Coming Kingdom of God

²⁰ One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God cannot be detected by visible signs. ²¹ You will not be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It is over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” ²² Then He (Jesus) said to His disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you will not see it. ²³ People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here He is,’ but do not go out and follow them. ²⁴ For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes.” Luke 17:20-24, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

In Luke 17, Jesus gives teaching to His disciples about the Kingdom of God as He headed toward Jerusalem to suffer death as the world’s final sacrifice for sins against His Father, the living LORD God of heaven (Luke 17:11, 25; e.g., see also Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:22, 51; Titus 3:5; 1 John 4:10). While Jesus was going to Jerusalem, Jesus took his Twelve disciples aside privately and said to them that He would be turned over to the religious leaders and the Romans to die, but He will be victorious over death (e.g., see Matthew 20:17-19).

Likewise, Jesus warned His disciples that testing, temptations, frustrations, hard trials, and stumbling blocks are sure to come from Satan and his evil workers in this world (Luke 17:1; see also Matthew 18:7; John 16:33). Satan and his lawless predators are the weeds in the world who causes sin, do evil, and try to harm and hurt God’s people (e.g., see Matthew 13:24-30, 41). Moreover, Satan and his evil prophets try to snatch God’s Word from our hearts through their false teaching and unbiblical doctrine (e.g., see Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 13:4, 19). However, Jesus promised that His Father will punish Satan and his evil workers who do and causes such trials, troubles, testing, and temptations to God's people (Luke 17:1-2; see also Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 18:6, 10, 14; Mark 9:42; Revelation 20:7-10). The living LORD God of heaven and earth is just and fair, and He will punish those who cause sin and trial and give relief to those who have been unjustly harmed and hurt by Satan and his evil workers (e.g., see Exodus 23:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Also, Jesus warned His disciples to pay attention to yourself and not follow the wicked example of Satan and his evil workers (Luke 17:3; see also Matthew 7:1-5). Similarly, Jesus taught His disciples that if your brother or sister follows Satan’s example by sinning, they must go and point out their fault, just between the two of them (Luke 17:3; see also Leviticus 19:17-18; Matthew 18:15). If the fellow disciple repents and asks for forgiveness, Jesus taught His disciples always be forgiving and merciful towards our fellow brother or sister, even if they wrong and sin against you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness and mercy (Luke 17:3-4; see also Matthew 18:21-22, 26-27, 33-35; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Jesus taught that citizens of God’s Kingdom must be continually forgiving, patient, kind, and merciful to one another (e.g., see Matthew 5:7; Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 6:36; Matthew 25:34-36). Even more, Jesus taught His disciples when praying and believing God in faith, we must first forgive and reconcile with anyone that has an offense against us because our prayers without love and forgiveness is nothing (e.g., see Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; 1 Corinthians 13:2).

One day, Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to receive more faith (see Luke 17:5). Jesus taught His disciples that if they have faith in His Father, the living LORD God of heaven, even only the size of a mustard or poppy seed, this small faith in the living LORD God would be large enough to uproot a large tree or move a large mountain at your command (Luke 17:6; see also Matthew 17:20-21; Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-26). Importantly, Jesus taught that everything is possible for one who believes and have faith in His Father, the living LORD God Almighty (e.g., see Matthew 21:19-22; Mark 9:23). Faith and trust in the living LORD God Almighty can move mountains (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 13:2; James 1:5-8). Even more, Jesus taught His disciples that faith and trust in Him will lead to good and mighty works for His Father’s glory (e.g., see John 14:12-14).

Jesus warned His disciples against doubting the power of the living LORD God Almighty but instead always humbly BELIEVE, SERVE, and OBEY Him and His Father from our whole hearts and TO SERVE OTHERS (Luke 17:7-10; see also Matthew 20:25-28; Matthew 24:46; Luke 12:37). The Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, the living LORD God Almighty, are One (e.g., see John 10:30). Moreover, Jesus taught His disciples to have a heart of thanksgiving, worship, and praise to Him and His Father in heaven for every answered prayer (see Luke 17:11-19). Our continual FAITH, worship, and thanksgiving to the living LORD God Almighty and His Son Jesus bring our healing, restoration, and salvation (Luke 17:17-19; see also Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48; Luke 18:42).

One day the Pharisees demanded and asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come (see Luke 17:20). Like many people today, the Pharisees and the religious leaders looked for signs of the coming end of the age (e.g., see Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16). The Pharisees and the religious leaders were aware of the evils, persecutions, and suffering in first century Palestine. Most likely, the Pharisees saw society getting worse and believed that God was about to bring an end to human history and the coming Kingdom of God.

