Tuesday: The Kingdom of God Already, Not Yet
Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God. In His first public proclamation at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21) Jesus affirmed that through Him that day Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy of the kingdom and its redeeming ministry had been inaugurated.
Luke records another saying that attests the kingdom’s present reality. Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom would come, Jesus answered them that the kingdom of God is within you
(Luke 17:21, NKJV).
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Other translations suggest that the kingdom is in your midst. That is to say, with the arrival of Jesus, the kingdom has already come, with its components to include healing the sick (Luke 9:11), preaching of the gospel (Luke 4:16-19), forgiving sins (Luke 7:48-50; Luke 19:9-10), and crushing the forces of evil (Luke 11:20). Thus, Jesus made the kingdom a present reality within the individual, transforming the person to be like Him. The kingdom of God is also seen amid the community of believers, a revelation of righteousness and salvation. This present aspect is also known as the kingdom of God’s grace [that] is now being established, as day by day hearts that have been full of sin and rebellion yield to the sovereignty of His love.
-Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 108.
While the already
aspect has settled the finality of the kingdom-that is, the defeat of sin and Satan and Jesus’ victory in the great controversy-the not yet
aspect looks forward to the physical end of evil and the establishment of the new earth: The full establishment of the kingdom of His glory will not take place until the second coming of Christ to this world.
–Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 108.
What do these texts teach about the kingdom of God at the end of the age? Luke 17:23-24; Luke 21:5-36.
Our world, and the state of our world-the turmoil, sorrow and trouble in it-certainly reflect the words that Jesus expressed here. Though some argue that the pain and suffering in this world mean God doesn’t exist, we could reply that, given what Jesus warned us about almost 2,000 years ago, the state of our world helps prove not only God’s existence but the truth of the Bible itself. (If the world were paradise now, Jesus’ words would be false.) Only at the end will the kingdom of God, in all its fullness, be established. Until then, we have to endure.
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Where in the bible is found these 2 distinctive ''kingdom of grace" and "kingdom of glory"? It seems glory is always associated with Christ's one kingdom.
As I understand it, the kingdom of God is an inseparable entity. On the other hand it has two aspects. There is the throne of grace and the throne of glory (Hebrews 4:16; Matthew 25:31). A throne includes a kingdom. God is ruling in actions of grace and ultimately in the final action of glory at Christ`s second coming. The Jews had only the final phase in mind, while Jesus proclaimed that the initial phase had already come to be completed at his second coming. Luke 17:21 reveals the first phase of the kindgom, while the rest of the chapter deals with the second.
Winfried Stolpmann
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, GLORY as of the only begotten from the Father, full of GRACE and truth”. “Now Father, glorify me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was”.(John 1:14; 17:5). “But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet , because Jesus was not yet glorified”.(John 7:39)
The presence of the Spirit among us is evidence of the glorified Christ. We need not complicate the gospel. Christ sits on an exalted, glorious “throne” that is full of grace.
Frequently saints lament their weariness with this troubled world and its depraved kingdoms and express a longing for “Thy Kingdom come” in glory. Can we really afford for Jesus to come? Are we ready for it, or just tired of something else?
A Christian young man was said to be insisting with passion that he was ready to die and go home to be with Jesus. When asked if an enemy was coming to take his life what he would do, he said, “Run!” Whatever the emotional young man was prepared for it was not to die.
What does our testimony in word and deed say we are ready for? (Revelation 12:11). What would change if we were really ready? Those who are ready do not need an occasional emotional high (on Sabbath) and probably do not need to say it; for it may be demonstrated by standing firm with the Lamb when circumstances are unfavorable and the world says, “Run!” (Revelation 14:1)
Readiness may not be measured by the last time one sinned, but one’s direction may be marked by unswerving commitment to follow Jesus in whatever He says and wherever He leads, with no intent to compromise for personal convenience (Revelation 14:4). Jesus then determines when the saints are ready (Revelation 7:3).
Isaiah 53:12 shows us that Christ continues to make intercession for us especially after the battle between Christ and the enemy of our lives that culminated at Calvary's cross. 1 Corinthians 15:50 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." Sin cannot enter into the Kingdom of Glory, but sinners have been granted entry to the Kingdom of Grace through the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour. I am so thankful, so grateful, so humbled by my Saviour's love for me. I hope you are too.
I am learning so much from these studies. thank you all for your in put.
I am so blessed.
So true if there was paradise now then his suffering would had been a waste and Christianity could not be of value cuz love and forgiveness is the make of Christianity. At the final judgment should prevail
I also have learnt a lot from your contributions. God bless you all.
Jesus personally referred to the kingdom as being near 'present' in you and as being yet 'future'. No harm in us coining the 'present' as being 'of grace' and the 'future' as being 'of glory'.
In the discussion on the kingdom of God with its twofold aspects of grace and glory, the throne of God is rightly mentioned to be the center of that kingdom. This could be supplenented by further information from the book of Hebrews and the book of Revelation. There it seems that the cross, the throne and the sanctuary are at the center of grace being administered. At the cross the purification for sins has been accomplished. (Hebrews 1:3) After his ascension and elevation to the throne of God, Christ is administering the accomplished benefits of the cross in the heavenly sanctuary serving as our High Priest. (Hebrews 8:1) Although his blood has accomplished the purification of sins at the cross he is still administering his blood within the heavenly sanctuary after his ascension. (Hebrews 9:11-12) As long as probation lasts, this kingdom of grace with this threefold center of salvation will be going on until Christ is changing to his messianic throne of glory to usher in the kingdom of glory.
This throne changing action will be the turning ponit in salvation history moving into a new glorious creation: He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21 RSV) Then the kingdom of grace will have arrived at its culmination in the kingdom of glory.
Winfried Stolpmann