THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NOW

 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:27-28)

What and where is God's Kingdom?

In order to be able to answer this question well, let us first define the word kingdom. What is a kingdom?

The word kingdom is a combination of two words. The one word king and the other domain.

Who is a king?

This is the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.

 What is domain?

This is an area of territory owned or controlled by a ruler or government.

What is a kingdom?

This can be defined as a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen.

To define the same in spiritual terms, a Kingdom is the reign or the application of the heavenly authority. But scripture pretty admonishes us that God's Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of men.

God's Kingdom is spiritual, it extends everywhere and it is within us (Luke 17:20-21). Upon His trial, Jesus told Pilate His (Jesus') Kingdom is not of this world. If it were ever so, His followers would have fought and defended Him (John 18:33-38). So, it is not about occupying an earthly territory. And it is not bound by earthly territorial boundaries. The heart is the domain of God's Kingdom or the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of God rules in the invisible hearts of men, albeit it is not forced on anyone. We become members of God's Kingdom only by our own personal choice. Yet bearing in mind that everyone will meet the consequences of whatever choices they make.

For Jesus and John the Baptist came proclaiming that we repent, for the Kingdom of God is near (Matthew 3:1-3, 4:17), (Mark 1:14-15). Jesus commanded His disciples to do the same (Matthew 10:7-8).

Well, what is this nearness that Jesus and John the Baptist are proclaiming? In which way is the Kingdom of Heaven near? How near is it? Near to where? It can be interesting if these questions are answered.

In the same terms, the Kingdom of the dark forces is. The devil reigns and rules in his kingdom. It is called the kingdom of darkness. For the devil's kingdom is also in the midst of men. It is identified by the fruits thereof.

  
Question for thought:

• When is the Kingdom of God?

• Is it when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven?

• Or is it to come after judgment day?

• What did Jesus mean when He said there are some standing here who will not test death till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom (Matthew 16:28)?

• Was Jesus referring to the transfiguration at the mountain which was witnessed by Peter, James and John?

Well, much of the answers will be based on scripture rather than anything else. When ascending to heaven, Jesus said all authority in heaven and on earth has been granted to Him (Matthew 28:18). What is this authority? Authority over what? I leave that to you.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He made a statement as to affirm the fact that He had successfully accomplished the task of cutting out a domain over which He is King. Jesus rose and He is King. Even now He is King. Now, if so, is this a Kingdom to come, or a Kingdom established?

Jesus directs us to pray being guided by the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). It says "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth..." If it is a Kingdom to come, why does Jesus direct us to pray that it comes now? For by doing God's will, the Kingdom of heaven is already in you and Jesus reigns thereof.

When is someone declared king?

One is declared king either by inheritance or by conquering. We are well aware that Jesus is King because He is God and He has conquered. Jesus is not King by inheritance because there is nothing to inherit. Not so?

Now when is Jesus Conquerer? When does Jesus get all the authority in heaven and on earth? Jesus declares and claims all authority is His after the resurrection. And if it is, and scripture pretty much directs us the same way, then God's Kingdom is now (2Timothy 1:9-10), (Revelation 1:16-18).

The transfiguration

While it is pretty not true, some people have gone on to teach that the transfiguration was the witnessing of the Kingdom Jesus was talking of. Well, this can't be. What happened at the mount was simply transfiguration. It was not to depict the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom in glory. This is not how Jesus is to come in His Kingdom in glory. This was not "coming". This was simply transfiguration.

The Kingdom Jesus was speaking of has come by conquering. And when Jesus died and rose again, He conquered. And when He rose, the Kingdom is established. And this Kingdom is already being witnessed by everyone. Some people can only live in denial.

What scripture says about the coming of the Kingdom of heaven

Scripture gives us a picture of what God's Kingdom is like, and how it comes. And it admonishes us to repent because God's Kingdom is at hand (Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 10), (Mark 1:15). When Jesus sent out His disciples to preach the good news, He told them to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Now that is the witnessing of the Kingdom.


What transpired during the transfiguration

Jesus goes up the mountain together with disciples; Peter, James and John. Then instantly, Jesus is transfigured and He appears in the transfigured form with Moses and Elijah. Then a cloud covered them and a voice came from the cloud that: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

What do we learn from this?

