“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8).
The essence of the Christian message strikes at the heart of every other world system. Jesus is King and He has come to take charge of His world. John the Baptist preceded Jesus with the announcement that the Kingdom was near. Jesus said, “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20).
What the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not understand is clearly announced in the New Testament. The Kingdom of God comes in two phases. The first phase is in the coming of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem. He was the Messiah who came to bring salvation to all who believe by His death on the Cross. The Kingdom has already begun and the gospel is the announcement to the world that Jesus is in charge.
What about the evil that now coexists with righteousness? The Kingdom that began with Jesus’ first coming will be consummated when Jesus returns literally in all His glory. Sin and evil will be done away with forever then. The apostle John describes that day, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever’ ” (Revelation 11:15).
While we eagerly await the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God our message today is the same good news Paul preached. The Kingdom of God has come with Jesus. Anyone who believes in Him can already begin to experience the goodness, love and peace that will one day mark all God’s creation.
