Has Christ’s Kingdom been established?

Dwight Childers

Some believe that the Kingdom will not be established until the second coming of Christ. Still, others believe that Christ’s Kingdom has already been established, this happening at Pentecost when it came with power in Acts chapter 2. The time period in which a Christian believes the Kingdom to be established, can greatly determine the perspective from which a Christian will study different books, and interpret different Scripture found in the Bible, especially the books of Daniel, and Revelation. Sometimes studying Old Testament prophecy, Matthew chapter 24, and of course Revelation (with its apocalyptic, and figurative language) can get pretty confusing if we cannot determine whether the Kingdom has been established already or if it is yet to come.
With that in mind let’s see what scripture has to say, and what was given to the first century writers of the Bible by the Holy Spirit to say about the Kingdom.

In Revelation we are told that Christ is the King of kings.

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

In Luke 22:30 we are told that the Lord’s table is in the Kingdom.

Luke 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

According to 1Cor. 10:21 we believers have the Lord’s table with us.

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

It is important to note here that Luke 22:30 tells us that the Lord’s table was to be in the Kingdom. So it is clear that the believers or the church at Corinth had the Lord’s table, therefore the Kingdom was there.

In Colossians 1:13 we are told that we (believers) have been translated, that is, transferred “into the Kingdom”. Notice what it says.

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

John the Revelator said he was already in the Kingdom along with all other believers.

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Even though Paul by the Spirit tells us that the Colossian believers had been transferred into the Kingdom some still persist that the Kingdom does not exist, and that the Kingdom will not exist, or be established until Christ comes back at the end of this dispensation, that is, His second coming. So if that be true then the establishing of the Kingdom and the second coming of Christ will be at the same time. However that view leads to a big problem.

While on earth Christ said “the Kingdom of God is at hand”, Mark 1:15. So it must follow then, since the Kingdom was “at hand”, if the Kingdom will not be established until the second coming of Christ, then the second coming was also “at hand.” But was the second coming of Christ “at hand” while he was still on earth. Impossible.  See what kind of reasoning that logic forces you into when you believe the Kingdom is somewhere in the future, and has not already been established. Notice this also.

Mar 9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Christ said that the Kingdom would come with power, and it did in Acts chapter 2, which is a good study its self, but of importance here is what Christ said about some of those He was talking to.

That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

If the Kingdom has not yet come then we have some mighty old Jews walking around.

The kingdom has come. It came 2000 years ago, and if you are a born again child of God you are in the Kingdom, that is the church.

Dwight Childers