The Announced Kingdom: The Two Phases of the Messianic Reign
Introduction: The Law of the Good News
Jesus began His public ministry with a single, overriding message that immediately tied Him to the Old Testament prophets and the expectation of national restoration: the Kingdom of God had arrived. His entire ministry—the teachings, the parables, and the miracles—was a demonstration and announcement of the Kingdom’s presence. However, the Kingdom He announced was not the immediate, political overthrow of Rome the crowds expected, forcing a crucial theological distinction.
The announcement of the Kingdom is a crucial Prophetic Hotspot, differentiating between the spiritual reign in this age and the physical, global reign that will be established at The Lord’s Return.
The Foundational Story: The Law of the Nearness
The message of the Kingdom was the core of Jesus’s initial proclamation throughout Galilee:
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15, KJV)
The Dual Nature of the Kingdom
The “Kingdom of God is at hand” established the fundamental truth that the rule of God had come near, resulting in two distinct phases of the Messianic reign:
- The Kingdom “In Mystery” (The Spiritual Reign):
- The Fulfillment: This phase refers to the present, spiritual rule of Christ in the hearts of believers and in His Church. The Kingdom is present spiritually but not yet visibly, like a tiny seed or leaven (Matthew 13). This phase is characterized by the Law of Internal Transformation—the Kingdom works through the New Covenant, changing hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.
- The Law of Entry: The requirement for entry is repentance and faith, just as John the Baptist and Jesus preached (Mark 1:15).
- The Kingdom “In Power” (The Physical Reign):
- The Fulfillment: This phase refers to the future, global, visible reign of Christ upon the earth, fulfilling the Davidic Covenant and the Old Testament prophecies of worldwide peace (Isaiah 2:2-4, KJV). This will be an actual political and governmental reign centered in Jerusalem, lasting 1,000 years (The Millennial Kingdom).
- The Law of Manifest Sovereignty: This reign will be established by force and judgment—the physical return of the King.
Prophetic Hotspot: The Rejected Invitation
The rejection of Christ by the nation of Israel at His first coming did not nullify the Kingdom prophecies; it postponed the visible, political phase and initiated the current spiritual phase (the Church Age).
- The Postponement of the Throne: The physical throne of David will not be fully occupied in power until the King returns. The parables of the landowner and the wedding feast illustrate the judgment on those who rejected the invitation to the King’s banquet, confirming that the ultimate fulfillment of the promise lies ahead.
- The Lord’s Return as Climax: The Lord’s Return is the exact moment the “Kingdom in Mystery” gives way to the “Kingdom in Power.” Christ will then destroy the final Gentile powers, raise the righteous to rule with Him, and enforce His sovereignty globally, establishing the Law of God over all the earth.
The Return Question: Which Phase Defines You?
The invitation to the Kingdom is both an immediate spiritual command (to repent and believe) and a future hope (to reign with Him). Rejecting the spiritual phase now means missing the physical phase later.
If the whole of the Gospel is the good news of the Kingdom, which requires immediate spiritual submission in the present age, are we, the believers awaiting The Lord’s Return, focused only on the visible signs of the future Kingdom, or are we actively living under the internal, spiritual rule of Christ now, demonstrating the justice and peace that will ultimately define His physical reign on earth?