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
Ps 47:7-8 See also Ex 15:18; 1Sa 12:12; 1Ch 16:31; 1Ch 28:5; 1Ch 29:11-12; Ps 9:7-8; Ps 45:6; Ps 93:1-2; Ps 103:19; Ps 145:11-13; Isa 37:16; Da 4:34-35
The coming reign of God
Its expectation Isa 51:4-5; Mk 15:43 pp Lk 23:51 See also Isa 2:2-4 pp Mic 4:1-3; Isa 32:1; Jer 3:17; Da 2:44; Da 7:18,21-22,27; Zec 8:22; Zec 14:9; Mk 11:10
Its assocication with the coming of the Messiah Isa 9:6-7; Da 7:14 “Son of Man” was Jesus Christ’s usual way of referring to himself. See also Isa 11:1-9; Jer 23:5-6; Mic 5:2
The kingdom of God was central in the preaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles
Mt 24:14; Lk 8:1; Ac 28:31 See also Mt 4:17,23; Mt 9:35; Mt 10:7 Jesus Christ’s instructions to the Twelve; Mk 1:13-14; Lk 4:43; Lk 9:2,11; Lk 10:9; Ac 1:3,6-8; Ac 8:12; Ac 19:8; Ac 20:25; Ac 28:23
The kingdom of God has come in Christ: it is present
Mt 11:12 Following the Jewish convention of avoiding the use of the divine name, Matthew usually speaks of “the kingdom of heaven”. See also Mt 3:1-2; Mt 4:17; Mt 13:31-32 pp Mk 4:30-32 pp Lk 13:18-19; Mt 13:33 pp Lk 13:20-21; Mt 16:28 pp Mk 9:1 pp Lk 9:27; Lk 11:20; Lk 16:16; Lk 17:20-21
The kingdom of God will come in its fulness only when Jesus Christ returns: it is future
Lk 22:18 pp Mt 26:29 pp Mk 14:25 See also Mt 6:10 pp Lk 11:2; Mt 25:31,34; Lk 22:16; 1Co 15:24; 2Ti 4:18; Rev 11:15; Rev 12:10