Faith & Reason Nexus

The concept of the Kingdom is an essential aspect of Christian theology, and it is addressed in both the promise of the future Kingdom (Kingdom in Promise) and the reality of the present Kingdom (Kingdom in Existence). These two dimensions of the Kingdom are key in understanding the significance of Pentecost and how the Kingdom was inaugurated and manifested in the life of the Church.

Kingdom in Promise (Future)

The Kingdom of God was promised to Israel and to the world, pointing to a future fulfillment where God’s reign would be established fully. Several prophecies from the Old Testament and teachings of Jesus in the New Testament point toward the coming of this Kingdom, often looking forward to the day of Pentecost and beyond, when the Kingdom would be inaugurated through the work of the Holy Spirit.

• Zechariah 1:16 – “Therefore thus says the Lord: I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”
  • This prophecy speaks of God returning to His people and establishing His Kingdom in Jerusalem, which was to be fulfilled in the coming of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
• Matthew 4:17 – “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
  • Jesus heralds the arrival of the Kingdom of God, which was at hand with His coming.
• Luke 10:9 – “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
  • Jesus’ ministry brought the Kingdom near, evidenced by healing and the proclamation of God’s rule.
• Matthew 16:18 – “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
  • Jesus promises the establishment of the Church as part of the coming Kingdom, marking the beginning of the new era.
• Luke 22:16 – “For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
  • Jesus speaks of the fulfillment of the Kingdom through His sacrifice and resurrection, which would be further established through Pentecost.
• Mark 9:1 – “And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’”
  • This refers to the Kingdom’s manifestation with power, a key element of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers.
• Matthew 6:10 – “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
  • A prayer that anticipates the coming of God’s Kingdom, which was inaugurated through Christ and further established at Pentecost.
• Matthew 3:2 – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
  • John the Baptist’s proclamation of the coming Kingdom, preparing the way for Jesus and the Kingdom’s fulfillment.
• Isaiah 2:2 – “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.”
  • A prophetic vision of the future Kingdom of God, which points to the time when all nations will be brought under God’s reign, realized in part with the coming of Pentecost and the spread of the gospel.

Kingdom in Existence (Present)

The Kingdom of God is not only a future hope but also a present reality. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Kingdom was inaugurated, and it continues to exist through the Church, empowered by the Spirit.

• Acts 2:29-31 – Peter’s sermon at Pentecost speaks of the resurrection of Christ and the beginning of the Kingdom’s present existence.
• Acts 14:22 – “Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
  • This affirms the reality of the Kingdom in the present, where believers are entering into it through faith and perseverance.
• Acts 28:23 – Paul speaks of the Kingdom of God in his interactions with the Jewish leaders in Rome, emphasizing the present reality of God’s reign.
• Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
  • The Kingdom is a spiritual reality experienced in the lives of believers through the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 4:20 – “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”
  • The Kingdom is experienced through the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
• 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 – “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
  • Paul speaks of the present reign of Christ, which continues until the final victory at the end of time.
• Colossians 1:13 – “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”
  • Believers are already part of the Kingdom through their salvation in Christ.
• Hebrews 12:28 – “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”
  • The unshakable nature of God’s Kingdom is a present reality for believers.
• Revelation 1:9 – “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
  • John affirms the present existence of God’s Kingdom, even amid suffering.

Conclusion: Pentecost and the Kingdom

Pentecost marks a pivotal moment in the establishment of the Kingdom of God. While the Kingdom was promised in the Old Testament and by Jesus Himself, it was at Pentecost, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that the Kingdom was made manifest in a new and powerful way. The Holy Spirit empowered the Church to continue the work of spreading the gospel, bringing the Kingdom to life in the present. This Kingdom continues to exist among believers today, and its full realization will come in the future, when Christ returns to reign forever.