When Was the Kingdom Established on the Earth? (part 2)

by Heath Rogers

Last week we saw that the Kingdom of God was established on the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection. This event, recorded in Acts 2, certainly fits the prophetic timeframe of both Daniel 2:44 and Mark 9:1. However, there is another way to show when the Kingdom was established. A comparison of some New Testament references to the Kingdom indicates that a change did take place with the events recorded in Acts chapter two.

Before Acts 2, the Kingdom is spoken of as being at hand.

John the Baptist preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). After His baptism and temptation, Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). When Jesus first chose the twelve, He sent them out to preach, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7). Later, He sent the 70 out to preach, “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:9). “At hand” means that something is imminent, approaching or drawing near.

Jesus told a crowd, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1). The Lord indicated that the Kingdom was not present at the time He was speaking, but they were to anticipate its arrival in their lifetime.

After Acts 2, references to the Kingdom are different.

Paul said that Christians were in the Kingdom, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13).

Paul told the Thessalonians that they had been called into the Kingdom, “That you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12).

The apostle John said that he was in the kingdom, “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9).

There are some references to the Kingdom being anticipated after Acts 2. However, a close look at these verses will show that the subject under consideration is not an anticipation of an earthly kingdom, but realizing the eternal, heavenly presence of God. “For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11). “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). We may wait for a heavenly phase of the Kingdom, but that doesn’t mean the Kingdom has yet to be established. It just has yet to be delivered to God in Heaven, “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24).

Jesus established His Kingdom in the first century. While there are glorious aspects of the Kingdom yet to be realized, the Kingdom itself is here. Will you become a part of it by surrendering yourself to the reign of Christ? Obey the gospel today.

When Was the Kingdom Established on the Earth?

by Heath Rogers

In last week’s article we learned that the Kingdom of God is not a physical territory, but the body of saved people who have submitted to the reign of God in their lives. We also saw that the church is identified as the Kingdom. In this article, we will begin to study what the Bible says about exactly when this Kingdom was established on the earth.

Daniel chapter two records the interpretation of king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. In his dream, the king saw a great image with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, and feet of iron and clay. He watched as a stone struck the image on the feet and brought it crashing down. The stone then became a great mountain that filled the whole earth (vs. 31-35).

In his interpretation, Daniel said the image represented four earthly kingdoms that would succeed each other in dominating the world. Daniel identified the head of gold as Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon (v. 38). Although Daniel did not identify the kingdoms represented by silver, bronze and iron/clay, scholars have almost universally understood them to be the Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires.

Concerning this fourth kingdom, Daniel said, “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (v. 44). According to this prophecy, God would establish a Kingdom that will stand forever during the days of the Roman Empire.

Jesus’ earthly ministry took place during the time of the Roman Empire. On one occasion He told a crowd, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1). According to Jesus, the Kingdom would come during the lifetime of those individuals who were present on that occasion.

Notice that Jesus said the Kingdom would come with power. After His resurrection, His apostles asked a question concerning the establishment of the Kingdom. He replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). Jesus told the apostles they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

In Acts 2:1-4 we read of the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter preached the first gospel sermon, and the church was established as 3,000 responded in baptism (v. 41). In his preaching, Peter used the keys that the Lord had promised him (Matthew 16:19) to unlock and open the Kingdom to the Jews. This is when the Kingdom was established on the earth. This event certainly fits the timeframe set by both Daniel and Jesus.

The reason this is important is because some people believe that Christ has yet to establish His Kingdom. They insist that He will accomplish this upon His return. On the contrary, the Bible clearly shows that the Kingdom was established on the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection. To teach otherwise actually makes both Daniel and Jesus false prophets.