The true Church at present is not the Kingdom of God set up in power and glory, but is only in its embryo condition, developing faith, knowledge, patience, love. If we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure,” then we will receive an abundant entrance “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10, 11).
Jesus is our king now, and we accept his lordship now. In this sense we have already been “translated ... into the kingdom of his dear son” (Colossians 1:13). Paul refers to the kingdom in a similar way: “The kingdom of God is ... righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). These texts refer to the blessings we enjoy now. But in time, when the Church is complete in glory, the Kingdom of God will extend to the entire world under the reign of Christ and his Church.
The promises of Kingdom honor and joint-heirship with Christ are strong incentives to us for faithfulness under present trials and persecution. As the letters to the churches in Revelation repeatedly affirm, only overcomers in this present life will gain Kingdom honors in the next life. “He that overcometh ... to him will I give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:26; 20:6). “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21).
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God's Kingdom
SpiritualThe prominent theme woven throughout the Old and New Testament is the Kingdom of God and its ruler, Messiah. Because of all the promises and prophecies pointing toward the exaltation of their nation under Messiah, the Kingdom was the hope and "expec...
