Part 1: A Created Kingdom

The Kingdom of God

Matthew 6:9–10 LSB

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:33 LSB

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Mark 10:15 LSB

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

John 3:3 LSB

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Acts 28:31 LSB

preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, unhindered.

Revelation 12:10 LSB

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Why Study the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God was the focal point of Jesus’ teaching (all 4 Gospels)

The Kingdom of God was central to the early apostolic preaching (Acts)

The Kingdom of God is one of the great themes of Scripture - from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22

The Kingdom of God has profound implications for Christians, as we are exhorted to walk “worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom” (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

Despite the abundance of the Bible’s teaching, the Kingdom of God is the subject of much confusion & difference of opinion, between Christians as well as cults/nonorthodox movements

Questions about the Kingdom of God

Who rules the Kingdom? God the Father, or Jesus Christ, or the saints?

Who is are its citizens? The Church? Israel? Gentiles?

What is its nature? Spiritual or physical (or both)?

When is/was the Kingdom established? Now, or in the future (or both)?

Where is it? Earth, Heaven, or in our hearts?

Why a Kingdom? What are God’s revealed intentions?

How will the Kingdom be established? Through our efforts, or God’s (or both)?

What is a Kingdom?

Ruler - an individual or individuals that are sovereign over the kingdom’s affairs

Right - (to rule); an authority possessed by, or that validates, the ruler (king)

Realm - a domain that belongs to the kingdom

Reality - the actual reigning activity of the rightful king over the realm

Kingdom Vocabulary

Kingdom of God (65)

Kingdom of Heaven (31)

Kingdom of Christ and God (1)

Gospel [good news] of the kingdom (3)

The everlasting kingdom (5*)

* or “everlasting dominion”

A kingdom which shall never be destroyed (1)

Kingdom Vocabulary (Cont)

King (2,288)

Kingdom (364)

Reign (178)

Throne (169)

Prince (168)

Authority (112)

Rule (85)

Crown (63)

Palace (41)

Dominion (38)

Subdue (37)

Subject (33)

Scepter (22)

Enthrone (13)

Kingdom of God in Scripture - New Testament

The term “kingdom of God” (AKA “kingdom of heaven”) appears first in the Gospels - especially Matthew - in the teaching of Jesus

Jesus made frequent references and comparisons to the kingdom in his preaching and his parables - he preached the “gospel of the kingdom” (Matt 4:23, 9:35, etc)

The Apostles continued the preaching of the kingdom (e.g, Acts 14:22, 19:8, 28:31)

The epistles do not use the term as frequently, but it appears in the letters to the Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Hebrews, 2 Peter, and in Revelation

Jesus and the NT authors do not (re)define the kingdom - rather, they assume its knowledge & describe/proclaim its reality. Thus, the New Testament builds upon previous revelation from the Old Testament

Kingdom of God in Scripture - Old Testament

The technical term “kingdom of God” does not appear in the Old Testament. However, the language of royalty, dominion, and kingship are found throughout the Hebrew Bible, including prophecies of a coming kingdom under God’s chosen ruler

The major messianic poetic passages in the Old Testament are focused on the idea of a Messianic Kingdom (Genesis 49, Numbers 24, Deuteronomy 32)

Daniel prophecies “the God of heaven will cause a kingdom to rise up which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44)

Jesus frequently alluded to Daniel’s prophecies (Matt 24:15, 24:30, 26:64, Mark 13:14, 13:26, Luke 21:27) and the phrases “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of Heaven” are a direct link to Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2

Kingdom of God in Scripture - Old Testament (Cont)

The Old Testament prophets and psalmists frequently connect their proclamations of the kingdom with the doctrine of creation

Psalm 93:1: “Yahweh reigns, He is clothed with majesty; Yahweh has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken.”

Psalm 96:10: “Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns; Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken; He will render justice to the peoples with equity.””

