Understand God’s Kingdom, the now and the not yet.
The Kingdom of God, as revealed in Scripture, operates within a dynamic tension that I call the “already/not yet.” This biblical reality defines the Christian life in this age: the Kingdom of God has decisively broken into human history through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, yet its full consummation awaits His glorious return. This framework, drawn from passages like Matthew 12:28, Romans 8:18–25, and Revelation 21:1–5, shapes our understanding of God’s redemptive work and our call to live as faithful disciples. Allow me to define this tension clearly, that we may grasp its implications for faith and practice.
The “Now”: The Kingdom Present and Active
The “now” refers to the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom through Jesus Christ, inaugurated in His earthly ministry and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus declared, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28). This is not a future promise but a present reality. The Kingdom—God’s sovereign rule—has invaded this fallen age, bringing salvation, transformation, and power. Its defining marks include:
– Redemption Accomplished: Through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, the penalty and power of sin are broken (Colossians 2:13–15; John 5:24). Believers are justified, transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13), and granted eternal life as a present possession.
– Signs of the Kingdom: The Holy Spirit, poured out at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), equips believers to manifest the Kingdom through signs, wonders, and healings, as Jesus did (Luke 7:22; John 14:12). These acts—whether physical healing, deliverance, or prophetic insight—are tangible expressions of God’s reign breaking into the present.
– Empowered Discipleship: The Spirit indwells every believer, enabling all to participate in Kingdom ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7–11). This democratizes the supernatural, calling ordinary Christians to pray with expectancy and proclaim the gospel with power.
The “now” assures us that God’s Kingdom is not a distant hope but a living reality, accessible now through faith, prayer, and obedience.
The “Not Yet”: The Kingdom Awaited in Fullness
The “not yet” acknowledges that the Kingdom’s complete realization remains future, awaiting Christ’s return to establish His reign in glory. While the decisive victory is won, the consummation is deferred, and we live in the overlap of the ages (Romans 8:18–23). This aspect is defined by:
– Incomplete Restoration: Sin, sickness, and death persist in this age (Romans 7:15–25; 1 John 1:8). Not every prayer for healing yields immediate results, and suffering remains part of the believer’s experience (Philippians 2:25–27). These realities reflect the Kingdom’s partial presence, not a failure of faith.
– Eschatological Hope: The full renewal of creation—new heavens, new earth, and the end of all tears (Revelation 21:1–5; Isaiah 35:5–6)—awaits Christ’s return. The resurrection of the body and the final defeat of death are yet to come (1 Corinthians 15:50–54).
– Perseverance in Tension: The delay of Christ’s return fosters patience and dependence on God (2 Peter 3:9). This “in-between” time requires us to live by faith, trusting God’s sovereignty amid unanswered prayers and ongoing struggles.
The “not yet” guards against presumption, reminding us to approach God with humility and to long for the day when His Kingdom is fully manifest.
The Tension Defined and Applied
The “now/not yet” is the biblical reality that God’s Kingdom is both present and coming, active yet incomplete. It is the space where we experience foretastes of eternity—healings, deliverances, and transformed lives—while enduring the groans of a fallen world. As believers, we are called to embrace this tension: to pray boldly for Kingdom breakthroughs, as if the “already” were fully here (John 14:12), while trusting God’s wisdom in the “not yet” when outcomes differ from our hopes. This framework fuels expectant prayer, compassionate ministry, and steadfast hope, rooting us in the certainty of Christ’s victory while we await its final unvailing
