3 - THE NOW KINGDOM of GOD

There is an argument by many that the kingdom already exists on earth, and to be fair, there is some credible biblical evidence that it does. John MacArthur acknowledged an interim kingdom that exists on earth, while Jesus is in heaven. MacArthur explains that this interim kingdom is on earth NOW in a mysterious form.[2] We can identify the previous explanation of the Greek word basileia as applying also to this NOW kingdom mystery.

I agree with MacArthur that there will be a future physical kingdom of heaven and that there is a NOW existing mysterious interim kingdom of God. Where I disagree with MacArthur is that he believes Jesus in exile following the rejection of the Jews. I believe Jesus' explanation is more accurate - since they are His words.

John 14:2-3 (KJV) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I believe Jesus’ heavenly kingdom is in place and flourishes in Jesus’ effort to make a place for His bride. While this is going on, the interim kingdom is building on earth.

For this discussion we will identify this interim kingdom as the NOW Kingdom of God. The way this would have to work is that there is an actual kingdom in heaven that we have already identified, which will become manifest on earth at a time of the Father’s choosing. This transfer is within our capacity to understand, which constitutes transcendental movement. However, this NOW kingdom’s transfer from wherever it comes, is not understandable. It is transcendent, meaning its movement, transfer, or influence is not explainable by man. (We will expand on this is a moment)

Now, assuming the kingdom does actually exist in the world NOW, how is it possible for God to accept it as being in a place where the holy will of God is not the exclusive will? On earth today also exists the will of man and the will of a different king we will also discuss later.

Physically, it is made impossible, based on the truth of Matthew 6:10 (only Jesus' will), for Jesus the King to exist on earth NOW, for these reasons:

• God’s holiness cannot exist exclusively on earth - now.

• God’s will cannot exist exclusively in man’s heart or life - now.

  
  

The world a place where the Lord’s will cannot not be exclusive, and the holiness of God is not the only pursuit of life. It is easy to extrapolate that the kingdom cannot exist here. Yet there are many biblical truths that point to a NOW kingdom. The only way such a thing could happen is that the kingdom of heaven would need to somehow be transferred from heaven into a place where holiness is acceptable to the environment and accepted by the receiver. Also, keep in mind that:

• The kingdom of God can only exist where God is,

• Christ is not on this unaccepting earth now. He is in heaven and so is his kingdom.
  

If Jesus is not here on this unwelcoming earth, and his kingdom is in heaven where it will remain until Jesus is permitted by the Father to set up His millennial kingdom, it would seem there is no understandable way for the kingdom to get to the earth NOW. If there were a way, it would have to be in a way that is not understandable according to human knowledge or experience. So lets look at a few details that identify what we can understand.

Transcendence

We do understand that God is a God of miracles, but our understanding of these miracles is limited to our acceptance that they happen. We experience them, but nothing in our knowledge or science can explain them. How the kingdom gets from where God is to the NOW is something that we experience, but human knowledge cannot explain how it happens. In just a moment we are going to acknowledge where on earth the kingdom of God is actually present, but first we need to discuss the how of it.

How ?

We have no understanding of how it is possible for us to experience a real and existent kingdom of God on earth, but we know God is here.

This is, as mentioned, called transcendence. Transcendence, according to Kantian philosophy is a word describing that which is “beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge.” What the philosopher Immanuel Kant would assert is that it is not possible for the Kingdom of God to be present in the NOW, because man cannot explain it.

Let’s look at what we know about the kingdom of God.

• We know Jesus will not set up His kingdom of heaven on earth NOW because of, among other things, our current free-will in the world.

• God the Father has not yet given Christ permission to collect up His bride (Christians) and take her to the new home where only Jesus’ will can exist.

• We know that the world, as we know it, is not the realm of holiness and is temporarily given to another authority. Namely the enemy of Christ.  

Consider

If there is not active guidance from God, and all that exists on earth in this so-called kingdom of God is what is written in the Bible, we are left with thoughts like:

• Should we just consider that the NOW kingdom can only exist in our minds or hearts? The problem with this concept is that my heart is fickle and is not a holy vessel, and my mind is corrupted by human free-will. Can the Bible be enough to keep me dedicated to the kingdom? As much as it should be, I am not sure I can trust myself to what is right without hands-on guidance.

  
  

• Is it possible to imagine that the way the NOW kingdom can exists is simply in my desperate striving to reach heaven. This does not work because in the absence of God, there is no active king and therefore no effective Godly kingdom to be found in the heart.

  
  

• We eagerly acknowledge our desire to live in the millennial kingdom with Christ. This attention to the kingdom is extremely important because as Christians we must be seen as people excited about our King, Jesus Christ. We are being set apart so others will notice us and want what we have. We are to take the Good News to all people, but without having a solid dedication to the Kingdom, can we do this job well. Can our intentions to live in the Kingdom of Heaven one day be enough to drive us toward it? Are there even enough Christian people who are intrinsically inspired and self-motivated to serve the kingdom and do the kingdom work?

None of these states of mind, heart, or person seem to provide for any concept of a real and present kingdom of God. Even Kant would not have argued with any of these points. In fact, he would probably have accepted them as proper philosophical concepts. He would feel safe with them because they provided no proof that the God he did not believe in existed or that God could be on earth. Kant would love to accept that since the kingdom of heaven cannot exist on earth NOW and since neither philosophy nor science provides an explanation of how it could be here – there is no possible way it can be here. It cannot be explained theoretically.

However, we can explain it theologically.