We see the phrase “The Kingdom of God” in the Old and New testaments. But what exactly does this phrase mean? Does the Kingdom of God refer to a physical location or a state of mind?
The term the “Kingdom of God” is phrased differently across the Bible. Mark 1:15-15 refers to “the kingdom of Christ,” Matthew 13:41 speaks of the ‘Kingdom of Christ and God,” and Mark 11.10 refers to “the kingdom”. The phrasing differs because of the Greek and Hebrew translations and the socio-religious context of the time the Gospel was being preached.
For instance, Matthew refers to a “Kingdom of Heaven” only because he was being respectful to his Jewish readers who avoided uttering the sacred name of God. So even though the phrasing is varied, the doctrine is the same and refers to three things.
The Kingdom of God is the rule of Jesus Christ on earth
When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say “Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth, as it is in heaven,” This is to recognize that God is going to bring heaven to earth and rule over all of us. When we “seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness” as Matthew tells us, what we are doing is praying for the reign of the kingdom of God in our lives.
The advantages of living under this rule
This is a time when Jesus will take control over everything and all of humanity will live not under laws and rules but in “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). These will be the blessings or advantages that await us during his reign.
The subjects of this Kingdom
Jesus once said that the Kingdom of God is within us. When we pray for the Kingdom of God, we acknowledge that we accept His sacrifice and repent. This allows us to become living, breathing witnesses of His glory. We can surrender more fully to His Will and make his name resound from every mouth across the Earth.