The Invisible Kingdom

The Fog - (Explored), a photo by Glyn Lowe Photos on Flickr.

We are no longer citizens of the kingdom of this world; we have had our citizenship transferred to the Kingdom of Heaven and we have a King of Kings reigning over us. This can cause some major confusion among Christians. How can we reconcile Jesus' Kingship over the earth when there is obviously so much wrong being done here? Sometimes it doesn't look as if anyone is in charge. The Bible tells us that the war is no longer in Heaven, "woe to the earth" (Revelation 12:12)! There is a conflict here between Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men. 

What does the Kingdom of God look like? Luke 1:30-33 says that there is no end to this kingdom. In Acts 1:6-8 the disciples ask if it is finally the time when the kingdom will be restored to Israel and Jesus answers, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Hebrews 2:6-9, Father God subjected everything to Jesus' kingship, "but now we do not yet see all things subjected to him." That is a crucial point. When God promises something, it's as good as done, even if we don't see it yet. Our situation is like Abraham's: He lived by faith in God's promise (Hebrews 11), and believed though he never saw it fulfilled. 

So what is the plan? If Jesus has left this earth in such a mess, what does He mean to do with it? Jesus did not leave us ill-informed on this matter: Matthew 19:28 says,

Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. 

What do "last" and "first" mean here? They are indicators of time. Those who are first to believe will be the last to get what's coming to them (12 thrones); they must wait until the "regeneration". In other words, a period of time will elapse, and those who believe at the last won't have to wait long for the coming of the Kingdom. This picture of thrones and judging is of what will be at the last, at the regeneration of all things. Translators made an awful mistake in making a chapter break after this passage; the parable that follows begins with the key word "for", indicating the continuation of a thought. Matthew 20:1-16 is a picture of how this kingdom is going to be. His kingdom is recognized in Heaven (“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” -Revelation 11:15), but because the time of regeneration has not yet come we can't see it. 

The book of Revelation can be interpreted as giving hints of the tribulation and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, but in Matthew 24:36-39 Jesus said that "that day" of His return (the regeneration) would be unexpected. We might wonder why we don't see more of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, but Jesus says that it won't be fulfilled until He comes again.

vs. 45-46, "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes." He wants to find us ready, productive, and true to His heart when he returns to reign. He came in humility the first time, but when He comes in glory He will sit on a throne (Matthew 25:31). The Kingdom Jesus spoke of is here, He is on the throne, but there will be a delay until we see it. 

Why is delay part of the plan? It gives more time for God's Kingdom to grow and the time of the Gentiles to come to fullness (Romans 11:25). There are many "until"s in scripture.

• Matthew 22:44 (Acts 2:35): The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies beneath your feet..."
• Acts 3:19-21: Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 

Jesus did speak of the apostles sitting "upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28), but all of this reigning will take place in time. We get into trouble when we assert ourselves and try to drag the authority we will have in the future into this world now (see the example of Zebedee's wife in Matthew 20:20-28). 

What should we do until the Kingdom comes? We do what Jesus did before His death and resurrection: serve and suffer. How we do this determines the size of our reward when Kingdom does come in fullness. It's frustrating to wait, but we have to give that frustration up and be strangers and pilgrims and submit to creation as Jesus once did, until all things are regenerated. Today Jesus gives us a kingdom of trials, promising future reward for present obedience and suffering (Luke 22:24-30). Does this not give us more insight into the Lord's Prayer?

 "Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come."


When we ask for "Your Kingdom come", we know that the Kingdom is in Heaven, but has yet to come down to earth (Luke 22:14-18). 

We have to realize that the full rights of our citizenship are held for us in a time yet to be realized. This is all by God's edict.

Announcements:

• Anyone interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion International for the first time, sponsoring an additional child, or donating to one of Compassion's amazing programs as part of the mandate of King Jesus, please see Abby next Sunday!