This was presented this way in Sunday service by our ministry pastor, and since I am not fond of her approach or her teaching, I just wanted to check and balance myself. In the Lord’s Prayer, is this saying let your kingdom reign now, let heaven be brought to earth through us according to Your will? Or is it saying to let your millennial rule on earth come and make heaven on earth real according to Your will? I always thought the second one, but don’t want to cut short my learning or understanding because of some personal differences?
Thanks Tim!
Kathy
A. The best quote I can give you Kathy is: John 18:36 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 is my kingdom not from hence. and yet the Lord told us to pray: Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Since Jesus knew His kingdom existed then as it does now, then it most likely isn’t the Kingdom we are praying for to come. Right?
Notice the way that Paul wrote these verses and see if you catch what he’s saying. 1st Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The Kingdom of God comes in the end and we’ll be delivered to it.
So when we see references to Christs Kingdom, we see verses like in the book of Revelation where John says: Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Mentioning the Kingdom of Christ Jesus, which consists of those who’ve made Him Lord of their lives. There is a distinct difference here in kingdoms because those who are Blood bought and Saved are in the Spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ which will not end at the last of the 1000 years but be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth where God the Father will be with us forever and ever.
The final is where the Kingdom of God is complete and it is a literal physical Kingdom. This is the one we’re praying to come. This is the time when peace will reign through out all of Gods creation. The Word promises us that even the wildlife will live in peace together, not just in the millennial reign, but in the new kingdom to come. The New Heaven, New Earth, and the New Jerusalem! “The lion shall lie down with the lamb. (Isaiah 11:6)” Peace even in the animal kingdom… Can you imagine that?
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.