors used to describe the church, “kingdom” is the most common…John the Baptist had come proclaiming, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2)…The “eternal kingdom” came into being on the first Pentecost after the resurrection.” (Warden, 2009)

Peter describes this kingdom, the church, as not only existing now but into heaven when the richness of the reward from God will be fully enjoyed, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-11).

Another question remains: what did Paul mean about the kingdom being delivered to God in 1 Corinthians 15:23,24? “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”

We know from the Scriptures that the reign of Jesus began at His ascension and will continue unto His returns (Acts 1:9-11). When the end comes, Jesus will hand over the kingdom, the church, to the Father. The church will no longer be restricted to the world at that time. The work of the Mediator will no longer be required since there will be no sin in heaven. All powers that opposed the kingdom on earth will cease to exist. Paul reveals that the plan from the foundation of the world will have been completed in its finality. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). The church will be able to stand faultless before God forever. 

To have a kingdom, several essential elements are required, each contributing to establishing and functioning a sovereign state or territory governed by a king (territory, economy, etc.). In a spiritual or biblical context, such as the Kingdom of God, these elements are often interpreted symbolically:

•           Territory: The realm of God’s reign transcends physical boundaries and is present           wherever God’s will is done.

•           Sovereignty: God’s supreme authority over all creation.

•           Population: Believers and followers of Christ, seen as citizens of the heavenly kingdom.

•           Government Structure: Jesus Christ as the King.

•           Defense and Security: Spiritual protection provided by God.

•           Economy: Spiritual blessings and resources provided by God.

•           Diplomacy: The church’s mission is to spread the gospel and foster peace.

•           Culture and Society: The values, ethics, and practices of the Christian faith.

•           History and Tradition: The biblical narrative and the ongoing story of God’s interaction with humanity.

One could describe the church or the kingdom using each of these characteristics. They are one and the same.

Works Cited

Mattox, F. (1961). The Eternal Kingdom. Delight: Gospel Light Publishing Company.

Warden, D. (2009). 1 & 2 Peter and Jude. Searcy: Resource Publications .

By: Justin Odom