Living the Kingdom Today

One day, this world will fade away. This might not sound uplifting at first, but the reality of that statement holds so much hope for all of humanity, and that includes you.

Bible prophecy reveals that at the end of this age the world will be afflicted by “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes” (Matthew 24:7). Worldwide war will take over humanity, and these are just “the beginning of sorrows” (verse 8).

Mercifully, this is not the ultimate fate of the world and its 8 billion inhabitants. What will follow this tumultuous time will be a new age of peace, prosperity and change that the world has never experienced. The return of Jesus Christ will bring about this dramatic change that the world so desperately needs. At that point, Christ will claim dominion over the world and begin His reign on earth (Revelation 11:15).

Followers of Christ are instructed to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in their everyday lives (Matthew 6:33).

There’s even a seven-day festival in the Bible called the Feast of Tabernacles that foreshadows the Millennium—the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth at the end of this age. We follow Christ’s and the apostles’ example in keeping this festival and look forward to the future age when the broken society we know will fade away and be replaced by God’s perfect rule. Keeping the Feast is about working toward the same goal of the Kingdom and rejoicing in the plan that God has for us.

The word “Kingdom” is translated from the Greek word basileia, which refers to the concept of royal power, kingship, dominion and rule. The word describes the right or authority to rule over a kingdom more than designating its territory. At Christ’s first coming as Messiah, He preached the gospel (good news) of the Kingdom with a simple message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). His command for human beings to repent and obey God is a core message that permeates Scripture.

You can live a Kingdom-centered life today by following Jesus Christ, who currently reigns in His Church as its Head (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23). If God is calling you, it is an advance opportunity to change to His mindset and revere Him as your Lord, Master, High Priest and King. Why wait to become a citizen in the household of God? (See Ephesians 2:19-20.) Respond with reverence and begin receiving His blessings by living His way today (Luke 11:28), culminating in the gift of eternal life at His return (1 Corinthians 15:22-23).

Let’s look at three ways that Christ’s reign will change the world and how we can be emulating those aspects now as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Practice and live peace

The first major change that will be brought about by Christ’s reign is that of peace.

The world, in this present age, is unfamiliar with the concept of peace, despite governments’ best efforts to find solutions that lead to it.

But Christ will bring true, lasting and personal peace when He comes to reign. No longer will the world be characterized by “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6). Instead of nations rising against one another for war, weapons will be molded into tools for farming (Isaiah 2:4). War won’t even be thought of anymore.

This peace won’t be merely a concept sometimes pursued in small communities but will be ingrained in the heart of humanity and serve as the standard of how to live. It will even affect the nature of animals. Predators won’t think of killing vulnerable prey but instead eat only vegetation. Wolves will dwell with lambs, and little children will play near a viper’s den without fear of being bitten (Isaiah 11:6-9). It will be a society completely free of violence, fear and confusion.

As Christians seeking the Kingdom in this life, we can—and should—practice peace today.

Christ blesses peacemakers in the Beatitudes or list of blessed attitudes and behavior in Matthew 5, calling those who practice peace sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

Although the world isn’t in a state of peace now, that doesn’t free us from the responsibility of living out this Kingdom principle now. One way to do that is to speak edifying words (Ephesians 4:29).

Social media and news outlets offer limitless opportunities to speak words of hate and division. You can choose to feed into the negativity by getting involved in arguments that polarize or speak peace into every interaction. It is our responsibility as Christians to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).

Sometimes being a peacemaker means avoiding the comment section of a controversial post to prevent even the thought of needless contention.

Another way to practice peace is to study peace. A study of where and how the word peace is used in the Bible can reveal a lot of how other people embodied it in their lives.

Beyond that, to be a peacemaker, we not only have to study peace; we must spread it.

Government that truly serves

At the return of Christ there will be a dramatic shift in the way the world is governed.

In the world today, we see many competing conceptions of what a just form of government should look like. Countless leaders around the world have aimed to get it right, but human nature always gets in the way of a just system for all its inhabitants.

Micah 3:2 talks of wicked rulers as those who “hate good and love evil” and oppress the people they should be serving. It’s clear that humanity can’t solve the problems the world is facing. At Christ’s return, He will establish a just and efficient form of government that no one has ever experienced before.

In His first coming, Christ flipped the concept of leadership on its head. He did not come to oppress or practice lordship over people like the kings of the day, but rather to serve (Luke 22:25-27). Christ didn’t show partiality or favoritism toward the richer or more powerful figures, as many leaders did at the time. Instead, He dedicated Himself to ministering to those who were considered the lowest of the low—tax collectors, the poor, the sick and the sinners. His reign in the Kingdom of God will continue that way.

Christ and His faithful followers will rule together with the common goal of serving and healing the nations. No more will it be the norm for those less fortunate to suffer at the hands of selfish rulers. Instead, Christ’s government will execute justice fairly and generously: “He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor” (Psalm 72:4). All humanity will finally get to experience a government based on love and service toward its citizens.

As we wait for the return of Christ and the fulfillment of this perfect form of government, we can take active steps now to practice that government. Namely, we can live in total submission and loyalty to Jesus as our King today.