During first-century Palestine, the typical expectations of the Jews was that the Kingdom of God would occur in the future as a dramatic and cataclysmic inbreaking of God at the end of the age when God’s righteous ways would triumphant over evil and wickedness (e.g., see Isaiah 65:17-15; Isaiah 66:15-24; Malachi 4:1-3, 6). Moreover, the Pharisees believed that the coming Kingdom of God would be a time when the Jewish people would be restored to their fortunes as the people of God as in the days of King David and Solomon and punish Israel’s enemies (e.g., see Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 62:1-5; Isaiah 66:7-14). Furthermore, the Pharisees believed a future military ruler – the Messiah (Christ) – such as King David would come to restore Israel’s fortunes. Until God established His Kingdom, the Pharisees tried to maintain ritual purity in this world by careful observation of the Law. The Pharisees saw the presence of the Kingdom of God when they submitted themselves to the Law (e.g., see Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Malachi 4:4).

However, Jesus taught the listening Pharisees that the Kingdom of God does not come by counting the days on the calendar, observation, nor visible signs (see Luke 17:20). Essentially, Jesus warned the religious leaders against speculating on the coming Kingdom of God while not enjoying the present. Jesus’ Father, the LORD God of heaven, is reigns and rules earth! Even more, the LORD God of heaven is omnipresent and omnipotent, and He fills the heaven and earth (e.g., see Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 66:1-2; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Daniel 5:21; Acts 17:24-28). Most important, the LORD God of heaven is the true and living eternal King of kings and Lord and lords, and His Kingdom reign is eternal and from everlasting to everlasting (e.g., see Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 10:16; Psalm 145:13; Isaiah 37:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 4:3, 34-35, 37; Daniel 6:26; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:1-2, 8-11).

In the Old Testament, the living God through His servants Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel declared that He would exercise His eternal Kingship by establishing His Kingdom over people’s lives and hearts through His chosen King – the Davidic Messiah (e.g., see Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, 10; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 37:25; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:13-14, 27; Matthew 3:2; Luke 1:32-33). God’s eternal Kingdom came with His Son, Jesus the Messiah, who is a direct descendant of Abraham and King David (e.g., see Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:31-33, 68-69; Acts 13:22-23; Romans 1:3-4). Jesus taught the listening Pharisees that the Kingdom of God had already come and was present in His life and ministry (see Luke 17:21). Through the Lord Jesus, the living God was establishing His reign and rule despite opposition and resistance of Satan and his evil workers (e.g., see Matthew 11:12; Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:18-20). The Kingdom of God began in the life and ministry of Jesus, continues in the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, and will climax in the return and subsequent world rule of God and His Son Jesus (e.g., see Romans 14:16-17; Revelation 11:15).

With Jesus’ public ministry, He brought heaven to earth! Jesus was the Anointed One, which means the Messiah or Christ, and He was filled with the Spirit of God (e.g., Luke 3:21-22; 4:1, 14, 18-21, 32-36, 41; Acts 10:38). Jesus’ life and ministry revealed miraculous signs and evidence that He brought the Kingdom of God to earth (e.g., see John 9:16; John 11:47). The vast crowds of people who REPENTED and PLACED THEIR FAITH IN JESUS received the Kingdom’s restoration and healing (e.g., see Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 1:14-15, 29-34). Through repentance and faith in Him, Jesus healed and restored ALL who were sick, paraplegic, blind, hurting, maimed, crippled, and mute — all sorts of people in need (e.g., see also Luke 4:18-19, 38-41; Luke 6:17-19; Luke 17:11-19; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:3-4). The people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the dead raised to life, the paraplegics walking around, the blind seeing, and the poor refreshed because of their faith in Jesus (e.g., see Matthew 15:29-31; Luke 7:21-23). The people were amazed and knew the Kingdom of God had arrived in the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., see Matthew 21:8-11)! Jesus taught the listening Pharisees that the Kingdom of God had already come and was present in His life and ministry (see Luke 17:21).

Nevertheless, the Kingdom was present in the life and ministry of Jesus in its beginnings though future in its fullness. In one sense, the Kingdom of God is here already with the first coming of Jesus, but in the richest sense the Kingdom of God is still to come with God’s final judgment (e.g., see Mark 13:1-3, 26-27; Luke 11:20; Luke 16:16-17; Luke 17:20-21; Luke 22:16, 18, 29-30; John 3:16-21).

Jesus taught His disciples they will long to see Him when He returns to heaven with His Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth (Luke 17:22; see also Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35). Then, Jesus warned His disciples not to be deceived by false and evil workers coming in His Name proclaiming that He has returned or that the time is near for His return (Luke 17:23; see also Mark 13:21-23; Luke 21:8). Jesus cautioned that false messiahs and false prophets will appear and use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders to deceive and trick people, even God’s elect people (e.g., see Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:5, 11, 23-26; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 13:13-15). Jesus taught His disciples that they and the entire world will know the future day when He returns as it will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the heavenly skies (Luke 17:24, 30; see also Zechariah 9:14; Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39).

