What About the Kingdom?

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. ~1 Corinthians 15:20-28

The Kingdom

• John the Baptist first announces that the kingdom is at hand ~Matthew 3:2
• Jesus takes over this message as he begins his ministry ~Matthew 4:17
• Paul ends his ministry preaching this same message ~Acts 28:31
• The Kingdom of God was a late-Jewish apocalyptic expectation
• The hope was for God to restore Israel to prominence and liberate them from Gentile control by the Messiah
• The hope for the Kingdom of God is closely tied with the restoration of David’s throne
• Divine Judgement is a key element in the preaching of the Kingdom ~Matthew 3:10; Matthew 13:41, etc…

The Kingdom is a Present Reality

• Jesus proclaimed the kingdom as already present in His person and ministry – “…if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” ~Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20
• The casting out of demons shows that Jesus has entered into Satan’s domain and plundered it ~Matthew 12:29; Luke 10:18
• The Kingdom is also evidenced by Jesus healing the sick, forgiving sin, and raising the dead ~see Matthew 11:2; Luke 7:18
• Justification and the forgiveness of sin are the key witnesses to the present reality of the kingdom
• Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ~John 18:36

  How can the OT say Christ’s kingdom is physical when Christ Himself says His kingdom is not of this world (aka non-physical)?

Herman Ridderbos explains,

…salvation is announced and offered as a gift already available…So too the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, not merely as a future reality to be accomplished in heaven, nor merely as a present possibility, but as …offered today… through Jesus…

These things testify clearly that Jesus is the promised King now, not only in the future

Peter proclaims Jesus is sitting on David’s throne by virtue of His resurrection.

Jesus is reigning in His kingdom now

What Dispensationalists fail to recognize is Jesus is physically ruling and reigning on David’s throne now but in Heaven. Christ’s bodily resurrection also means, He is in Heaven with a glorified body. Being present on Earth, physically, is not required.