When Jesus was baptized, the same voice came from heaven and declared Jesus God's Son and in whom God is well pleased (Matthew 3:17), (Mark 1:11). Can we say this was the Kingdom of heaven? If not, how different are the two? Where is God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the transfiguration? Where are the angels? Is God's Kingdom as brief as this?

The transfiguration can be mirrored in the same way. It was simply an event in which both God the Father and Jesus the Son wanted to demonstrate to Peter, James and John who and what exactly Jesus is. This is a one brief event that can't be used to define what Jesus meant by witnessing the Kingdom of heaven. This was too brief an event to define what the Kingdom of heaven is.

The witness of the Kingdom of God is not a one time brief experience. The Kingdom of God is not restricted nor is it limited to an area like it is witnessed in the transfiguration.

Even after the transfiguration, Jesus instructs His disciples not to tell anyone else about what they had seen (Matthew 17:9). So, God's Kingdom is not a one time brief event. God's Kingdom is forever and ever. We are witnessing it now.

How am I to be part of God's Kingdom?

God's Kingdom is for everyone. But it is of an individual's choice to or not to embrace it. And the only way to be part of this Kingdom is only by taking the way of Jesus. Thus, Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Rather Jesus claimed every bit about this Kingdom.

Yet if one does not embrace a kingdom, it does not imply he is not in that Kingdom. He is rather just not subjecting himself to the rules and regulations thereof. Say for example,  it does not mean everyone in Buganda is a subject of the Kabaka. Despite that many reside in Buganda, they do not succumb thereof.

But since God's Kingdom is not a territorial one, we are not a part of it by being confined in a certain territory. We are part of it by subjecting ourselves to the ways thereof.

The domain of God's Kingdom is the heart. The territory is not because the earth and all its fullness belongs to the Lord (Psalms 24:1), (1Corinthians 10:26). That we are in God's Kingdom is proven by the kind of fruit we bear (Matthew 7:15-20).

So, we are all witnessing this Kingdom. Thus for Jesus to say there are some here who will not test death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom. For Jesus would die soon and rise again as conquerer of the dark forces. By this short period of time, many would be alive to witness the Kingdom established. And indeed it was and it is.

What happens after Jesus' resurrection?

After Jesus' resurrection, we see an emergence of so many things among which are the following;

The disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit and launch ministry in different parts and regions of the world. All this is well recorded in the book of the Acts of the apostles. Well, what was the difference?

They had been empowered because they were armed by the coming of the Kingdom. This could have never happened before. But when Jesus had risen, the Kingdom began to operate live in people's hearts because the freedom had been granted thereof.

 

Peter had once denied Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75), (Mark 14:66-72), (Luke 22:54-62), (John 18:15-27). He had even gone back fishing after Jesus' death (John 21:3). And this remained so until Jesus' resurrection. But after the resurrection, Peter is empowered and begins to speak so boldly as is witnessed in Acts (Acts 2). If to ask, what had Peter become that he hadn't been before?

After the resurrection, Paul persecutes the Church. He witnesses the killing of Stephen (Acts 7:54, 22:20). And he is heading to Damascus to execute his duties of persecution, he is met with Christ along the way (Acts 9:1-19). From this encounter, Paul is a transformed man. He does things that not even Peter and the rest can do.

Paul boldly gives his testimony everywhere he is (Acts 26:1-32), (1Corinthians 15:1-10), (Ephesians 3:1-9), (1Timothy 1:12-17). That the Kingdom of Heaven was in Paul, it had began to impact him tremendously. Well, if Paul's conversion is not proof that God's Kingdom has come, then in whose authority was he acting? In whose authority do we chase the demons, heal the sick and raise the dead?

Characteristics of God's Kingdom

• The Kingdom Of God Is Not Observable, It is Not Flesh and Blood (Luke 17:20), (1Corinthians 15:50)  

• There Are Seasons When The Kingdom Is Available (Mark 1:15)  

• The Kingdom Of God is a mystery to the Undiscerning (Mark 4:11)  

• The Kingdom Marks A New Age (Luke 16:16)  

• The Kingdom of Heaven is Precious (Matthew 13:44), (Mark 9:47)  

• Men Enter The Kingdom of God or Stay Out of It (Mat 19:24)  

• Men Enter The Kingdom Violently (pressing in) (Luke 16:16)  

• Child Like Faith Is Required To Enter The Kingdom of God (Mark 10:15)  

