The Old Testament Prophets foretold the coming of the Kingdom of God; and in the fullness of time Christ appeared, bringing the message of the Kingdom.  God also sent His messenger, the prophet John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the King.  John declared, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).  Jesus, likewise proclaimed this message (see Matthew 4:17).

The Kingdom of God as promised has come to us in power; but it has not come as man expected.  In the Gospel of Luke the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come.  Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  Neither shall they say, Lo Here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). 

When a special event occurs, such as an Inauguration of a new President, we observe it.  It is a date on the calendar.  There is a transfer of power and a transition into a new administration.  When a king or queen comes to power there is a Coronation with great pomp.  Jesus, however, says the Kingdom of God comes without observation. The Kingdom of God comes to us when we receive the Holy Spirit into our hearts by faith.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Rome, “the Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).  The Kingdom of God is within us, in our hearts; and we live in the Kingdom of God by faith in God, in His Word, in His Gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We live under His dominion and authority.  We pray as Jesus prayed, “Thy will be done” (see Matt. 26:42).

Before Jesus ascended to heaven He gathered His disciples together.  They asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”  Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in His own authority.  But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me” (Acts 1:6-8a).

This is the invisible Kingdom of God.  Jesus spoke of this to Pontius Pilate as recorded in the Gospel of John.  Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now my kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).

The Kingdom of God is within us and it is an eternal Kingdom that cannot be shaken or removed.  The writer to the Hebrews wrote: “Wherefore, we, having received a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).

In the Gospel of Mark Jesus was asked regarding our obligations to human government authority, such as the payment of taxes.  Jesus answered them “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17).  Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to pray to our Heavenly Father, to honor Him as God for “Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen” (Matt. 6:13b).