Thy Kingdom Come or Thy Kingdom Came?
When Jesus told his disciples to pray "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven," was he instructing them to pray an impossible prayer?
According to theologian Dr. Jack Fish, this prayer indicates that the Kingdom of God had not yet come - and would not come until Jesus' second coming. Would Jesus instruct his disciples to pray for something that had no chance of being answered in their lifetime? And what of Jesus' own words to the Pharisees? "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you." (Luke 11:20)
Is the Kingdom of God yet to come? Or has it already come? This is certainly a complex theological concept, but I believe several key passages give us a telling timeline of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Naturally, talk of the Kingdom of God must start with the King of the Kingdom - Jesus Christ.
According to the dispensational seminarian Dr. Temple, "The Dispensation of the Kingdom begins with the Lord Jesus Christ here on this earth. It begins with the Antichrist in Hell. It begins with the False Prophet in Hell. It begins with the Devil bound and cast into the bottomless pit where he remains until the end of this thousand year period....this dispensation is that period of time designated in God's program when the Lord Jesus Christ will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He isn't now, but He will be then."
Jesus is not currently the King of Kings or Lord of Lords... Hmm.... That doesn't harmonize very well with what I see in the Scriptures.
Ephesians 1:21 says Jesus is currently seated "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion." It also affirms that all things are "in subjection under His feet." Revelation 1:5 calls Jesus "the ruler of the kings of the earth." Acts 10:36 asserts Jesus Christ "is Lord of all." On the other hand, the dispensationalist maintains that Jesus won't be Lord of all until we see him physically return to the earth to establish a future Kingdom of God.
Daniel 2 is an amazing prophecy that provides some insight into the establishment of the Kingdom of God. In this passage, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about a statue of a man. The statue is toppled when a stone falls from heaven and strikes the statue at its feet. The prophecy indicates that the stone represents the Kingdom of God which becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth. (For more on the growth of this mountain, see A Growing Rock.) Daniel informs Nebuchadnezzar that each segment of the statue represents a different earthly kingdom, beginning with his own kingdom. Understanding the proper identities of the kingdoms represented by the statue’s body parts is key to knowing when the Kingdom of God is established. Dispensationalists recognize that the head of gold is the Babylonian Empire, the silver chest is the Medo-Persian Empire, and the bronze belly and thighs are the Greek Empire. Things get a little tricky when it comes to the legs and feet. The Roman Empire was the next major world empire after the Greek empire. Dispensationalists recognize that the legs of iron refer to the Roman Empire, but since the Roman Empire has come and gone, the dispensationalist must find a way to make the statue extend into the future, since they see the Kingdom of God arriving at some point in the future. This is achieved in one of three ways:
1.) Some say that the Roman empire never really fell (contrary to the book The Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome*). Even though there isn't any political entity by that name, it is said that Europe is built upon the cultural and political framework installed during the Roman Empire - and therefore Europe in some mystical way is the embodiment of the Roman Empire. One of the problems with this view is that Rome was built upon the government and cultural ideals of the Greek empire. Does this mean that Rome was actually a mystical continuation of the third kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's statue? This view stretches the bounds of logic - attempting to keep a dead empire on life support.
2.) The feet of mixed iron and clay are seen as a distinct offshoot of the Roman Empire in the form of the Holy Roman Empire - established in 800AD by Charlemagne. Even though this empire came to an end in 1806, it is assumed that the Roman Catholic Church in some way continues to perpetuate the Roman Empire. In this scenario, the Roman Catholic Church must also be at the heart of uniting the European nations into a world dominating super-power. The major problem with this view is that the Holy Roman Empire would be a fifth empire of the statue, when Daniel specifically states that the legs and feet represent a single fourth empire. The Holy Roman Empire is distinct from the Roman Empire, arising 324 years after the fall of the western Roman Empire, sharing only a name and a capitol city.
