At the beginning of the anticipated 1000-year millennial reign, one of the Messiah's first acts will be to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth, which is a re-establishment of God's government, a restoration of what existed before Satan's rebellion. The Kingdom of God is our goal, and it is essential to understand its nature and significance. It belongs to God; He is its owner, creator, and ruler, possessing absolute sovereignty over it, admitting or barring anyone as He chooses. In the model prayer, Jesus Christ emphasizes this by saying, "Your Kingdom come," indicating a future expectation, and underscoring that it is God's Kingdom, with Him as the central focus, promoting and glorifying the King. The Kingdom of God is defined by four elements: a King, who is God, as proclaimed in various scriptures; a territory, which is the earth, as it will fill the entire earth and be the central focus of God's rule, extending to the universe He created and sustains; citizens, who are the elect, the chosen, including prophets, saints, and those who fear God's name, all considered part of the Kingdom; and a code of law, which includes the Ten Commandments, the testimony of Jesus, the scriptures, and ultimately the very character of God Himself by which He rules. The term "kingdom," from the Greek "basileia," primarily conveys an abstract concept of rule, reign, royal power, or sovereignty rather than just a physical place, though it encompasses both when Christ returns to establish it on earth. Currently, the Kingdom of God exists in heaven, not on earth, which is why Christ will return to restore it to its rightful place, as this earth is where God intends to establish His Kingdom for all time. The Kingdom is both the spiritual dominion of God, where anyone submitting to His rule becomes part of it in spirit, and a literal government that exists now in heaven and will soon be established on earth. God considers us citizens of the Kingdom even now, having translated us into it in spirit, as we are ambassadors for Christ, representing His Kingdom on earth. From His eternal perspective, God views our entrance into the Kingdom as an accomplished fact, though the process is not yet complete. Historically, physical Israel was a type of the Kingdom of God, offered a chance to be part of it physically, but they rejected God as their King, leading to the Kingdom being given to a holy nation, those redeemed as God's people. Currently, as flesh and blood, we have not inherited the Kingdom of God, yet God has legally transferred our citizenship to it, reassigning our loyalties and responsibilities from this world to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through baptism and the Holy Spirit, we are raised to newness of life in Christ, focusing on heavenly things, with our sins covered by His righteousness, hiding us in Him as we grow in godly character. God understands our human frame, offering us a training period to shape us for the Kingdom, expecting us to live by its rules as trial members under His guidance. The coming Kingdom of God is a future event awaited by all creation, yet God gives us a taste of it now through His church, a spiritual type that falls short of the fullness to come. We have tasted the heavenly gifts and the powers of the age to come, bearing a great responsibility to represent Him in this world, understanding and participating in the Kingdom in a limited way now, with the promise of knowing it in all its glory soon.

The Kingdom of God, often misunderstood, is not an invisible, ethereal quality residing within a person, but a real entity with a King, subjects, laws, and territory. Many have misinterpreted Luke 17:21, where Jesus declares, "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you," suggesting it dwells inside individuals. However, a closer examination reveals that the correct translation from the Greek word "entos" is "among" or "in the midst of," especially when used with a plural noun. Jesus spoke to a crowd of Pharisees, His bitter enemies, making it implausible that the Kingdom would be within them. Instead, He meant that the Kingdom of God was among them, represented by Himself as its King. As the chief representative of the Kingdom of God, Jesus could assert its presence among the Pharisees. He confirmed His kingship to Pilate, stating, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." In a similar vein, He told the Pharisees in Matthew 12:28, "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you," indicating that His miracles testified to His role as the Kingdom's representative. Additionally, when sending out the seventy disciples in Luke 10:9, He instructed them to say, "The kingdom of God has come near to you," referring to the imminence of the Kingdom in time, not proximity in place. Addressing the Pharisees' question about when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus clarified that they would not discern its arrival because they failed to recognize Him as its representative among them. To His disciples, He provided detailed insights into the timing and conditions of establishing His Kingdom at His second coming. He warned against deception about His return, emphasized it would be unmistakable like a flash of lightning, and described the world's conditions akin to the days of Noah and Lot. His return will test the faith of His followers, requiring them to abandon everything for obedience to God. Ultimately, the Kingdom of God is a literal government to be established with power and great glory at His return, destined to grow and fill the whole earth under His rule.

The essence of Jesus Christ's message centers on the Kingdom of God. His ministry began with preaching repentance and the good news of this Kingdom. His forerunner, John the Baptist, and the apostles also proclaimed this same fundamental message. The theme of the Kingdom accompanied Paul on his travels and illuminates his epistles. Grasping God's purpose for humanity starts with comprehending the Kingdom of God. The Greek word for kingdom, basileia, means dominion, though its application varies. One usage is future-oriented, reflecting the hope of Christ's return to rule over the earth. The Kingdom of God is also a present spiritual reality, where those called by God in this age are figuratively translated into that Kingdom, even as they live in the world. God exercises dominion over the church, making it a component, though not the fullness, of the Kingdom now. Another usage refers to Christ Himself as the King of His Kingdom, as when He told the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God was in their midst. Additionally, basileia appears in a parable where Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God being taken from a nation and given to another bearing its fruits, referring to a dominion then in existence.

