As we begin our journey studying the kingdom of God, we must establish a clear foundation of the true nature of this kingdom regardless of the historical era being considered. There are three aspects of this kingdom of God to consider, starting with its meaning.

To put it simply, the kingdom of God is the Lord’s rule everywhere over all creation. The Lord is always the sovereign Ruler of all created things in every place. He is the one true King.

The idea of a kingdom consists of three distinct components. The first is a ruler. Since God’s kingdom is a monarchy, rather than a democracy or a republic, He alone is ruler of His kingdom. God takes counsel from no one but Himself, and He is accountable to nothing in creation.

The Lord does not consult advisors for instructions on how to rule. No one can ask God what He is doing nor thwart Him (Daniel 4:35). The psalmist describes the Lord as sovereign ruler over all (Psalm 115:3). He has freedom to accomplish everything He wills. God is working, ruling, and guiding everything toward His appointed goal for creation.

The second component of a kingdom is a realm. No one can be a king without somewhere to reign. So, God has a realm over which He rules, which is all creation.

The psalmist makes this truth clear, that the Lord’s sovereignty (or kingdom) rules over all (Psalm 103:19). His rule is not an abstract concept detached from physical or heavenly locations; His realm is the entire universe.

There is another necessary component of a kingdom, which is that it requires subjects. God, then, not only rules as King over all places in the universe, but over all created things. That’s why the psalmist cries out to all God’s works to praise Him in all places (Psalm 103:22).

God’s kingdom, then, is the dominion of the Lord alone over all places and created things, including angels, demons, Satan, people, animals, weather, planets, stars, and so on. Nothing exists outside of God’s sovereign rule.

We also find from Scripture that God is reigning particularly over the earth.

The psalmist tells us there is no place in this world where God’s rule can be escaped; there is not a corner of ground on the earth over which the Lord is not sovereignly reigning (Psalm 47:2). It doesn’t matter how low we descend or how high we climb, God rules wherever we are, because He created this world.

Further, we must understand that because God rules over the earth, He rules over the nations of the earth. David reminds us that Yahweh rules over the nations (Psalm 22:28). All nations are subject to the Lord’s sovereign will and authority, whether they acknowledge this truth or not. Jeremiah makes this point, when he declares that God is King of the nations (Jeremiah 10:7). No matter what nation we visit, what places we enter, or what halls of government we traverse, there is no one who is God’s equal.

This fact means that God determines when nations rise and fall. The Lord ordained when Nebuchadnezzar would rule over Babylon, and God decided when Babylon would fall to the Medes and the Persians. Both kings and kingdoms are determined by the sovereign King.

These truths underscore why it’s so important that believers come together as God’s people to pray when our nation or state has a major decision looming. We should follow the example of Hezekiah, who came to God in a situation where his rule of the kingdom was hanging in the balance. Through these prayers, we seek God’s face for His will to be done and for Him to raise up those He desires to lead us.

We now come to our second major point about the kingdom of God, which is its characteristics.

Many people picture God’s kingdom as a stern or oppressive place, but that is opposite of how Scripture describes God’s kingdom. There are four descriptions from Scripture that give us characteristics of this divine realm.

First, the kingdom of God is eternal. God has always been the sovereign King; He is the sovereign King, and He always will be the sovereign King. God is the everlasting King, whose domain is forever (Jeremiah 10:10). The Lord deserves glory and honor because He is the King eternal – the holy God (1 Timothy 1:17). Even at the global destruction of the Flood, the Lord was still reigning and accomplishing His will and good pleasure – and He sits as King forever (Psalm 29:10). Yahweh’s reign extends to all time and eternity (Psalm 10:16).

Second, the kingdom of God is founded upon righteousness and justice. The psalmist proclaims that the Lord’s throne is righteousness and justice (Psalm 97:2). Because God loves justice, He always executes justice and righteousness in His rule (Psalm 99:4).

Third, the kingdom of God is joyful. There is no more joyful place to be than in the kingdom of our living God. This kingdom is a place of joyful singing, shouting, and celebrating, because of the Lord’s greatness (Psalm 98:4-6). God’s kingdom is also a place filled with people who are shouting songs of praise from joyful and thankful hearts because of what the King has accomplished on their behalf (Psalm 95:1-3). All creation is overwhelmed with joy at the presence of its King (Psalm 96:11-12).

Fourth, the kingdom of God is glorious. No one is glorious like our King, and no kingdom is as glorious as His kingdom (Psalm 24:7-10). David was dedicated to praising God forever, never ceasing to honor and glorify Him, because the Lord is unmatched in greatness (Psalm 145:1). Christians will spend all eternity marveling at the glory of His kingdom.

So, if God’s kingdom is eternal, righteous, joyful, and glorious, why is our world in such disarray? That brings us to our final point, which is the enemies of the kingdom.

There is a rival domain to God’s kingdom – a realm that is opposed to the sovereign rule of the Lord. Satan is the god of this age. He has a ruling authority over certain people in this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). The whole world lies under the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

However, the time is coming when the kingdom of this world will be claimed by God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 11:15). At this time, the Lord’s kingdom will be the only kingdom that exists, because the kingdoms of the world will be overtaken by the kingdom of God at the final judgment and resurrection (Revelation 11:18). The day is coming when the enemies of the Lord’s kingdom will be enraged, His wrath will come, the dead will be raised, rewards will be given, and judgment will fall, eliminating all rival kingdoms.

These truths assure us that history is the story of the kingdom of God. It is the story of the Lord establishing His everlasting kingdom with His people to reign forever. It is the story of God defeating all opposition to His sovereign authority and bringing judgment to those who rebel against His crown.

Over the next several posts, we will see how God is working out His Kingdom plan throughout history. We’ll see how God’s kingdom was present in the Old Testament, in the person and work of Jesus, in the church, and how it will be present in the future. When we are finished, we’ll have a firmer grasp on Paul’s meaning that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, a clearer understanding of what a tragedy it is to be outside this divine kingdom, and a greater anticipation of the glory awaiting us when believers inherit the eternal, glorious, righteous, and joyful kingdom of our Lord.