Last week we saw that the Kingdom of God was established on the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection. This event, recorded in Acts 2, certainly fits the prophetic timeframe of both Daniel 2:44 and Mark 9:1. However, there is another way to show when the Kingdom was established. A comparison of some New Testament references to the Kingdom indicates that a change did take place with the events recorded in Acts chapter two.

Before Acts 2, the Kingdom is spoken of as being at hand.

John the Baptist preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). After His baptism and temptation, Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). When Jesus first chose the twelve, He sent them out to preach, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7). Later, He sent the 70 out to preach, “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:9). “At hand” means that something is imminent, approaching or drawing near.

Jesus told a crowd, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1). The Lord indicated that the Kingdom was not present at the time He was speaking, but they were to anticipate its arrival in their lifetime.

After Acts 2, references to the Kingdom are different.

Paul said that Christians were in the Kingdom, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13).

Paul told the Thessalonians that they had been called into the Kingdom, “That you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12).

The apostle John said that he was in the kingdom, “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9).

There are some references to the Kingdom being anticipated after Acts 2. However, a close look at these verses will show that the subject under consideration is not an anticipation of an earthly kingdom, but realizing the eternal, heavenly presence of God. “For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11). “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). We may wait for a heavenly phase of the Kingdom, but that doesn’t mean the Kingdom has yet to be established. It just has yet to be delivered to God in Heaven, “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24).

Jesus established His Kingdom in the first century. While there are glorious aspects of the Kingdom yet to be realized, the Kingdom itself is here. Will you become a part of it by surrendering yourself to the reign of Christ? Obey the gospel today.