Page 14 - TH130 Kingdom of God A4 Final

The Kingdom of God

The Duration of the Kingdom of God

What is the duration of the kingdom of God? When did it begin and
when will it end? To answer this question, it is helpful to look at the
Kingdom in two ways: the kingdom of God in eternity and the kingdom
of God in history.

The Kingdom of God in Eternity

The kingdom of God is everlasting. It endures from eternity past into
eternity future. Daniel described the kingdom of God as “a kingdom that
will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). He also said that “the saints of
the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes,
for ever and ever” (7:18). David prayed to God, “Your kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations”
(Psalm 145:13). The angel told Mary about her son Jesus that “the Lord
God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over
the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33).
The eternal kingdom of God is illustrated in Figure 1.1 below.

The Kingdom of God

Eternity Eternity
Past Future

Figure 1.1—The Kingdom of God in Eternity

The Kingdom of God in History

Although the kingdom of God is eternal, it has appeared in time, that
is, in history. According to renewal theologian J. Rodman Williams, the
kingdom of God manifests itself in history in three ways: in preparation,
in establishment, and in completion (Williams, 289–295).

The kingdom of God is seen in preparation in the Old Testament, where
God is portrayed as King of Israel and as King over all creation. There,

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