Jesus warned when He returns the human world will be as uncaring, corrupt, and evil just as in Noah’s day (Luke 17:26; see also Genesis 6:5-13; Psalm 14:2-3; Matthew 24:37). During the days of Noah, Jesus taught that the people ate, drank, and married right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all (Luke 17:27; see also Genesis 7:6-23; Matthew 24:38-39). By faith, God warned righteous Noah about the coming flood (see 2 Peter 2:5). Noah in holy fear and obedience built an ark to save his family from the disastrous floods (see Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20). While people were saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction came upon them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they did not escape (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Likewise, Jesus taught that the day of His future return into the world will be as it was in the days of Lot when people went about their daily business — eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building (Luke 17:28; see also 2 Peter 2:6-7). Nevertheless, Jesus taught the morning Lot walked out and left Sodom, then fire and brimstone (sulfur) swept and rained down from heaven and destroyed them all (Luke 17:29; see also Genesis 19:15-16, 24). In the same way, Jesus predicted it will be “business as usual” right up to the hour of His sudden return when the Son of Man is revealed from heaven in blazing fire, power, and glory with His holy angels, and the Kingdom of God arrives (Luke 17:30; see also Daniel 7:10, 13-14; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 13; Jude 14; Revelation 1:7).

On the glorious day of His return, Jesus cautioned that those away from home must not return to pack and those in the fields must not return to town (Luke 17:31; see also Matthew 24:17-18; Mark 13:15-16; Luke 21:21). As a reminder, Jesus teaches what happened with Lot’s wife who looked back and wanted to return to Sodom, but she became a pillar of salt (Luke 17:32; see also Genesis 19:17, 26). Importantly, Jesus taught that whoever clings to his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for His purpose shall save himself and find life (Luke 17:33; see also Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Matthew 19:25-30; John 12:25).

Importantly, Jesus taught that one day His Father, the living and true LORD God Almighty of heaven and earth, will judge all nations when He returns in His glory with all the holy angels at His second coming (e.g., see Isaiah 66:6, 15-16; Matthew 25:31). The LORD God will judge and punish the evil, wicked, and disobedient with an everlasting punishment and destruction for their sins, injustices, and lawlessness (e.g., see Isaiah 66:18; Matthew 25:32, 41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 3:7). Moreover, Jesus warned His disciples that His coming with the future Kingdom of God will come suddenly, unexpectedly, and without warning (e.g., see Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 12:35-48; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 16:15). NO ONE KNOWS the day or hour when the future Kingdom of God will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself (e.g., see Matthew 24:42-44). Only Jesus’ Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth, knows the future coming Kingdom of God when He will send His Son Jesus in the clouds with great power and glory with His holy angels (e.g., see; Zechariah 14:6-7; Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:26, 32-33, 35; Luke 12:40, 46; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:7).

Until the future Kingdom of God arrives, Jesus proclaimed we must turn from our sins (repent) and always be alert, prayerful, and ready for His return at any time (e.g., see Matthew 24:44-51; Luke 13:3-5). The work of the church as Jesus’ disciples is to faithfully GO AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM to all people and not retract and separate from the world (e.g., Matthew 28:18-20). The Gospel of Jesus is still the Gospel of the Kingdom (e.g., see Matthew 4:17, 23-25; Matthew 24:14). The early disciples of Jesus faithfully proclaimed the Kingdom of God to the world (e.g., Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23, 31; Colossians 4:11).

The LORD God welcomes all into His Kingdom whenever His Son Jesus is accepted in REPENTANCE, FAITH, AND OBEDIENCE (e.g., see Mark 1:14-15; John 1:12-13). One of the clearest messages of the Holy Scriptures is that the LORD God of heaven is the King of Glory that rules and reigns the earth (e.g., see Psalm 24:1-2, 7-10; Isaiah 66:1-2)! The LORD God gives His grace, blessings, and Kingdom to those who are HUMBLE, MERCIFUL, REPENTANT, FAITHFUL, and OBEDIENT to His Word more than any meaningless religious ritual, ceremony, or sacrifice (e.g., see 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 24:3-6; Isaiah 1:11-20; Isaiah 66:2-6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 5:3-16; Matthew 19:14-15; Luke 18:13-14). Even more, the LORD God is faithful, and He will keep His obedient servants safe from the evil one until His Son Jesus is revealed from heaven (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 1:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3).

¹ This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. So do you think you can build a house for Me? Do I need a place to rest? ² My hand made all things. All things are here because I made them,” says the LORD. “These are the people I am pleased with: those who are not proud or stubborn and who fear My word. Isaiah 66:1-2, New Century Version

References

Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

J.I. Packer. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993).

Melton, Loyd, Senior Professor of New Testament (Due West Campus, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2018).