In order for us to understand the Kingdom, we must discover the literal meaning of the word \”kingdom\”. A kingdom is a monarchy which is ruled by a single person or a family for life. The word \”monarchy\” is defined by Merriam Webster dictionary as an \”undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person\”. We have very few examples of this today. Although the United Kingdom is a monarchy, it is really a constitutional monarchy which is the opposite of absolute monarchy.
All of these show that a kingdom in the ancient, un-secularized sense is a territory that fully belongs to a king. The king owns everything within his domain – the people, properties and so on. This is a necessary background to our understanding of the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? It is the absolute reign of God. Simple. Although the earth is not yet a physical kingdom (of God) in reality, we must not forget that the earth still belongs to the LORD and the fullness thereof
Until the LORD returns in His second coming, during the times of the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21), the absolute and sovereign rule of God is presently manifest in the hearts that have been regenerated and responsive to the scepter of God\’s righteousness. \”…Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: *a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom*.\” (Hebrews 1:8)
The Church & the Kingdom
What we call the church today is meant to be an assembly of all those who have been called out of sin and renounced their allegiance to the world system. Therefore, the church is not a \”ministry\” or a cathedral; the church is an organic fellowship of those who have entered the kingdom of God. This gathering is not limited to a designated place of fellowship.
Hence, the Kingdom of God is what we see Paul describing in Ephesians 3 as the hidden plan of God by which God will display His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers. You will note that the church may then be used interchangeably for the kingdom of God, if the word \”church\” is used strictly in the biblical sense. *It is meant to be the gathering of those who have surrendered their will to God\’s plan, which makes the group a manifestation of the Kingdom of God*.
Now, the big question is, *have you surrendered your will to God\’s plan? Regardless of your rhetoric, your honest answer to this question is what determines whether you are in the Kingdom of God or not*.
Picture Credit: the Christ in Prophecy Journal