Jesus Christ died for us so we might be children of His Kingdom. He lived and died for His Kingdom, embodying the ultimate sacrifice for its sake. As children of God, destined to be kings and priests in God's Kingdom, we are called to be willing to die, if need be, for that same Kingdom, of which we are citizens and ambassadors for Christ. Christ openly proclaimed His role and the coming Kingdom of God, teaching about its way of life and its establishment on earth. His ministry began with preaching about the Kingdom in Galilee, emphasizing its significance. In the Sermon on the Mount, He spoke of the Kingdom of God as the Kingdom of Heaven, coming from heaven to earth, where the humble and teachable will inherit the earth. Through parables like the Mustard Seed, He taught that the Kingdom would start small but grow large, and in the Parable of the Pounds, He showed that our performance in this life determines our reward and rule in God's Kingdom. He also taught that a childlike, humble disposition is necessary to inherit God's Kingdom. When speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus declared that the Kingdom of God was among them, embodied in His teachings and works. He never missed an opportunity to speak of it. When questioned by Pilate, He affirmed, "My kingdom is not of this world," indicating it was not part of the current societal system or government, nor of that time. His Kingdom is a real government, destined to replace the world's systems, not merely a spiritual feeling or a distant place in heaven. After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days teaching His followers about matters related to the Kingdom of God, focusing on the validation and nature of His messiahship and Kingdom, the interpretation of the Old Testament through His resurrection, and the responsibility of His disciples to bear witness to these truths. The true Christian church responds obediently to Jesus' commission, acting on His behalf, proclaiming the coming Kingdom of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, and following the plan He set for witnessing. Isaiah's prophecy highlights five aspects of Christ's Kingdom: it will be an increasing government, continually expanding; it will be a peaceable government, ruled by love and fostering peace; it will be a rightful government, with Christ reigning on the throne of David as entitled by God the Father; it will be administered with prudence and equity, leaving no room for complaint among its subjects; and it will be an everlasting Kingdom, with unending happiness for its subjects, continuing eternally even when delivered to God the Father. As members of God's church, we have the duty to teach and witness about the coming Kingdom of God and God's way of life, preparing ourselves for leadership in the Millennium. Christian martyrs lose their lives for God's truth and way of life, a righteous path that prepares us for the Kingdom of God, demonstrating the ultimate conviction and love for Christ.

Biblically, the phrase Kingdom of Heaven describes God's dominion in various senses. When Jesus spoke to Judah's leaders or the multitudes, the Kingdom of Heaven referred to the nation founded by God through Abraham, where His rulership is evident in the patriarch and his descendants. Jesus prophesied in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers that the Kingdom of God would be taken from Judah's leaders and given to a nation bearing its fruits, pointing to the church as a holy nation. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, the Kingdom's humble beginning with Abraham by faith is depicted as a plant that grows mightily, yet ends with birds, symbolizing satan and demons, nesting in its branches, revealing the spiritually unclean state of the Kingdom during Jesus' time. Conversely, the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price portrays the Kingdom as a singular, precious gem of supreme value, sought and purchased by a merchant, representing Jesus Christ, who sacrificed everything to acquire this spiritual nation marked by purity and worth. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure further illustrates the Kingdom as containing God-given faith hidden within, solved by His intervention to foster true belief among some. Jesus, as the merchant, gave up His divine position and life to purchase this unique spiritual nation, proving its great worth through the active faith within it. He prophesies that this group, the church, will receive the Kingdom. The Parable of the Dragnet, paired with the Wheat and Tares, emphasizes the Kingdom's gathering at the end of the age, where a sorting of the righteous and wicked occurs, teaching that God's judgment is not based on race or ethnicity but on spiritual condition. The gospel of the Kingdom requires spiritual healing and a divine gift to understand its mysteries, as only those with God-given understanding can truly receive the Word of the Kingdom.

The immigration challenges in Europe serve as a contrasting lesson for those seeking to enter the Kingdom of God. God's Word reveals that we have already been transferred into His Kingdom, as God has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Yet, we are not in His Kingdom in its fullness, as it is not yet established on earth, and flesh and blood cannot inherit it. We are heirs, not yet inheritors, but our citizenship is already in heaven, where the Kingdom resides at this time. At Christ's return, the firstfruits will be resurrected or changed, and will rule with Him in the Kingdom established on earth, fully entering its entirety. The analogy of immigration helps illustrate aspects of the Kingdom of God. We have been given an application for citizenship in that Kingdom, a privilege we could not request on our own, as the government of the Kingdom tightly controls the process. Ultimately, all mankind will have the opportunity to emigrate from satan's domain into the Kingdom of God, but initially, only a select number will complete the application process. Unlike Europe, God does not open the door for all to enter at once. In His Kingdom, harmony and order will prevail because all applicants have abandoned their former ways and adopted God's culture. The function of law in the Kingdom of God is not to grant citizenship but to guide behavior and define acceptable conduct for peace and order. Keeping God's laws does not guarantee full entrance, as citizenship is entirely His decision. However, certain behaviors can result in refusal of entry or expulsion. Specific sins are listed as disqualifiers for entering the Kingdom, though these lists are not exhaustive. God has defined His culture broadly, seeking citizens who are conformed to His way of life, not merely those avoiding specific wrongs. God will not permit parallel cultures or lawless areas in His Kingdom. He desires heirs in His image, whose way of thinking, living, and behaving aligns with what He has revealed. If what we bring into the Kingdom does not fit His culture, He will not grant entrance, avoiding the strife and division that conflicting cultures create. As heirs of His eternal Kingdom, our duty is to examine our lives to ensure our culture is compatible with His, preventing the risk of creating a parallel society within His Kingdom.