Definitions of Kingdom: Oxford English Dictionary

2. An organized community having a king as its head; a monarchical state of government.

3. The territory or country subject to a king; the area over which a king's rule extends; a realm.

The above definitions are what we usually think of when we think of kingdom. These are, however, are secondary definitions. The primary meaning which is obsolete is:

1. Kingly function, authority, or power, sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship.

This obsolete definition is the essential meaning of the Greek equivalent of kingdom:

1. royal power, kingship, dominion, rule

1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom.

1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah

1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom

2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king

3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah
Strong's Concordance Greek 932

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.There is no end of the increase of [His] government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6,7

Note when Isaiah says that Christ's kingdom began, when he was born!! Note also how long it will last, forever, not a mere thousand years.Note also that there is no end to the increase of his government or of peace. The Hebrew word for increase means that his kingdom will constantly grow from its inception.

And in the days of these kings, the God of Heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other peoples, but it shall crush and destroy all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.Daniel 2:44

Note that Daniel also says that Jesus Kingdom will last forever! That it will crush and destroy all the other kingdoms. In Daniel 2:34-45, Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezar's dream. It was about four kingdoms, starting with Nebuchadnezar's. The fourth kingdom was the Roman empire, it was strong as iron and yet it was divided, it was partly weak and partly strong. This prophecy says that Jesus Kingdom will be set up in the time of the Roman empire not some future empire. In Daniel 7 it also talks about four kingdoms and again Jesus kingdom is one which will last forever. And again this will occur in the days of those kings or in the time of Rome, when Messiah was born.

A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I place Your enemies as Your footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion; rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your people [shall be] willing in the day of Your power, in holy adornment from the womb of the morning: You [have] the dew of Your youth. The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You [are] a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at Your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill them with dead bodies; He shall shatter heads over much of the earth. He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore He shall lift up the head. Psalm 110

Another prophesy of Jesus' kingdom. Note where Jesus is. He is at God's right hand. Note also that it says that while he is at the Lord's right hand, that he will strike through kings in the days of his wrath, judge among the nations, etc. It doesn't say that he will come back to earth and do all this, but that he will accomplish it from the right hand of God.

But each in [his] own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ's at His coming; then [is] the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. for it is right for Him to reign until He has put all the enemies under His feet. The last enemy made to cease [is] death.1 Corinthians 15:23-26 This passage says, that when Jesus comes, it will be the end and he will deliver the kingdom up to God.

What kingdom was announced in the New Testament? Matthew 3:1-12 , the kingdom that John the Baptist proclaimed was at hand was one of repentance for forgiveness of sins. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Matthew 12:28 As we all know, Jesus did cast out demons numerous times in the New Testament and this verse says that that means that the Kingdom has already come to them.

And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation. Nor shall they say, Lo here! or, behold, there! For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.Luke 17:20,21 Again, Jesus says the kingdom is in their midst, not in the future, but already present.

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight so that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But now My kingdom is not from here.Here Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world, that if it were, his servants would fight for him.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.Matthew 28:18

Now,some would say that the Kingdom of God is different from the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew is the only gospel that uses the term Kingdom of Heaven. In the parallel accounts in other gospels, the term Kingdom of God is used in its place. Compare Matthew 4:17 to Mark 1:14,15, Matthew 10:6,7 to Luke 9:2, Matthew 5:3 to Luke 6:20. While Matthew uses Kingdom of heaven, the other Gospels commenting on the same events use Kingdom of God. Matthew himself uses the phrases interchangeably.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you that a rich man will with great difficulty enter into the kingdom of Heaven. And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When His disciples heard, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?Matthew 19:23-25

The above passage refers to the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven synonymously and says that the entrance to the kingdom is salvation.

Some will also say that the term Gospel of the Kingdom in Matthew also means something different. But again, the parallel accounts in other gospels do not give it this distinction.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.Matthew 4:23 compare to And after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God,and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent, and believe the gospel.Mark 1:14,15.

Therefore I say to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing out its fruits.Matt 21:43

Here Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that the Kingdom of God is going to be taken away from them and given to another nation. Who is this nation? The church is called a nation in 1 Peter 2:9. It only makes logical sense that the church has been given the kingdom.

And she bore a son, a male, who is going to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and [to] His throne.Revelation 12:5 Note where it says the throne is, in Heaven with God.

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward each one according to his works. Truly I say to you, There are some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom. Matthew 16:27-28

And He said to them, Truly I say to you that there are some of those who stand here who shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God come with power. Mark 9:1

For whoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, the Son of man shall be ashamed of him when He shall come in His own and [in His] Father's glory, and that of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God. Luke 9:26-27

If we are still waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus kingdom, then some of those who were with Jesus are still alive! An impossibility to be sure. Thus there needed to be an event that occurred within the lifespan of some of those living then. The fall of Jerusalem would suit this prophecy. Many times in the Old Testament God is said to come in judgment on nations. His comings were not literal. The Old Testament even talks of God riding in the clouds in judgment. Jesus came in judgment on the Jews in 70 A.D. Jerusalem fell.

And I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven to you. And whatever you may bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven, and whatever you may loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven.Matthew 16:28 How could Jesus give Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven if it was still future?

Therefore when Jesus perceived that they would come and take Him by force, that they might make Him a king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain alone [by] Himself.John 6:15 If Jesus was offering a political kingdom, why did he refuse one?

I saw in the night visions, and behold, [One] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And dominion and glory was given Him, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages, should serve Him. His dominion [is] an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 After giving the Great Commission,this passage was fulfilled when Jesus went up in the clouds of heaven to God the Father. It says here in Daniel that when He went to the Ancient of Days, he received His kingdom, then not later!!!

And going into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.Acts 19: 8 And now, behold, I know that you all will see my face no more, among whom I went proclaiming the kingdom of God.Acts 20:25 If the kingdom had been postponed, why was Paul still preaching the Kingdom? The kingdom is also mentioned often in the New Testament Epistles. Colossians 1:13, Colossians 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 5:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Timothy 4:18

The language of Scripture indicates that Christ at His first advent established His kingdom.

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