The Kingdom of God (kingdom of heaven) is realized in three phases:
Part 1. The Present Kingdom: The spiritual kingdom of grace exists now as God rules in the lives of obedient believers. This kingdom was announced and revealed through the prophets and the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. We enter this kingdom when we turn from sin to serve God through faith in Jesus Christ.
…”God’s kingdom is truly present in the person and ministry of the Lord Jesus. “…the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28a). “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). Thus “we may refer to the present phase of God’s kingdom as the spiritual kingdom, or the kingdom of grace” (TWB pg. 189). “…we also recognize…the kingdom of God is yet to come.” “God’s kingdom is already here in the hearts and lives of Christian’s, but it is not yet here in its ultimate, glorious form” (TWB pg. 190).
Part 2. The Millennial Kingdom of Christ: Jesus will return to earth in power and glory to resurrect the righteous dead, bestow immortality and eternal life upon the resurrected and the living righteous, avenge the saints, and be glorified in them. His earthly reign of one thousand years will be a universal kingdom in which all principalities, powers, and enemies are overcome. At it conclusion, the unrighteous will be resurrected to suffer annihilation at the great white throne judgement.
“The marvelous age to come will be introduced by Christ’s return and resurrection of the dead (I Cor. 15:21-23ff; 2 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 19:11-20:6).” At this time of the return of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords , the great day of the Lord all nations and kingdoms begin to come under the rule of Jesus Christ and the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus begins (I Thes. 4;13-17; Zech. 14:1ff; Acts 1:10-12). The glorious Kingdom of God ruled by Jesus and His resurrected saints is found in hundreds of scriptures throughout the Bible. Some examples are: Isa. 2:2-4; 9:6-7; 11:1-9; 65:17-25; Jere. 23:5-6; 33:14-18; Dan. 2:44; Micah 4:1-8; Zech. 14:3-9; Hab. 2:14; Matt. 25:31ff; Luke 1:32-33, 68-79; I Cor. 15:23-28; Rev. 19:11-21. The coming of Jesus will usher in…the kingdom of heaven (God). Rev. 20:1-7 shows us it will be a 1,000 year reign of righteousness (TWB pg. 191-195).
Part 3. The Eternal Kingdom of God: God’s eternal kingdom will begin when Jesus Christ, having put all enemies under His feet, turns the kingdom over to the Father. God will dwell with the redeemed in a new heaven and a new earth where no disappointment, defilement, or death can enter and where righteousness and peace will prevail forever.
After the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ on earth when all enemies have been conquered by Christ, then the Eternal Kingdom of God will begin. During this time and forever more God will dwell with His people and His people will dwell with Him. The new earth and the Heavenly City of the New Jerusalem (II Pet. 3:13 also describe in Rev. 21 and 22) will descend to earth and be the home of God and His people (Rev. 21:1-7). At this time there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. Then, the “Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” will rule forever more in the wonderful Kingdom of God. The bride (Church of God) will become the bride of Christ and the glory of God almighty will shine forever more in beauty and righteousness. Forever more, the people of God will be the sons of God (Rom. 8:14-18) living in everlasting harmony with God the Almighty our righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the ultimate destiny of mankind!
This summary of the Kingdom of God is from the COG7 book, This We Believe (TWB), published and distributed by Bible Advocate Press PO Box 33677 Denver, CO 80233 2012 ed.