• God Transfers Us Into His Kingdom (Colossians 1:13)  

• The Kingdom Must Have Priority (Luke 12:31), (Mar 9:47)  

• The Kingdom Of God Operates Inwardly (Luke 17:21)

• Repentance (Changing of Ways) is Required to Receive The Kingdom (Mark 1:15)  

• The Wicked Cannot Inherit The Kingdom Of God (1Corinthians 6:9), (1Corinthians 6:10), (Galatians 5:21)  

• The Kingdom of God (Heaven) Grows (Matthew 13:31-33), (Mark 4:26-27)  

• Love Is The Greatest Commandment In The Kingdom (Mark 12:32)  

• The Poor Have  A Special Place In The Kingdom Of God (Luke 6:20), (James 2:5)  

• The Work of Believers is to Announce The Kingdom Of God (Luke 9:60)  

• Announcing The Kingdom Brings Power To Deliver (Luke 10:9), (Luke 11:20)  

• God's People Are to Reign On Earth In His Kingdom (Revelation 5:10)  

• Nations Can Receive The Kingdom of God (Matthew 21:43)  

• At Some Point The Kingdom Will Come With Totality and Some Will be Cast Out (Luke 13:28)  

• The Kingdoms Of The World Will Become The Kingdom Of God (Revelation 11:15)

• The Kingdom Is Righteousness, Peace , Joy, Power (Romans 14:17), (1Colossians 4:20) 

• God Wants To Give The Kingdom (Luke 12:32) 

None of these characteristics does fit in the one time brief event of the transfiguration at the mountain which was witnessed by a few individuals. The transfiguration can't be the coming of the Son of man in His Kingdom. 

The reign of King Jesus

King Jesus reigns. Jesus is executing His operations through the Holy Spirit. He said when He goes, He is not leaving any matter to anyone. He would rather send the Holy Spirit who would direct us in everything (John 14:18-20). So, without the Holy Spirit, we are children without a parent. We are orphans.

And the Holy Spirit does not operate in isolation (John 16:14). When He comes, He is to testify of Jesus (John 15:26). Now God's Kingdom is here and is felt everywhere. Some of us can only live in self denial.

The living man to date?

When Jesus gave this statement, did He at all mean that someone would not die until His (Jesus') second coming? What do you think or envisage? I do have a strong feeling this was sheer say and speculation, only baseless rumors.

The influence and strength of doctrine

Doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.

Well, the firmness or looseness of a doctrine is based on right or wrong interpretation of scripture. For scripture remains the same, but how different people interpret it is the source of variance in doctrine.

Take for example the fact that some do translate the transfiguration to represent the coming of the Son of Man in His Kingdom. So, upon this, one could translate it rightly, while another can do it pretty wrongly. But the doctrine thereof will find its way to influence many others.  

The Seventh day Adventist great disappointment.

The Seventh day Adventist great disappointment in 1844 will live to be remembered. About 100,000 people waited for the second coming of Jesus 22nd October, 1844. They had not only believed that it was the right time, they had also mathematically made the calculations that it was so.

But Jesus was very elaborate on when His second coming will be. He taught that no one knows when the time will be except the Father (Matthew 24:26), (Mark 13:32).

NB Something that I am forced to believe because scripture says so, is that even Jesus does not know when.

Scripture even goes on to reprimand that there will be false Christs (Matthew 24:5-26), (Mark 13:6-22), (Luke 21:8). But Jesus tells us that we should not believe them when they say so. And upon this, He (Jesus) did not leave us hanging.

Jesus told us how His coming will be like. Even scripture pretty tells us how Jesus' coming back will be. For it will be like the flash of light, or like the speed of sound (Matthew 24:27-31). So, how someone comes to a conclusion that Christ is coming on such a day is a sign of grave cultism.

What should we say? Merely a Baptist farmer William Miller reads the book of Daniel 8 and he interprets it to mean the coming back of Jesus at a given time of his own understanding? And then he makes it a doctrine that he even begins to command a following?! Lord Jesus.

Can't the same disappointment happen again?

With this kind of background, what makes me think the Adventists are still on the right course? How different are the conditions then and now? I hear some people claim strict observation of scripture, mostly Adventists, but the Great Disappointment is pretty proof of how people can disregard scripture and choose to go misconstruction. Was it delusion or illusion?

