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Christian Biblical Studies |
THE
Unless otherwise denoted, all Scripture
references are to the
New International Version (NIV; British
text)
Question:
In
Matthew 6: 10, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for God’s Kingdom to come.
What is the Kingdom of God?
Answer: Matthew 6: 10
forms a
part of the Lord’s Prayer: "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it
is in heaven."
In common
usage, the word "kingdom" generally refers to a territory, a state, or a people
subject to the authority of a monarch. In Biblical usage, it also refers to the
royal ruler or the authority by which he reigns.
The
rulers
whom God has designated to act as His regal representatives, and to exercise His
authority in the coming reign of the Millennial Age
are Jesus and His faithful Church (1
Peter 2: 9).
The Bible
speaks of Jesus and His Church as the Kingdom from two
standpoints:
1. Their earthly lives, during the Gospel Age,
when they experienced trials, sufferings, and persecutions. This sense of the
term has accurately styled them The
Church Militant. In this condition the members of the Church may also be
styled the embryonic, or suffering
Kingdom.
2. Their heavenly existence, when they will
reign over the earth. In this respect we may regard them as The Church Triumphant. In this condition
the Church may be called the born, or
glorified Kingdom.
From which
standpoint did Jesus speak in Matthew 6: 10?
The Kingdom
Begins
Jesus taught
His disciples that a change in dispensation was imminent, as we read in Luke 16: 16: "The Law and the Prophets
were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God
is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it."
So, Jesus
Himself began that Kingdom and the preaching of it during His ministry of
three-and-a-half years. Peter and the other Apostles continued to proclaim it on
the Day of Pentecost when they received the holy spirit. Some time thereafter
the Gentiles were inducted into that Kingdom, too.
The Kingdom
Progresses
The Kingdom
advanced and expanded throughout the entire Gospel (Church) Age, as the members
of the Kingdom class — the Church — were prepared, trained, and perfected for
their promised reign with Christ in the Millennial Age, the royal period which
will follow the Gospel Age. However, the Kingdom has not yet begun and the will
of God is still not done in earth as in heaven. That aspect of the Lord's prayer
is future.
Note that
the Kingdom class derives its name in anticipation of its promised future
reign over the world of mankind. For this mankind yearns, though ignorantly, as
Romans 8: 19 tells us: "The creation
waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be
revealed."
In
Conclusion
To
sum up,
the Kingdom of Matthew 6: 10 is the reign of Christ and His Church and it will
commence during His Second Advent. The King of Kings and His Church enter into
their high office, to rule in truth and righteousness, and to bless all the nations of the earth (Genesis
12: 3).
By the close
of that thousand-year reign, every member of the human family who has ever lived
will have been granted the opportunity to regain the human perfection forfeited
by Adam in Eden.
Copyright June 2008, UKBibleStudents.co.uk. May be reproduced only with permission.
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1 Peter 2:
9: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Genesis
12: 3: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses
you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through
you."