The Kingdom Came
by Terry Wane Benton
In Daniel 2:44f, the kingdom of heaven was coming. But four earthly kingdoms were on the docket to come before this very special kingdom. Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, that his kingdom would be left to the Medes and Persians (the second kingdom on earth before the heavenly kingdom would come), and then a third kingdom, the Macedonian or Grecian kingdom (the third kingdom in the sequence of earthly kingdoms), and then a fourth kingdom would come, the Roman kingdom. The prophecy said that during this fourth earthly kingdom period, the God of heaven would set up a different kind of kingdom that “would never be destroyed.” The question we need to ask is this: “Did that kingdom come during that fourth kingdom?”
Since God cannot lie or fail, that kingdom had to come in the days of the Roman Empire.
During the Roman kingdom, John the Baptist and shortly Jesus too were both preaching that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Mark says that Jesus was preaching “the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14) and saying, “The time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15). The time was designated by Daniel 2:44f; 9:24f. If the kingdom did not come in the right time, then Jesus cannot be a true prophet, much less the Son of God.
The kingdom of God came at the right time. Daniel was correct as He was guided by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:19ff). John and Jesus were both correct that the time was “at hand”. But Jesus also said it would come with power while His disciples were still alive (Mark 9:1). They would see “the kingdom of God present with power.”
After Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven, the Holy Spirit came with power on that first Pentecost day (Acts 2:1ff). They saw that Jesus was “Now both Lord and Christ (anointed King)” (Acts 2:36), and now you could be baptized in His name (by His authority) and receive “remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). That is a kingdom that rules from the inside, meeting the needs of the soul.
Before Pentecost, the kingdom was “at hand,” almost here. But after Pentecost, it is no longer spoken of as “at hand.” In fact, people were right then being “translated out of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). That kingdom is here among us (Luke 17:20-21), and it is of such nature that it cannot be destroyed.
Jesus said that His kingdom was “not of this world” (John 18:36). It comes from heaven and fills hearts by means of the “seed of the kingdom” (Luke 8:11). The word of God is the “incorruptible seed” (I Peter 1:23). Planting this incorruptible seed in the heart, plants the kingdom within, and since the seed of the kingdom is incorruptible, there is no way to destroy this kingdom. The gospel is the word of God, and it is the “power of God” unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). As long as the word of God remains on earth, the kingdom of God remains here.
This indestructible kingdom came, and it remains until the last day when Jesus delivers it back to the Father in heaven (I Corinthians 15:22f). Have you been born of the water and Spirit to see and enter this kingdom? (John 3:1-6). Do not miss out on this wonderful opportunity! The kingdom is here now. It is a spiritual kingdom, and God wants it now in your heart so that you can enter the coming immortal phase of that kingdom when He comes to present it back to the Father. What a glorious day that will be!
