The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of Heaven as the book of Matthew refers to it, is mentioned throughout the gospel accounts.  But it is mentioned in various ways, such as in parables, and in difficult language, and so it is easy to have a rather vague concept of what it is.

To understand what the kingdom of God is, it helps to consider some other well-established kingdoms or classifications.  Going back to Carl Linnaeus, who lived in the 1700’s, science has classified nature into three kingdoms, the mineral kingdom which consists of inorganic (non-living) objects, the plant kingdom, and the animal kingdom.  Humans get lumped into the animal kingdom by evolutionists, but they can be considered a separate kingdom, the human kingdom.  Then there is the angelic realm, of which science has nothing to say, but the Bible speaks of angels, powerful spirit beings, created by God.  This angelic realm can be classified as the angelic kingdom.  Finally, there is the God kingdom, or the kingdom of God.

Of course, there is more to the kingdom of God than a mere classification, but it serves as a good starting point in understanding what the kingdom of God is.  Let’s now delve a little deeper.

Jesus and His disciples preached the kingdom of God

The message that Jesus Christ and His disciples preached was the good news of the kingdom of God.  Here are some Scriptures showing that Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Mar 1:14  Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Luk 4:43  but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Luk 8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

Luk 9:11  But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

The disciples also preached the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Mat 10:7  And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Luk 9:2  He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Luk 9:60  Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

The apostle Paul also preached the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Act 20:25  “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

Act 28:31  preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

What did they say about the kingdom of God?

We can also inherit and receive the kingdom of God

One of the things the apostles preached about the kingdom of God is that humans can inherit and receive it.

Heb 12:28  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Jas 2:5  Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

We can enter the kingdom of God

Another thing Jesus and the apostles preached about the kingdom of God is that humans can enter it. 

Mat 5:20  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 21:31  Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

Mar 9:47  And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—

Act 14:22  strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

This is astounding news.  A plant cannot enter the animal kingdom, nor an animal enter the human kingdom.  Yet, it is possible for humans to enter the God kingdom.  But how?

We must be born of Spirit to enter kingdom of God

God is spirit.

Joh 4:24  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Humans are material or physical.  Therefore, for humans to enter the kingdom of God they must become spirit.  This is what Jesus explained to Nicodemus.  Jesus explained that a person must be born again or born of spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Joh 3:4  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Note that Jesus said, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”.  When a person is born of the Spirit, he become spirit, like God.  The apostle Paul also explained that we cannot enter the kingdom of God as flesh and blood beings.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

It is becoming spirit that allows a person to enter the kingdom of God.  For more information on this see, “What does ‘Born Again’ mean?”

What must we do to enter the kingdom of God?

The Bible is clear that salvation is a gift.

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

However, there are certain things we must do to enter the kingdom of God, that is to receive salvation.

We must obey God.  It is not enough just to acknowledge God and say, “Lord, Lord”.

Mat 7:21  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

We must be converted and become like little children.  To be converted means to repent and change.  Little children are known for being humble and teachable, so that is the attitude we need.

Mat 18:3  and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mar 10:14  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:15  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

We must change our behaviour to enter the kingdom of God.

1Co 6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
1Co 6:10  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is difficult to enter if you are rich

Jesus said that the kingdom of God was difficult to enter if you are rich.  It is difficult because a rich person might have to give up his riches, status, fame, and approval from the world.

Mar 10:23  Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
Mar 10:24  And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness because it is the way to eternal life and therefore the most important thing in our physical lives.

Mat 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be in the kingdom of God

We are told that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 8:11  And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

At the last trumpet they will be raised from their graves.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

What did Jesus mean by, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”?

Jesus said to the people of His time that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 3:2  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

He also said similar things, the kingdom of God has come upon you, and the kingdom of God has come near to you.

Mat 12:28  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luk 10:9  And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
…
Luk 10:11  ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’

Jesus Christ is King of kings. 

Rev 17:14  These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Jesus Christ is the king of the kingdom of God.  By saying that the kingdom of heaven is at hand He meant that the king of the kingdom of God was at hand.  He had come upon them or come near to them.  Jesus said a similar thing in Luke 17:21.

Luk 17:21  nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you [in your midst].”

The phrase “is within you” is a poor translation.  A much better one is “in your midst” which several translations have such as the “English Standard Version” and the “Literal Translation of the Bible”.

The kingdom of God grows

There are several parables that explain the kingdom of God grows.  It grows like a mustard seed or leaven.

Mat 13:31  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
Mat 13:32  which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Mat 13:33  Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

The kingdom of God grows like seed growing into crops.

Mar 4:26  And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
Mar 4:27  and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
Mar 4:28  For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
Mar 4:29  But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

This ties into the dream king Nebuchadnezzar had of a great image of a man.

Dan 2:31  “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
Dan 2:33  its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan 2:34  You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

The statue represented four kingdoms starting with king Nebuchadnezzar and ending when Jesus Christ returns.

Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

When Jesus Christ returns with the resurrected saints, they will replace the various kings and kingdoms (rulers and governments) of this world. 

Rev 11:15  Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

The stone that struck the image and filled the whole earth represents God’s government on earth in the form of Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints, that will fill the earth as portrayed in the parable of the mustard seed. 

Dan 7:27  Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

All physical humans on the earth will be governed by Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints.  There will be righteousness, peace, and joy.

Rom 14:17  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

There will be no more wars, famines, misery, disease, and poverty, as we have under human governments. 

After the thousand years there will a new heaven and earth, because this physical world is only temporary.

Rev 21:1  Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Conclusion

The kingdom of God is the realm of beings that are God-like.  At the moment, that is just God the Father and Jesus Christ.  But at the last trump, when the dead in Christ are resurrected, the kingdom of God will grow substantially, as those resurrected enter the kingdom as spirit God-like beings.  The kingdom of God will rule the earth for 1000 years, at the end of which many, many, more people will enter the kingdom of God.  For more information see, “What are the three resurrections?”.