Christ encouraged His disciples to serve others, and we should follow His example: “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

While we may not be in positions of authority now, we can still practice the humility of servant leadership through our interactions with others. Christ revealed to His disciples the ultimate act of love—the laying down of one’s life for another (John 15:13).

We likely won’t have an opportunity to actually give up our physical life for another person, but Christ’s teaching points to the kind of selfless love that puts another’s needs before our own. This can look like a lot of things. It could mean showing patience and kindness to a coworker who needs a little extra help with a project. Use that opportunity to gently guide as a servant leader would, without guilt-tripping or resentment.

Maybe you could give a little bit of your time to a friend who is going through something difficult, even though you’re very busy and have other plans.

Live out the Kingdom now by searching for ways to set aside selfish ambition and edify others, esteeming them greater than yourself (Philippians 2:3-4). Following Christ’s example of servant leadership now will prepare us to rule alongside Him when He returns.

A transformed heart

Christ’s return to earth will bring another important transformation. This will be in the changing of the hearts and minds of humanity.

In Hosea 4:6, God mourns the state of His people who had fallen away from His ways: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

It’s abundantly clear in the world today that many people have lost sight of God. In large part, this is due to the fact that Satan has blinded people (2 Corinthians 4:4). They are searching for answers and purpose in their lives but are unable to find them at this point.

Thankfully, God has a plan for everyone. The prophet Ezekiel foretells this future time when Christ will return and change the heart of man: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

This is a tremendous internal change!

The challenges of human nature, such as stubbornness and the struggle to change for good, will be replaced with God’s Spirit—His power and His very essence—enabling all people to walk in His ways in a meaningful, lasting way.

Not only that, but the knowledge of God will cover the whole earth, and all nations will eagerly go up to the mountain of God (symbolizing Christ’s throne) to learn His ways (Isaiah 2:2-3, 11:9). It will be a society full of the Word of God and His blessings poured out on humanity.

There are a few ways we can live this aspect of the Kingdom today. While God promises to pour out His Spirit on humanity in the latter days, this gift is available to those called to understand His truth today.

Acts 2 documents the giving of the Holy Spirit to the New Testament Church, and the promise of receiving the Spirit remains the same today (Acts 2:38-39).

Being baptized is a powerful step in turning one’s heart toward God. Receiving His Holy Spirit enables us to grow in God’s character and way of thinking. It helps guide us in our walk with Him.

We can also turn to God now and enact true change through the help of the Holy Spirit.

While the rest of the world will receive the Spirit later and learn to love God’s ways, those who are called in this life have the opportunity to seek Him now: “‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:12-13).

God wants His people to return to Him, and He helps those who take those first steps toward Him. You can start today!

God lays out His plan for humanity through His annual festivals listed in Leviticus 23. Each of these days, from the Passover to the Eighth Day, reveals a different aspect of how He is working with human beings to save them. God commands His people to observe His feasts and invites us to partake of the vision that each of these days represents.

For the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day (or Last Great Day) festival that immediately follows it (usually falling around late September to early October), God tells us to observe them, spending each of those days learning about His coming Kingdom and worshiping and praising Him. It is a time to rejoice before God and to enjoy fellowship with those who share the same vision. The command to live in temporary dwellings (Leviticus 23:40-43; Nehemiah 8:13-17)—created from leafy boughs in ancient times and now typically observed by staying in a hotel or other temporary housing—reminds us on one level of the fleeting nature of this world and our need for Christ’s return.

Keeping the Feast helps us learn to become kings and priests in the Millennium. At that time, He will draw His followers to Him—those with the Holy Spirit who remained faithful to the end—and transform them into spirit beings, making them part of His royal priesthood (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 1 Peter 2:9).

Our life today is the training ground for becoming a faithful priesthood, ready to teach all people God’s ways and lead them to eternal life.

Society will seek the truth from the priesthood, which makes it necessary to prepare now to fulfill the role prepared for us: “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 2:7).

Keeping God’s sacred feast days is a special blessing and privilege that allows us to grow closer to God and become the people He wants us to become. To learn more about the Feast of Tabernacles and His other holy times, check out our free Bible study guide God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.

Humanity doesn’t have the solution for a peaceful and just world. Society as we know it is careening closer to chaos and destruction.

True peace, justice and change aren’t possible through any kind of human government or action.

Despite the darkness of the world around us and the volatile nature of current events, we can take great comfort in the promise of Christ’s return to earth. When all nations finally yield to His rule, peace will abound. War and violence will end, and even the nature of animals will be transformed from violence to peace between predators and prey. Christ’s government will be characterized by true servant leadership, and His citizens will experience healing and guidance in love. Finally, God will change the hearts and minds of humanity, enabling people to enact true change through the Holy Spirit and to grow in zeal for His way of life.

While we eagerly await the fulfillment of these promises, we should be seeking first the Kingdom by living out its attributes in our daily lives.

Strive to be a peacemaker by speaking edifying words and studying peace through the Bible and Christ’s example. Practice servant leadership through interactions with others, gently guiding and esteeming others better than yourself. Pursue a transformed heart.

With the help of God’s Spirit, you can seek God’s ways daily and work toward true, lasting change. As we wait for the Kingdom, let’s strive to live it today!