Well, Jesus admonishes us to take care about doctrine. He fore warned His disciples to take care about the leaven of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:5-12). For the dcotrine of the Pharisees and the Seducees can act as little poison but with very disastrous effects.

For just how yeast is such a little looking stuff, it is used to magnify bread. Jesus warned us that while He does the good work, there are evil forces who are tirelessly planting the seed of the wild wheat to grow together with the good one (Matthew 13:24-30).

Now, when is the Kingdom of God?

God's kingdom is not simply witnessed during the transfiguration. It would not only come after Jesus' second coming, the Kingdom of heaven is already here because Jesus is risen. It is now with us because by rising from the dead, He (Jesus) conquered death which was the devil's devastating weapon of war (1Corinthians 15:55-57), (Revelation 1:15-18, 20:14, 21:1-4).

After Jesus' resurrection, there is some degree of fearlessness. Jesus overcame the devil and put him under His feet and if you accept Jesus, you become a member of the Kingdom, and the devil no longer has any authority over you (Colossians 1:13). For then, you have emerged from the kingdom of darkness of the devil, and entered the Kingdom of light, the Kingdom of God. 

For that reason, me and you are now witnesses that the kingdom of God is here with us. We can witness that the lame walk, people are changed and transformed to accept CHRIST, the dumb speak, the dead rise etc. Jesus is alive, and He is with us through the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom in our hearts

Scripture says:  
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Where is the door into a person? The door into a person is the heart. Upon this, Jesus taught that what spoils a person comes from within (Mark 7:20-23). Equally so, what justifies a man comes from within. The "within" of a person is the heart.

Scripture says: "Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:22-23).

Take note of the question Judas is asking; “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus answers by telling him how He (Jesus) and the Father keep present in a person. For it is not that Jesus is literally here or there.  Where and what is this abode in a person? The abode is the heart. Jesus resides in the hearts of men.

So, if the Father and the Son make abode in a person, then the Kingdom of God reigns in that person. That person has witnessed the coming of the Son of man in the Kingdom. And upon this, so it is that the Kingdom of Heaven is in a person by way of that person having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We all who subscribe to Christ are a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. But if one argues that the Kingdom of heaven Jesus was talking of is the transfiguration, it can't be because everyone who is Christian has witnessed Christ come into His Kingdom For we know that the transfiguration was witnessed only by three people plus Jesus. Yet the Kingdom of God is to be witnessed by everyone.

Members of the Kingdom

Jesus taught that unless a person is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Then Nicodemus asked how this can be when a person is already an adult (John 3:4). It was rather confusing in the human understanding. Jesus admonished Nicodemus not to marvel at His (Jesus') statement because many other things do happen and no one has a clue how they do happen (John 3:7).

So, just like many other things surpass human understanding, so it is that being born again is not a matter of flesh. Then Jesus said to Nicodemus that the wind blows and we can't tell where from it is coming and where to it is going (John 3:8).

What did Jesus mean by this?

In this statement, Jesus was teaching us that God's Kingdom is spiritual. So being born into it is by spiritual means. It is not that one has to be drawn back to his mothers womb. For a mother can't give birth twice of the same baby. No not. Thus it is called being born again. For we are all born under the usual dictates of nature into this world.

The second birth is being born of Spirit and water (John 3:5-6). This is the only way we are born again. This  is how we come to be called born again because it is then that we are born into the Spiritual Kingdom of Heaven.

Yet Nicodemus kept on wondering how (John 3:9). But Jesus replied to reprimand that He was speaking the truth. He (Jesus) was speaking what He had experienced and had knowledge of, having come from heaven (John 3:10-13). So, we should have faith if Jesus has spoken.

We are members of the Kingdom of Heaven by being born again. It is not by observing rituals and days. There is no human practice that can qualify a person into God's kingdom. Are you born again? All we need is Jesus Christ.

Symbol/Mark of identification

Nations, organizations, groups, corporations have identification symbols. In this, when a symbol or mark is displayed, then we can feel the impact of that nation, organization, or group.

What is the identification mark of Christians?

The identification mark for Christians scripture tells us is the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught how precious the Holy Spirit should be to us (Matthew 7:7-11), (Luke 11:9-13). For when the Father and the Son aren't literally here, then the Holy Spirit is in control. Thus the Holy Spirit is not to be blasphemed because He operates on behalf of the Father and the Son (Matthew 12:31).

