What is kingdom now teaching?

The fact is, that the kingdom of God, which will exist manifestly in the millennial reign of Christ (treated of in No. 1), exists now in mystery, and is found wherever there is the acknowledgement, real or in profession only, of the name and authority of Christ, while He Himself is hid in God on high. It is within this kingdom of course, that the church has its existence at present. Nay, more; it is at present the only thing in the kingdom which is really precious to Christ; and we shall have to look at passages which, on this account, speak of the church, or rather of those who compose the church, as the kingdom. Still, it is not as the church that these passages contemplate it, and the kingdom itself is a much wider thing.

For full instructions as to the special or distinct place and blessedness of "the church," we look in vain, except in the Ephesians and other Epistles of St. Paul. The kingdom of God, one would repeat, exists now in mystery, and comprises the whole sphere in which the name and authority of Christ are recognised, whether nominally or really, during the period of Christ's session at the right hand of God. There is, of course, a wide difference between a sovereignty exercised openly and visibly in the form and character of royalty on the earth (Jerusalem its centre and the whole earth its sphere), and a sovereignty exercised from heaven by invisible agency and moral means, such as Christianity is now. This latter is the kingdom of God in mystery; the former is the kingdom of God as the Jews were taught by ancient prophecy to expect it, and as it will yet surely exist in the millennial age. Modified, however, even then by the introduction and co-heirship with Christ of the heavenly saints, for which room was made by Israel's rejection of their Messiah on the earth. When He takes the kingdom, it will be as the glorified Son of man; and the heavenly body, the church, now forming by the Holy Ghost, will be united with its Head in the administration of that kingdom, so that even then it will have the character of the kingdom of heaven.

Let us however consider the distinct aspects of the kingdom today. The parables of the mustard seed and of the leaven hid in three measures of meal (Mt. 13:31-33; Luke 13:18-21) clearly teach us that this kingdom (whether called “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven”) would degenerate into an evil condition, allowing both internal corruption (leaven) and external reception of Satan’s emissaries (the birds of the air). This has been drastically fulfilled in present-day Christendom, and it is self-evident that both of these terms apply to that sphere of things that professes to be Christian, but has included a mixture of evil principles, and of actual unbelievers.

We have the kingdom of God today in just this mysterious form, and we enter it by conversion and forgiveness, for thus it is that the authority of God is established in our hearts. We are still waiting for the kingdom in its displayed glory and power.

In summary, the Lord Jesus is not our King, nor will He ever have that relation to us. When He reigns over the earth, we will reign with Him (Rev. 20:6). Nevertheless, the things which will mark His kingdom in the millennium — righteousness, joy and peace — are to mark us today (Rom. 14:17). Kingdom truth for individual believers today involves our demonstrating our loyalty to our Lord and Saviour while He is absent from this world that has rejected Him, by faithfully imitating and serving Him while we await His return.

Today the kingdom of God is in moral and spiritual power; soon it will be in visible actuality.

The One Who is going to introduce the Kingdom is risen and enthroned in glory. Believers, owning the Lordship of Christ, come under His sway even now, and thus anticipate in their spirits the blessings of the coming Kingdom, marked by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. These opening verses set before us these blessings that belong to the justified who come under the present dominion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Being justified by faith "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this favour wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God". Here then we have the righteousness, peace, and joy, that will mark the coming Kingdom, presented as the present portion of the believer. What will be known outwardly in the Kingdom is to be known and enjoyed in the heart of the believer to-day.

The Jews having refused their king, the kingdom was not set up in manifestation at that time and it is still held in abeyance. In the meanwhile it is 'the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.' Rev. 1:9. Christ is represented as having gone to receive a kingdom, and to return. Luke 19:12. In the meantime the kingdom has been produced, and goes on in its mysterious form: cf. Matt. 13:11. There are multitudes who profess obedience to God and to the Lord Jesus, and who look to heaven as the throne from whence come all their blessings, while they are passing through a world of which Satan is the god and prince; but to the saints the kingdom of God is very real. They by faith anticipate the kingdom in power. Righteousness, peace, and joy characteristics of the kingdom, are already theirs in the Holy Ghost. Rom. 14:17. In this sense the kingdom of God is often referred to in the Epistles. A person must be born again really to enter into it (John 3:3, 5), but this idea, is distinct from the form which the kingdom has taken, and the dimensions it has attained in the hands of man.

Now by His word and Spirit He is claiming and acquiring a kingdom for Himself among men. Preaching the Gospel is preaching the Kingdom of God — and faith, which is the answer to that preaching, accepts God's salvation and owns God's authority. To faith He is both Saviour and Lord — and thus the blessed One gains a kingdom for Himself here by preaching.

Paul preached "the kingdom of God" alongside of "the gospel of the grace of God," for authority is not set aside by grace, and every believer is today in "the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ (Rev.1:9): but Mr. Nee was not careful to notice that Paul did not say in Acts 20 "the gospel of the kingdom", while he did say, "the gospel of the grace of God." The kingdom today is in a "mystery" form (Matt.13:11), not at all manifested in public character, as it will be in the millennial age. "The gospel of the kingdom" will have its full force when, in the tribulation, the judgements of God bear witness that the kingdom is about to be established in its Divine authority and glory. "The gospel of the grace of God" will not be preached then, for "the dispensation of the grace of God" will not be preached then, for "the dispensation of the grace of God" will have ended with the rapture of the church, and "the vengeance of our God" will take its place. Compare Isaiah 61:1,2 and Luke 4:16-20, referred to before.

This spiritual conflict is what is going on now, but it will not be the case when the kingdom of God comes. Satan, animating the empire in its last uprising, and the nations in general, against the Lamb, will be put down: then the stream will steadily flow on for God's glory. Now we have to swim against the current. Now it is a question of life and faith, where Satan reigns, and only the power of the Spirit sustains. There will be no power of death then against which the saints of God will have, as now, to make good His will in the name of Jesus. There are, no doubt, those who will tell you that the kingdom is gradually winning its way among men; but this is a grievous mistake, a short-sightedness not without danger as to the word of God. It ignores the utter ruin of man and the world, the incurable evil of flesh, the power of Satan, the honour reserved and due to Christ. It overlooks the heavenly calling and the future reward and the present rejection of the Christian. It is manifest that, if this present advance were the fact, a very great part of the New Testament would cease to be applicable directly the power of Satan was broken. The doctrine and exhortations which suppose we have now to fight against Satan would be no longer true. There is a plain contrast between the character and circumstances of the millennium and those of the present day.