2 Kings 19:15: “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.”

Thus, a study of God’s kingdom program must begin at The Beginning: Genesis

Kingdom of God in Creation

Genesis 1:1–25 LSB

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the expanse and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. And God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. And God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. So God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and also the stars. And God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the expanse of the heavens.” And God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

Kingdom of God in Creation

The opening verses of Genesis 1 immediately establish that God (אֱלֹהִים) is the self-existent, independent, and absolute sovereign Ruler

God’s Right to rule is established by his status as creator of all things

““Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” - Revelation 4:11

The “heavens and the Earth” (הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ) constitute a Realm over which God is the indisputable king

God’s repeated acts of creation (בָּרָא, עָשָׂה) by speaking things into existence demonstrate the Reality of his created kingdom (see John 1:1-3)

The Kingdom of God in the Creation Account

Ruler: God

Right: Right of Creation

Realm: Heavens and the Earth

Reality: Acts of creation by the spoken Word

The Image of the King

Genesis 1:26–31 LSB

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given to you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has the fruit of the tree yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that creeps on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

On the 6th Day, God declares his intention to create “Adam” (אָדָם)

God’s stated purpose for creating man in his image: to rule the Earthly creation

“Image” (צֶלֶם) - Mankind is created as God’s standard-bearer (2 Cor 4:4); his royal representative; a co-regent; a vassal king

“Likeness” (דְּמוּת) - Mankind “resembles” God, thus making God’s Ruling attributes visible within the physical creation (Romans 1:20, James 3:9)

Man has both spiritual & physical aspects: made from dust, “breathed” to life by God

Both male and female are included in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:27) - diversity & unity

The Commission to Rule

Mankind (male & female - note the plural) were given a twofold mandate:

Be fruitful (פְּר֥וּ)- Imperative; God’s intention was for man and woman to reproduce, and for their children to populate and subdue (מִלְא֥וּ) the Earth

Have dominion (רְד֞וּ) - Imperative; God desired that man would rule and reign over his creation, giving them both preeminence and responsibility over it

The Dominion Mandate is encompassed by a creation blessing (see 1:22), and included the provision of food (necessary for fulfillment of man’s commission)

Following the climax of the creation and commissioning of his chosen rulers, God exults over his finished work: וְהִנֵּה־טֹ֖וב מְאֹ֑ד - “Behold! It [is] very good!”

Genesis 2:1–25 LSB

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. And on the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created in making it. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made earth and heaven. Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet grown, for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. But a stream would rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being. And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground Yahweh God caused to grow every tree that is desirable in appearance and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that went around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. Now the gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. And the name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that went around the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is Tigris; it is the one that went east of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. Then Yahweh God took the man and set him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. And Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may surely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it; for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Then Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And out of the ground Yahweh God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and He brought each to the man to see what he would call it; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. And the man gave names to all the cattle and to the birds of the sky and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And Yahweh God fashioned the rib, which He had taken from the man, into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This one finally is bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called Woman, Because this one was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Universal vs Mediated Kingdom: Two Aspects of God’s Rule

The Bible is clear that God is the one and only sovereign over all of creation and throughout all history - in that sense, he is the ultimate King and all things are under his dominion

However, from the first chapter of Genesis, God reveals his intention to have a domain that is ruled over by his representative - a mediator king

In both aspects, the Right to rule, the choosing of the Ruler, and the Realm come from God himself - however, they differ in terms of how the Reality plays out

These two aspects are sometimes referred to as the “Universal Kingdom” of God, vs the “Mediatorial Kingdom” (also the “Eternal Kingdom” vs “Temporal Kingdom”*)

* “Temporal” meaning in relation to time/history - not “temporary”

The Mediatorial Kingdom - God’s Rule Located in God’s Creation

The Mediatorial Kingdom exists in time and space (Genesis 2:8, Ezekiel 37:25, Micah 4:8)

The Kingdom’s rulers are human beings - creature among creatures (Genesis 1:26)

The Kingdom (and its Ruler) is both a physical and spiritual reality (Genesis 2:7)

The Kingdom exhibits God’s glory both by its creation as well as in its administration by God’s chosen King (Genesis 1:31, Psalm 8:5, Psalm 19)

The Kingdom is unconditional - yet its realization and blessing are conditioned on faith, as evidenced by obedience (Gen 2:16-17)