And when the Holy Spirit is upon us, we are rather identified by the symbols thereof. Such a person begins to bear fruit (Matthew 7:16). So, a mere human being has no control over these fruits because they only come by the Spirit. These fruits make us identifiable for God.

Equally so, on the day of rapture, the Holy Spirit upon or not upon a person will be the identification mark so to be or not to be ruptured (Ephesians 4:30), (2Corinthians 1:22). The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we are for Christ.

So, this counsels out every other practice. On the day of the Lord, nothing else will count. Not the observation of days, months or the new moons, or whatever. What we eat or do not eat will not be a factor. Scripture tells us how we receive the Holy Spirit. It is not by keeping Sabbath. We rather pray to receive it. And when we receive it, then we are not indebted.

By keeping Sabbath and everything thereof changes nothing about the make up of a person. The Holy Spirit searches innermost parts of our hearts and changes us for the purpose of God (John 16:8). One keeps Sabbath but then remains sinful?! But if without sin, there is no debt.

Some of the functions of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit reveals the deep things of God to us (1 Corinthians 2:10).
The Spirit reveals what has been given to us from God (1Corinthians 2:12).
The Spirit is the agent by which we are baptized into the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13).
The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
The Spirit sanctifies us (2Thessalonians 2:13), (1Peter 1:2), (Romans 5:16).
The Spirit empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49), (Romans 15:19), (Acts 1:8).
The Spirit teaches us to pray (Romans 8:26-27), (Jude 1:20).
The Spirit bears witness in us that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).
The Spirit produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Spirit quickens our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11).
The Spirit makes us (corporately) God's habitation (Ephesians 2:22).
The Spirit reveals the mystery of God to us (Ephesians 3:5).
The Spirit strengthens our spirits (Ephesians 3:16).
The Spirit enables us to obey the truth (1Peter 1:22).
The Spirit enables us to know that Jesus abides in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13).
The Spirit brings liberty (2Corinthians 3:17).
The Spirit supplies us with Christ (Philippians 1:19).
The Spirit gives us access to God the Father (Ephesians 2:18).
The Spirit anoints us for ministry (Luke 4:18), (Acts 10:38).
The Spirit brings unity and oneness to the body (Ephesians 4:3; 2:14-18).
The Spirit is our guarantee and deposit of the future resurrection (2Corinthians 1:22, 5:5).
The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
The Spirit dispenses God's love into our hearts (Romans 5:5).
The Spirit bears witness to the truth in our conscience (Romans 9:1).
The Spirit teaches us (1Corinthians 2:13), (John 14:26).
The Spirit gives us joy (1Thessalonians 1:6).
The Spirit moves us (2Peter 1:21).
The Spirit brings things to our remembrance (John 14:26).
The Spirit comforts us (Acts 9:31).
The Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
The Spirit regenerates us (John 3:5-8), (Titus 3:5).
The Spirit glorifies and testifies of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14).
The Spirit reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14-15).
The Spirit leads us (Romans 8:14), (Galatians 5:18), (Matthew 4:1), (Luke 4:1).

So, I hope that we agree that if we do not receive the Holy Spirit, then it is rather illusion and delusion that we are Christian. The fact and the truth is in receiving the Holy Spirit. Oh, come Holy Spirit and fill us today.

Well, it is pretty imperative to be led correctly as Christians, and upon this, we need the Holy Spirit. For every action is engineered by a spirit of its own kind. So, this is to ask, if we are to be led by the Spirit, what spirit led the Adventists into the great disappointment of 1844? What makes the Adventists have faith in the current order they are managing things? Can't the same disappointment replay? The devil used the same scripture to try and tempt Jesus into sin. Think about it.

So, God's Kingdom is now. It is not a one time brief event. It is being experienced and witnessed by everybody. And the Son of Man has already come and is still coming into His Kingdom.

On many occasions, Jesus labored tirelessly to make us understand that He is the seal of anything thereof (Matthew 12:41-42), (Luke 11:31). That He (Jesus) came, there is nothing more than He is done. For all who came before Jesus were thieves and robbers (John 10:8). Jesus alone is the true shepherd and King.

Jesus is all we need and upon Him, we add nothing more. For Christ is all in all. Amen

God bless