Has the Kingdom of God Been Set Up on Earth Now?

The evangelist Mark wrote: “Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). What did Jesus Christ mean by saying the Kingdom is at hand? Was He setting up the Kingdom at that time so that repentant believers could enter it immediately? Was He referring to setting up His Church, the spiritual organization of believers, as the Kingdom?

The phrase “at hand” is translated from a Greek word meaning “brought near,” and from a root meaning to “squeeze,” implying the Kingdom was within grasp or reach. So did the Kingdom come at that time? Did true believers then enter the Kingdom of God?

Faithful followers heirs, not yet inheritors

Consider the words of the apostle James: “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5, emphasis added throughout). An “heir” is someone who has not yet inherited something but will do so at a future date. Regarding the members of God’s Church, they are now heirs who, if they remain faithful, will inherit their glorious reward of salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God at Jesus Christ’s second coming.

Underscoring this crucial point, the apostle Paul wrote: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:50). So people cannot inherit the Kingdom while they are still physical human beings. This inheritance can only be procured after a momentous change—when God gives His followers new spiritual bodies at Christ’s return. Paul continued: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (verses 51-53; see Philippians 3:20-21).

The apostle Paul reiterated this by stating that the members of God’s Church are presently “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). However, at the time of the resurrection they will “inherit eternal life” in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 19:29; 1 Corinthians 15:42). Furthermore, Paul recognized that he personally did not yet have his “crown of righteousness,” but that it was “laid up” for him and for “all who have loved His [Jesus’] appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Paul also wrote, “The Lord will . . . preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (verse 18), meaning his reward is safeguarded and will be presented to him when he arises in the resurrection (see John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

These passages provide crucial understanding that the Kingdom of God—His perfect government and rule over the nations, in which His followers of this age will play important roles—is not yet set up on the earth. This fact is obvious to anyone today in witnessing the lawless state of human society. Christ taught in His “model prayer” that His disciples should pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). It was yet to arrive (compare Luke 22:16, 18).

Moreover, He said that when He returns to earth He “will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 25:34). That magnificent time lies ahead for all of God’s faithful saints (Romans 2:7; Colossians 3:24).

Furthermore, Jesus told His disciples He was bestowing His Kingdom on them, that they would “eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29-30). Did the twelve apostles judge the tribes of Israel during their lifetimes? No. Instead, they were persecuted and, except for the apostle John, likely martyred.

This passage plainly refers to a future time when God’s Kingdom of perfect global peace and prosperity for all people will be established on earth. Moreover, if the Kingdom is now on earth and if the Church is the Kingdom, as many traditional Christians believe, why did Paul tell the disciples, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God”? (Acts 14:22). Why did the apostle Peter also say that our entrance into the Kingdom is yet future? (1 Peter 1:10-11).

Misconceptions about when the Kingdom is established

Just as people today have misconceptions about when God’s Kingdom commences, those in Christ’s day did as well. Jesus even delivered a parable to correct this error. He began, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return” (Luke 19:12). The nobleman symbolized Jesus, who after His resurrection from the dead ascended to His Father in heaven.

Jesus further stated that prior to the nobleman’s journey, he called together 10 of his servants and gave each of them 10 units of money, telling them, “Do business till I come.” These servants represent Christ’s followers, who must use and develop the abilities and spiritual resources they have been given while He is away in heaven. Then, on His return, He will reward all His dedicated disciples with great power and responsibility according to what they accomplished during their lives. That will be when the Kingdom is established over the nations.

Now, what about some passages that appear to say that the Kingdom has been set up on earth in this present age? For instance, some of the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom would come. He told them, as often translated, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).

Some say this proves the Kingdom is here on earth now. However, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes that the phrase “‘within’ you is a questionable translation. Jesus would hardly tell Pharisees, most of whom were unbelievers, that the Kingdom was within them” (Vol. 8, p. 997). In context, the phrase is better translated “among you” or “in your midst.” Christ, as the future King of the Kingdom, was standing amid the Pharisees as He spoke those words! And He was teaching and performing miracles as foretold of the age to come. Moreover, He was calling people to submit to His reign now. We can come under the rule of the King and His Kingdom today, but we cannot inherit or enter it yet, as we’ve seen.

Yet what about Paul’s stating in Colossians 1:13 that God “has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of his love”? This is about an authority transfer—from Satan’s dark dominion over to (or “unto,” the Greek word eis not always meaning “into”) the reign or rule of Christ—as the word for Kingdom here can mean. It can’t mean believers have already entered the Kingdom. The people of God’s Church have submitted to Christ’s authority as King of the Kingdom, and they experience His power now through the Holy Spirit working in and through them. But, again, they have yet to enter and inherit the Kingdom.

Don’t wait to submit

Other scriptures such as Matthew 12:28 (“the kingdom of God has come upon you”) and Mark 12:34 (“you are not far from the kingdom of God”) can also seem to say the establishment of the Kingdom was imminent. But when carefully examined, these passages also do not mean that. Rather, the former again concerned the presence of Jesus as the King. The latter concerned spiritual understanding and right priorities under the rule of the Kingdom.

When Jesus sent His disciples to various cities to preach the gospel, they told listeners that “the kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:9). By this they meant what Jesus meant in saying the Kingdom was at hand. The future Kingdom was breaking through in the person and work of the King at that time. Its power was displayed through Christ’s miracles and teachings. And the opportunity to submit to the rule of the Kingdom was before them—as it is before us today as a present reality (see “Living Under Jesus’ Reign Today” beginning on page 15).

The Kingdom of God—His government of true peace and prosperity for all people—will be established throughout the earth at Christ’s second coming. But we can live under the rule of that Kingdom now—and we must live under that rule now if we want to inherit and enter the Kingdom when He returns!