Kingdom of God
A study of the family and government of God, Christ's coming world-ruling Kingdom, the thousand-year reign, the resurrection of the saints, the Great White Throne Judgment and the ultimate expansion of God's family throughout the universe.
The Kingdom of God is the government of God ruled by the family of God. It will be the world-ruling government set up by Jesus Christ upon His return. Jesus Christ will be the King of Kings and will rule with the resurrected spirit-composed saints. The Kingdom of God will be established on earth for a thousand years following Christ's return and shall be complete when New Jerusalem and God the Father come down out of heaven to dwell on the New Earth.
The Family and Government of God
In its narrowest sense, the Kingdom of God is the immediate family of God, presently consisting of the Father and Jesus Christ. In a broader sense, it includes everything under God's sovereignty and control. Prophetically, however, the lesson emphasizes the coming world-ruling government God will establish on earth at Christ's return.
Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints will rule the nations during the thousand-year period. The spiritual members of that government are described as born-again, spirit-composed sons of God who become part of God's family and eventually share rulership over the universe.
The Old Testament prophets repeatedly anticipated this Kingdom. Isaiah and Micah describe God's government going forth from Zion, nations learning God's ways and warfare ending as swords are turned into agricultural tools. The patriarchs likewise looked forward to a better country and the city God had prepared.
Jesus Christ was part of God's family from eternity. He became human to announce the coming Kingdom, qualify as its King and make entry into that Kingdom possible through His death and resurrection. Because the King Himself stood among them, Jesus could tell His contemporaries that the Kingdom was “in the midst” of them.
The gospel—the good news—centers on the coming Kingdom of God, how it will be established and how mankind may enter it as sons of God. Christ became the firstborn member of the prophetic spiritual Kingdom through His resurrection.
Christians who have God's Spirit are already associated with the Kingdom in an anticipatory sense, but flesh and blood cannot fully inherit it. Entry into the spiritual Kingdom requires the change from mortal to immortal at the resurrection.
The lesson emphasizes that God's Kingdom is literal. Daniel describes it replacing the kingdoms of this world, and it will possess the normal elements of a kingdom: territory, laws, subjects and rulers.
During the Millennium, God's government will reshape human society. Warfare will cease, God's law will be taught, nations will learn His ways, the environment will be restored, and people will have an opportunity to receive God's Spirit and participate in the Salvation Process.
At the end of the thousand years comes the Great White Throne Judgment, also identified in the lesson with the Second Resurrection. Those who previously lived without a full opportunity for salvation will be resurrected to physical life and given that opportunity.
After this phase, the lesson looks to the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem. God the Father will dwell with Christ and the enlarged divine family. Revelation describes a future without death, mourning, pain or the curse, and God's servants reigning forever.
The ultimate purpose is the expansion of God's family. Human beings are presented as having been created to grow toward divine sonship, becoming qualitatively like God while remaining forever under the supreme authority of the Father and Christ.
What Scripture Reveals About God's Kingdom
The Family of God
The Kingdom is first and foremost God's family, presently revealed as the Father and Jesus Christ.
A Literal World-Ruling Kingdom
Christ's return will establish an actual government on earth with territory, laws, subjects and rulers.
Kings and Priests With Christ
The resurrected saints will rule with Christ over the physical nations during the Millennium.
A Thousand Years of Restoration
God's laws and way of life will reshape human society, bringing peace, learning and restoration.
The Great White Throne Judgment
At the end of the Millennium those without a previous full opportunity for salvation will be resurrected.
The New Earth and an Expanding Family
God's plan culminates with New Jerusalem, the Father dwelling with His family and rulership extending forever.
From Christ's Return to Eternity
Lesson Five presents the Kingdom as developing in stages—from the return of Christ through the Millennium, the Second Resurrection and ultimately the New Heaven and New Earth.
Jesus Christ returns as King, replacing human government with the government of God.
The dead in Christ are raised and the faithful are changed to spirit to reign with Him.
Christ and the saints rule the physical nations for one thousand years.
God's law is taught, warfare ends and human society is progressively brought into harmony with God's way.
