Dictionary of Bible Themes: 2376 kingdom of God, coming of

2376 kingdom of God, coming of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 2000 Jesus Christ » 2300 Jesus Christ, ministry and work of » 2375 kingdom of God » 2376 kingdom of God, coming of

The kingdom of God comes into being wherever the kingly authority of God is acknowledged. Although God is always sovereign, Scripture looks to a future “realm” or “reign” of salvation. This has come in Christ and yet will come in its fulness only when Jesus Christ returns.

God is sovereign over Israel and over the whole earth

Psalm 47:7-8 See also Exodus 15:18; 1 Samuel 12:12; 1 Chronicles 16:31; 1 C 5; 1 C 11-12; Psalm 9:7-8; Psalm 45:6; Psalm 93:1-2; Psalm 103:19; Psalm 145:11-13; Isaiah 37:16; Daniel 4:34-35

The coming reign of God

Its expectation

Isaiah 51:4-5; Mark 15:43 pp Luke 23:51 See also Isaiah 2:2-4 pp Micah 4:1-3; Isaiah 32:1; Jeremiah 3:17; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:18,21-22,27; Zechariah 8:22; Zechariah 14:9; Mark 11:10

Its assocication with the coming of the Messiah

Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:14 “Son of Man” was Jesus Christ's usual way of referring to himself. See also Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Micah 5:2

The kingdom of God was central in the preaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles

Matthew 24:14; Luke 8:1; Acts 28:31 See also Matthew 4:17,23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:7 Jesus Christ's instructions to the Twelve; Mark 1:13-14; Luke 4:43; Luke 9:2,11; Luke 10:9; Acts 1:3,6-8; Acts 8:12; Acts 19:8; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23

The kingdom of God has come in Christ: it is present

Matthew 11:12 Following the Jewish convention of avoiding the use of the divine name, Matthew usually speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”. See also Matthew 3:1-2; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 13:31-32 pp Mark 4:30-32 pp Luke 13:18-19; Matthew 13:33 pp Luke 13:20-21; Matthew 16:28 pp Mark 9:1 pp Luke 9:27; Luke 11:20; Luke 16:16; Luke 17:20-21

The kingdom of God will come in its fulness only when Jesus Christ returns: it is future

Luke 22:18 pp Matthew 26:29 pp Mark 14:25 See also Matthew 6:10 pp Luke 11:2; Matthew 25:31,34; Luke 22:16; 1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Timothy 4:18; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 12:10