Is the Kingdom of God here now?

Jesus Christ's main message was the good news about the Kingdom of God. When will His government come to this earth? Is it already here now?

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ told His disciples about a future time of upheaval and unrest unparalleled in human history. It would be marked by religious deception, warfare, earthquakes, famines and disease epidemics, along with other terrible events (Luke 21:7-28 [7] And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
[8] And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
[9] But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
[10] Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
[11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
[12] But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
[13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
[14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
[16] And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
[17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
[18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
[19] In your patience possess ye your souls.
[20] And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
[21] Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
[22] For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
[23] But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
[24] And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
[25] And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
[26] Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
[27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
[28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

See All...). Jesus made it plain that the Kingdom of God was not here yet.

He said that, after these events, people "will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory... When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near" (verses 27, 31). Christ clearly said that the Kingdom of God will not be set up on earth until after His triumphant return in power and glory.

Christ also made this plain other times. The familiar words of the Lord's Prayer were given by Jesus Christ in response to the disciples' request that He teach them how to pray.

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:9-10 [9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

See All...). This well-known prayer acknowledges that God's Kingdom is not here now and that Christians are to fervently pray for its arrival!

Near the end of His life, while being questioned by Pilate before His crucifixion, Jesus clearly stated: "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
See All...).

Pilate then demanded to know if Christ were a king. Christ replied: "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world" (verse 37).

Hebrews 11 summarizes the experiences of God's faithful servants. Verses 13-16 tell us: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

Even Abraham, the father of the faithful, "waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
See All...). Although God's people today experience a foretaste of God's coming Kingdom in their lives (see "How Are We 'Translated Into the Kingdom'?" in the booklet The GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . of the Kingdom ), many scriptures make it clear that the Kingdom of God is not here now, but will be established on earth in the future.