Those who never had a full opportunity for salvation are raised to physical life during the Great White Throne Judgment.
The physical phase gives way to the fully spiritual Kingdom and New Jerusalem descends from heaven.
God the Father and Christ rule together with the enlarged family of God.
The lesson anticipates God's government and family continuing to expand, with no end to the increase of His government and peace.
Read These Scriptures in Your Own Bible
Questions
All 42 review questions are displayed in full. Complete them before opening the answer key below.
Which word best completes this sentence: The Kingdom of God is the _________ of God.
- a) government of God
- b) family of God
- c) creation of God
It is also the coming ruling government of God which begins _______ [when?]
The Kingdom of God was first preached by _______ [whom?]
During the 1,000-year reign of Christ who rules with Him?
The Family of God currently has ___ [how many] members?
In the more general sense, the Kingdom of God includes what?
- a) the earth
- b) all nations
- c) just the US and UK
- d) the entire universe
The Old Testament never speaks about the Kingdom of God. True or False?
Complete this verse: “For out of Zion shall go forth ______” [what?]
Jesus Christ was a member of God’s family, of the godhead from _______ [what?]
To become human, Jesus Christ divested Himself of _______ [what?]
The announcement of the coming Kingdom of God is referred to as the ____ ____ or the _____. [what?]
Christ, through death became the _____ member [what?] of this prophetic spiritual Kingdom?
To be in the Kingdom of God we must do what?
Today, members of the Body of Christ already have the essence of the Kingdom dwelling in them. True or False?
Can humans, in human bodies, be in the Kingdom of God? Yes or No?
Complete this verse: “Unless one is born of _____ and the _____, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
God’s Kingdom on earth is indeed a kingdom in every sense having what 4 elements?
The first to enter the Kingdom of God after Christ will be those resurrected at what time?
Finish this verse: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign __ ___ _____” [where?]
Christ and the resurrected saints shall rule over human beings and physical nations for 1,000 years. True or False?
What book and chapter speaks to a new covenant with the House of Israel where God speaks to writing His Law on their hearts?
According to Isaiah 11, in God’s Kingdom the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth like what?
Some will be afraid in God’s Kingdom during the 1,000-year reign of Christ. True or False?
In the 1,000-year reign of Christ, there will be few animals left on the earth. True or False?
All nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles during the reign of Christ. True or False?
There is strong indication in the Bible that Jesus will do away with the arts and sciences during His reign. True or False?
Jesus will be involved in what we call “high technology” during His reign? True or False?
Immigration will still be an element all nations will deal with in Christ’s reign. True or False?
No children will be born during the reign of the Christ. True or False?
Not all humans will receive an opportunity to enter the Salvation Process. True or False?
What great event takes place at the end of the 1,000 years?
According to Acts 3:21, the reformation of heaven and earth is part of ___________ [what?]
Revelation 21 speaks of a new Jerusalem. From where will it come?
What two beings will live in this new city?
For how long will Almighty God and the Lamb rule from earth?
Speaking to a time after the White Throne Judgment and on into eternity Isaiah 9:6-7 says, “of the increase of His government and Peace there shall be __ ___” [what?]
This is a four-part True and False question:
- a) The Creator of the Universe is the one who became Jesus. True or False?
- b) Jesus is equal with God. True or False?
- c) We are joint-heirs with Christ. True or False?
- d) Whatever glory God the Father has given Christ, Christ shall eventually give to us. True or False?
As we are changed to spirit beings, we can look forward to becoming part of the cosmic consciousness, absorbed by infinite intelligence and swallowed up in universal love. True or False?
As spirit beings we shall retain our own unique personality, memories, abilities, preferences and ideas. True or False?
Which is correct, a) or b):
- a) As spirit beings in the Family of God we become quantitatively equal with God but not qualitatively equal with God.
- b) As spirit beings in the Family of God we become qualitatively equal with God but not quantitatively equal with God.
When we become a member of the God Family, each of us shall generate eternal life intrinsically within ourselves. True or False?
God the Father is…
- a) greater than Christ
- b) equal to Christ
- c) lesser than Christ