3.) The feet are seen as a revived version of the Roman Empire that arises at a future date. This view also assumes that the feet of mixed clay and iron can be seen as distinct from the iron legs. The ten toes are typically figured to be ten divisions within this final world empire. There are several problems with this view. Firstly, there is no prophecy in the Bible that the Roman Empire will be revived in the final days. In addition, the statue does not offer a place for the handful of major empires that have risen and fallen since the Roman Empire. These many empires would have to be squeezed into the ankles. Even if a future empire arises by the name of the "Roman Empire" it would be difficult to see it as a continuation of the original Roman Empire. An empire is not defined by a name, nor is it defined by a race, or even a geographical region - but by a succession of rulers aligned with a particular governmental system. Even though the statue's feet have a slightly different composition than the the iron legs, there is no reason to see the feet as a distinct manifestation of this kingdom. In fact, the passage clearly indicates that the legs and feet each signify unique aspects of the same kingdom. The iron legs reflect the kingdom's power, while the mixed feet reflect the fact that the kingdom's strength will be fragmented into strong and weak regions. Both are true at the same time. As far as the ten toes, there is no indication that they represent anything. Divisions within this kingdom are represented by the clay and iron, not by the number of digits on the foot.
The best interpretation of the vision is the simplest one. Instead of imagining a scenario where the Roman Empire still exists long after it fell, we can look back to an event that took place during the historical Roman Empire - the rock of ages came from heaven and established his Kingdom on earth. The idea that the Kingdom of God arrived with Jesus during the Roman empire is consistent with the testimony of John the Baptist “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15) Also Jesus said “The Kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt. 12:28) And “the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21).
The Kingdom of God simply refers to God's authority and rulership in and through His people. The Kingdom is where the King is. Even though Jesus is not physically here on earth, He is no less present. Even though He is not sitting on a physical throne on earth, He is sitting on a throne in heaven, and is reigning over all the earth. Even though there are still many people who have not submitted to the King's authority, this does not mean that Jesus is not reigning over everything and everybody. Again, Ephesians 1:22,23 affirms that "He (the Father) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus') feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." God's people are currently "delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved son." (Col. 1:13).
So, what does it mean for us to pray "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven"? Notice the close correlation between God's will being done and the Kingdom coming. This was a reality the disciples could pray for and actually participate in. The Greek word for "come" can mean "show itself, find place or influence**." Whenever God's will is being done, God's Kingdom manifests itself. Matthew 11:12 indicates that the Kingdom is advancing. It is God's will for his people to advance his Kingdom by being vehicles for his Kingdom to come into the dark places of this world. While this Kingdom will take a giant leap forward when Jesus physically returns to earth, it is no less a current reality. Jesus truly is King of Kings.
*Nigel Rogers, 2008
**Strong's G2064, erchomai
When Jesus told his disciples to pray "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven," was he instructing them to pray an impossible prayer?
According to theologian Dr. Jack Fish, this prayer indicates that the Kingdom of God had not yet come - and would not come until Jesus' second coming. Would Jesus instruct his disciples to pray for something that had no chance of being answered in their lifetime? And what of Jesus' own words to the Pharisees? "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you." (Luke 11:20)
Is the Kingdom of God yet to come? Or has it already come? This is certainly a complex theological concept, but I believe several key passages give us a telling timeline of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Naturally, talk of the Kingdom of God must start with the King of the Kingdom - Jesus Christ.
According to the dispensational seminarian Dr. Temple, "The Dispensation of the Kingdom begins with the Lord Jesus Christ here on this earth. It begins with the Antichrist in Hell. It begins with the False Prophet in Hell. It begins with the Devil bound and cast into the bottomless pit where he remains until the end of this thousand year period....this dispensation is that period of time designated in God's program when the Lord Jesus Christ will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He isn't now, but He will be then."
Jesus is not currently the King of Kings or Lord of Lords... Hmm.... That doesn't harmonize very well with what I see in the Scriptures.
Ephesians 1:21 says Jesus is currently seated "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion." It also affirms that all things are "in subjection under His feet." Revelation 1:5 calls Jesus "the ruler of the kings of the earth." Acts 10:36 asserts Jesus Christ "is Lord of all." On the other hand, the dispensationalist maintains that Jesus won't be Lord of all until we see him physically return to the earth to establish a future Kingdom of God.