The Mediatorial Kingdom of God in Genesis

Ruler: Mankind (male & female) made in the Image of God

Right: The Dominion Mandate (given by God)

Realm: The Earth (created by God)

Reality: Mankind’s superiority over the animal kingdom (Genesis 2:20); creativity (Genesis 2:19); productivity (Genesis 2:15); perception of God through creation (Romans 1:20); the Kingdom is unconditional (Gen 1:28), yet faithful obedience required for continued blessing and habitation (Gen 2:16-17)

Psalm 8: David’s Wonder at the Mediatorial Kingdom

Psalm 8 LSB

For the choir director. According to the Gittith. A Psalm of David. O Yahweh, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who displays Your splendor above the heavens! From the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have established; What is man that You remember him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O Yahweh, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

David expresses amazement that a God whose glory is above that of the heavens (הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם) would stoop down to concern himself with mankind - thus, he recognizes God’s status as supreme Ruler over creation

David reiterates the Dominion mandate (Genesis 1:28) in order to explain this paradox - man’s status as Ruler flows from God’s own creation intent

David emphasizes that it is man - and the son of man - that posses the Right to this dominion over God’s created kingdom - even though it is clear that man (at present) does not rule creation fully as God intended (Hebrews 2:8)

Note that man’s inability to exercise dominion as God intended (due to sin and the Fall), does not excuse him from this role - “You make him to rule…” (תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ)

The Mediatorial Kingdom of God in Genesis

Ruler: Mankind (male & female) made in the Image of God

Right: The Dominion Mandate (given by God)

Realm: The works of God’s hands (Psalm 8:6)

Reality: Mankind’s superiority over the animal kingdom (Genesis 2:20); creativity (Genesis 2:19); productivity (Genesis 2:15); perception of God through creation (Romans 1:20); the Kingdom is unconditional (Gen 1:28), yet faithful obedience required for continued blessing and habitation (Gen 2:16-17)

The Messianic Destiny of the Created Kingdom

Hebrews 1:1-14; 2:5-13 “For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels—Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being…”

The author of Hebrews presents Jesus Christ as the ideal man, the literal fulfillment of Psalm 8’s Mediated Kingdom Ruler over the works of God’s hands

Christ’s right to rule the Mediated Kingdom is connected to his humanity and to his sharing in the condition of the Kingdom’s fallen Rulers (2:10, 14)

Christ condescended (Philippians 2:7) to redeem and rescue fallen mankind, yet his humanity and physical nature are connected with “glory and honor” - Christ’s atoning death restores mankind to their created design, with Christ himself taking on the role of the “Last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45)

Implications of the Created Kingdom

All of creation is ultimately subject to the Creator God

God’s creation intention is a revealed order that is binding upon his creatures

God created mankind (male and female) as his chosen Rulers over all of his works

God’s created kingdom had both physical and spiritual aspects, working in perfect harmony - no conflict between or within the natural or heavenly realms

The created kingdom was a place where God and man were to enjoy fellowship, as mankind ruled and subdued creation according to God’s design, revealing ever more of God’s goodness and glory

Conclusions

Genesis 1-2 describe the beginning of God’s Kingdom program, a theme which will continue through the Bible

God’s creation intent was to have a Mediated Kingdom, with both spiritual and physical aspects, located on Earth, administered by his chosen Ruler and bearer of his divine Image

Mankind is uniquely qualified as the bearers of God’s Image, representing God’s attributes before all of creation, with both the diversity of male and female and the unity of the marriage covenant, through which they would multiply children and expand the Kingdom

This period of Edenic perfection & completeness was short-lived, yet God has not given up on his Kingdom program - it persists till this day (Psalm 8, Hebrews 2, etc), and it will be accomplished, through God’s chosen ruler and Image-bearer, the Seed: Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:15–20 LSB

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Psalm 8:3 “When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have established;”

Psalm 8:4 “What is man that You remember him, And the son of man that You care for him?”

Psalm 8:5-6 “Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”

Psalm 8:7-9 “All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O Yahweh, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!”