The Hebrew word for ‘kingdom’ in the Old Testament and its Greek, New Testament equivalent means the “rule” or “reign” of something. But more specifically, the word “kingdom” is a translation of the Greek word ‘basileia’ which, in turn, is a translation of the Hebrew and Aramaic words which define kingdoms by dominion, which is never bound by an area of territory. Jesus explains this idea in Luke 17:21 about The Kingdom of God by stating one cannot point and say, “Look here it is!” or “There it is!” Simply stated, The Kingdom of God is the rule of God wherever God exercises His sovereignty, dominion, influence, and power.

In the Old Testament book of Psalms, we read, “For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over all. The Lord has established His kingdom in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” When Jesus says in the New Testament, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven,” He is telling His followers to pray that God will exercise His power and authority in the world so that His purposes and plans are accomplished in and through His people. During His ministry Jesus told the religious leaders, “the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21). Jesus was revealing to them that I AM is among you. In Jesus’ presence among them, the kingdom of God was present there among them at that very moment.

Jesus went to the cross as King of the Jews. Jesus died on the cross as King of the Jews. Jesus arose from death as King of the Jews. Now, Jesus lives and reigns forever as King, bringing Yahweh’s triumph over the powers of sin and death for all of mankind. Having accomplished all He came to do, Jesus ascended as the triumphal King of Heaven. Jesus is king, not an earthy king or religious or political leader, but the king of God’s kingdom with dominion over all.

This Truth of Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension bringing atonement to the fallen mankind of this world is “the gospel”. The atonement work of Jesus brought a greater future of a new covenant and new creation. We are not “saved” just to escape Hell after we die; God “saves us”, and literally re-creates our spirits with His life IN us so the Holy Spirit can work through us, to further enlarge His kingdom.

God wants to renew people so they can then, in turn, preach the gospel to others; it is our assignment referred to as The Great Commission. Ever since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the church has continued God’s kingdom-building project with the help of His Holy Spirit. We must continue this endeavor by praying and acting on the ultimate prayer Jesus Himself taught us to pray, that “God’s kingdom come, and His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. The Kingdom of God is present wherever and whenever we take Jesus to people through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control, by living a life of godliness (Galatians 5:22-23).

John’s Revelation tells us that we will rule and reign on the earth with God and He calls us to start that work in the present. This is the “already but not yet” period in which the Kingdom of God has been launched, but it has not yet been fully realized. God will finish this great task when Jesus returns to make “all things new” as Revelation 21:5 promises. That is when the kingdom of God will be fully completed “on earth as it is in heaven.”