In Mark 1:15, as Jesus begins His ministry, He says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” What is the Kingdom of God? (What is the Gospel?) It is another one of those Christianese words that is easy to talk about but more difficult to define. Yet, it is important we understand it because it is a central theme in the Bible.

A kingdom denotes rule and reign. When God created the world He ruled it and humans recognized/submitted to His reign. His general will was done on earth as in heaven. We see a glimpse of this in the opening chapters of Genesis. Adam participated in God’s reign. He had dominion and was to be His imager bearer/representative. However, while God’s absolute reign was total, His kingdom was localized to the Garden. After the Fall, while his absolute reign remained total (Ps 93:2, “Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.”) His saving reign was restricted to the increasing minority of faithful humans scattered on the earth.

This is a simple way to define God’s Kingdom, His saving reign over His people in His place. These recognized Him as King and through faith were part of His Kingdom, representing Him in Eden, the Promised Land or on Earth; albeit incompletely before Christ.

There is Kingdom language used throughout the OT but since Jesus said, ‘is at hand’ infers the Kingdom was partial, wanting or incomplete. God’s ‘Kingdom’ came in fits and starts through Israel in the Promised Land. However, even here, more than a geographical limitation, Israel revealed their need of the Holy Spirit to reign in their hearts. His Kingdom was thus incomplete and local vs. global.

The whole OT story pointed forward to the Messiah King, the chosen One who would bring salvation by ushering in God’s Kingdom and salvation. Jesus is the Christ/King/Lord, though not as people envisioned. This is what we should think of when we say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ (1 Cor 12:3). He is Lord of all and Lord of His Church (Kingdom and Church are largely synonymous). When He said the Kingdom was near Jesus meant that the King had come. He was the King exercising authority and power. Through His life, death and resurrection He would demonstrate He was the King, receive the Father’s crown of glory. Like kings, Jesus defeated sin and death and hell and Satan through His Easter victory. There is irony in the sign above the cross, ‘King of the Jews,’ for He really was, though in a spiritual sense.

After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to Heaven where ‘He is seated at the right hand of the Father.’ (Apostles Creed). Jesus reigns over all, including His Kingdom/Church. Before ascending He commissioned His princes (the 12 Disciples, of a new people of God) to found and expand His Kingdom on earth. ‘Thy Kingdom come’ is a prayer not only for a future realization but a present expansion. It should be our desire that His ‘will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Lord’s Prayer). Jesus now reigns over His Kingdom by the power of His Spirit sent at Pentecost and through the authority of His Word, the Bible. As the Gospel (Good News) about this victorious King was proclaimed rebel sinners outside of God’s Kingdom were invited to be transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness/this World and into the Kingdom of His glorious light (Col 1:13). If they would repent and believe the Good News, i.e. turn from rebellion and sin and toward King Jesus, and ask for admittance according to the victory and benefits Jesus won through His death and resurrection, they would find entry. This is what is meant by Ro 10:9, to confess (agree) that “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Jesus is building a Kingdom from amongst the kingdoms of this earth.

The believer is visibly admitted to the Kingdom through the rite of Baptism. This is how they display loyalty to the King. They then become a citizen, with rich meaning for our identity along with both initial blessings but also responsibility. They gather to worship the King and hear His Word. They live in accordance with the Royal Law (Ja 2:8), to live out Kingdom values (Sermon on the Mount; Parables), are equipped by the Holy Spirit to fight a spiritual war (Eph 6), be an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20) and herald the King’s Gospel. Like a mustard seed (Lk 13:18, or Dan 2) the Kingdom expands geographically and numerically (even sanctification); a reality that history attests to. The rebellion is shrinking and the opposition growing, despite how it may appear.

However, the paradox of the Kingdom is that it is ‘already but not yet.’ Christ inaugurated (began) the Kingdom at His first coming and will bring it to completion (consummation) at His Second Coming. Rev 11:15b says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.” After the Resurrection, Last Battle and Judgement, Christ will reign over His people forever in the New Heavens and New Earth. The rebellion will be over. The Kingdom will be fully and eternally here, a Kingdom of life free from the curse of rebellion and death.
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All this may be visualized as follows:

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Ex 33:14)
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“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps 16:11)
 
It is a wonder we were created to relate to our Creator. We were designed for His presence in our life. His presence means life and light and peace. It is therefore the longing of every human soul that we find rest in the presence of Him who made us. God’s presence, unsurprisingly, is a great theme of the Bible.

Presence in the Garden
The LORD God was present in His garden. He walked in the cool of the day and spoke with Adam & Eve. There was abundant life in the Garden because God was there. This was symbolized in the tree of life.

Presence After the Fall
One curse of the Fall is that the Couple were driven from God’s presence. They would know death and decay. However, there remained small ways for God’s people to experience God’s presence: Remembering His Word, prayer, worship and the visitation of Angels. These were all ways in which God’s presence could be mediated. Occasionally God’s Spirit would come upon an individual for a special purpose. All of this was founded upon faith.

Presence Under the Old Covenant
When God rescued Israel from Egypt He was present with them, leading them by the pillar of cloud and fire. When the Tabernacle was built His glory rested upon the place. This was where God’s people could come to meet with the Lord. Much of the imagery (menorah and artwork of plant life) were reminiscent of the Garden. This was later reflected in the Temple.

Presence in the Incarnation
God’s people longed for God to be present with them. This longing was finally realized when God became flesh and dwelt among us. The Incarnation or Immanuel, “God with us.” Whoever met Jesus was in the very presence of God and had a taste of life (e.g. healings, etc).

Presence in the New Covenant
Jesus had said it was to the disciples’ advantage that He return to Heaven for He would send the Helper (Jn 16). They could only be with Jesus if He were with them. When the Helper came, Jesus would be with His followers 24/7/365 and wherever they went. He would come to dwell in their hearts by faith (Eph 4).

The Temple was no longer needed for God’s New Covenant people as Christ was our temple (Jn 2:19) who is building us into a spiritual temple (2 Pet 2:15). God’s presence goes wherever the Church goes! (This is why the early Christians forsook the physical Temple; believing its destruction as prophesied by Jesus was a judgement for Jewish unbelief).

Presence in the New Heavens and New Earth
As wonderful as the Spirit’s help is, we still pine for Jesus to return and physically be with His people. We await Jesus’ return and the New Heavens and the New Earth (a restored Eden) where Rev 21:3 says,

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Believers will spend eternity with the Lord! Come Lord Jesus, come!