The biblical words for kingdom primarily signify the abstract idea of kingly authority or reign (kingship, e.g., 1 Samuel 14:47; 1 Kings 2:12. However, since a reign necessarily creates a realm over which it is exercised, the terms are also used for that realm (kingdom, e.g., Matthew 4:8; 8:11). They are used both for secular earthly kingdoms and the kingdom related to God and Christ.

Although the expression "kingdom of God" is not used in the OT, the idea of the reign of God and His kingdom is frequent (e.g., Psalms 22:28; 145:13; Daniel 2:44). It becomes the dominant theme of the proclamation of Christ (cf. Matthew 4:17) and His disciples (Matthew 10:7) in the Gospels. References to the kingdom or reign of God are less frequent in the epistles, but again come into prominence in the book of Revelation (e.g., 11:15, 17; 12:10; 20:4). Scripture teaches two closely related concepts of the kingdom of God. Since God has always ruled over His created universe, His kingdom has existed from eternity in its reign over all things (e.g., 1 Chronicles 29:11-12). But since the reign of God has not been fully established, especially on the earth, there is another sense in which the kingdom is seen as coming to defeat the forces of evil and establish the righteous reign of God on earth (e.g., Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:10). This earthly historical kingdom was a primary theme of OT prophecy (e.g., Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5). It was announced as near or "at hand" at the first coming of Christ (e.g., Matthew 3:2; 4:17), and on the basis of His death and resurrection He was exalted to kingly authority (cf. Acts 2:34-36).

The kingdom includes both the spiritual salvation of the new covenant (e.g., forgiveness of sins and new life through the Spirit) and the outward salvation of society through the defeat of the evil forces of history and the establishment of the righteous rule of Christ on earth. There is general agreement concerning the presence of the kingdom in its spiritual salvation during the present church age. The outward consummation of the kingdom of Christ, however, has evoked various views often described in terms of different explanations of the millennium.

Derived from Revelation 20:1-10, the millennium (from Latin mille, "thousand") denotes the temporary messianic kingdom reign of Christ before the final judgment and inauguration of the eternal state with the new heavens and earth. The prophetic Scriptures relative to this reign of Christ have been variously interpreted throughout church history. Premillennialists view it as a literal 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth characterized by peace, righteousness, and material prosperity following His return and prior to the commencement of the eternal state. Postmillennialists understand it as an era of similar conditions that will be brought about by the proclamation of the gospel during the present church age before the return of Christ. His return will then signal the final judgment and the inauguration of the eternal state. Finally, amillennialists interpret the prophecies of a millennial kingdom as signifying the blessedness of believers in a present spiritual kingdom over which Christ rules from heaven through the Word and Spirit. His return will bring the consummation in the destruction of evil forces, the final judgment, and the eternal state (See also DAY OF THE LORD, END TIMES).

 

This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.