Daniel 2 is an amazing prophecy that provides some insight into the establishment of the Kingdom of God. In this passage, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about a statue of a man. The statue is toppled when a stone falls from heaven and strikes the statue at its feet. The prophecy indicates that the stone represents the Kingdom of God which becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth. (For more on the growth of this mountain, see A Growing Rock.) Daniel informs Nebuchadnezzar that each segment of the statue represents a different earthly kingdom, beginning with his own kingdom. Understanding the proper identities of the kingdoms represented by the statue’s body parts is key to knowing when the Kingdom of God is established. Dispensationalists recognize that the head of gold is the Babylonian Empire, the silver chest is the Medo-Persian Empire, and the bronze belly and thighs are the Greek Empire. Things get a little tricky when it comes to the legs and feet. The Roman Empire was the next major world empire after the Greek empire. Dispensationalists recognize that the legs of iron refer to the Roman Empire, but since the Roman Empire has come and gone, the dispensationalist must find a way to make the statue extend into the future, since they see the Kingdom of God arriving at some point in the future. This is achieved in one of three ways:
1.) Some say that the Roman empire never really fell (contrary to the book The Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome*). Even though there isn't any political entity by that name, it is said that Europe is built upon the cultural and political framework installed during the Roman Empire - and therefore Europe in some mystical way is the embodiment of the Roman Empire. One of the problems with this view is that Rome was built upon the government and cultural ideals of the Greek empire. Does this mean that Rome was actually a mystical continuation of the third kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's statue? This view stretches the bounds of logic - attempting to keep a dead empire on life support.
2.) The feet of mixed iron and clay are seen as a distinct offshoot of the Roman Empire in the form of the Holy Roman Empire - established in 800AD by Charlemagne. Even though this empire came to an end in 1806, it is assumed that the Roman Catholic Church in some way continues to perpetuate the Roman Empire. In this scenario, the Roman Catholic Church must also be at the heart of uniting the European nations into a world dominating super-power. The major problem with this view is that the Holy Roman Empire would be a fifth empire of the statue, when Daniel specifically states that the legs and feet represent a single fourth empire. The Holy Roman Empire is distinct from the Roman Empire, arising 324 years after the fall of the western Roman Empire, sharing only a name and a capitol city.
3.) The feet are seen as a revived version of the Roman Empire that arises at a future date. This view also assumes that the feet of mixed clay and iron can be seen as distinct from the iron legs. The ten toes are typically figured to be ten divisions within this final world empire. There are several problems with this view. Firstly, there is no prophecy in the Bible that the Roman Empire will be revived in the final days. In addition, the statue does not offer a place for the handful of major empires that have risen and fallen since the Roman Empire. These many empires would have to be squeezed into the ankles. Even if a future empire arises by the name of the "Roman Empire" it would be difficult to see it as a continuation of the original Roman Empire. An empire is not defined by a name, nor is it defined by a race, or even a geographical region - but by a succession of rulers aligned with a particular governmental system. Even though the statue's feet have a slightly different composition than the the iron legs, there is no reason to see the feet as a distinct manifestation of this kingdom. In fact, the passage clearly indicates that the legs and feet each signify unique aspects of the same kingdom. The iron legs reflect the kingdom's power, while the mixed feet reflect the fact that the kingdom's strength will be fragmented into strong and weak regions. Both are true at the same time. As far as the ten toes, there is no indication that they represent anything. Divisions within this kingdom are represented by the clay and iron, not by the number of digits on the foot.
The best interpretation of the vision is the simplest one. Instead of imagining a scenario where the Roman Empire still exists long after it fell, we can look back to an event that took place during the historical Roman Empire - the rock of ages came from heaven and established his Kingdom on earth. The idea that the Kingdom of God arrived with Jesus during the Roman empire is consistent with the testimony of John the Baptist “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15) Also Jesus said “The Kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt. 12:28) And “the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21).
The Kingdom of God simply refers to God's authority and rulership in and through His people. The Kingdom is where the King is. Even though Jesus is not physically here on earth, He is no less present. Even though He is not sitting on a physical throne on earth, He is sitting on a throne in heaven, and is reigning over all the earth. Even though there are still many people who have not submitted to the King's authority, this does not mean that Jesus is not reigning over everything and everybody. Again, Ephesians 1:22,23 affirms that "He (the Father) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus') feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." God's people are currently "delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved son." (Col. 1:13).
So, what does it mean for us to pray "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven"? Notice the close correlation between God's will being done and the Kingdom coming. This was a reality the disciples could pray for and actually participate in. The Greek word for "come" can mean "show itself, find place or influence**." Whenever God's will is being done, God's Kingdom manifests itself. Matthew 11:12 indicates that the Kingdom is advancing. It is God's will for his people to advance his Kingdom by being vehicles for his Kingdom to come into the dark places of this world. While this Kingdom will take a giant leap forward when Jesus physically returns to earth, it is no less a current reality. Jesus truly is King of Kings.
*Nigel Rogers, 2008
**Strong's G2064, erchomai