The Kingdom of God

INTRO

Our goal with Revive School is to take you one step closer to the Lord, one step deeper into the Word. Today’s topic from Luke 17 is a discussion of the kingdom of God - the kingdom of heaven. Yes, they’re the same thing. See what you can catch through our study of the Word of God today.

TEACHING

Luke 17:20: The Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will we get to experience the kingdom of God?” Jesus answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable.” John Piper explained that God’s kingdom is “God’s kingly rule.” In other words, you will experience His reign, His action, His lordship, and His sovereign governance here and now.¹The Pharisees wanted the political deal - Jesus as king. But the kingdom wouldn’t come with an outward show, nor was it as pretty or as flashy as they wanted.

Luke 17:21: Jesus explained, “The kingdom of God is among you.” The Pharisees wanted to know when it would take place. Jesus said it was already here. Nelson’s Commentary said they didn’t need to hunt for the kingdom because the kingdom came with Jesus.²Then Jesus continued: “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it.” Now, Jesus was talking about the future.

Luke 17:23–24: Jesus said they shouldn’t chase after those who said, “Look there!” or “Look here!” He then began to describe a future scenario when the Son of Man would be visible “from horizon to horizon” (v. 24). His words brought to mind the prophecy of Daniel 7:13–14: “I saw One like a son of man with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days.” According to Luke 11, these signs won’t precede the kingdom of God. However, in Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples that the sign of the coming of the Son of Man would precede the end: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). Eventually Jesus will return on the clouds for all to see. People won’t have to worry about missing Jesus’ return. Everyone will know. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky . . . and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). Matthew 25:13 assures us that Jesus is coming again, we just don’t know when. In Luke 12:40, Jesus said to be ready, “because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” He went on to say, “That slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect him . . . and assign him a place with unbelievers.” We don’t know when!

The church today seems to think the kingdom of God is in the future. We forget we’re a part of the kingdom of God now. When we were born, we became a citizen of the country in which we were born. Citizenship was instantaneous. According to John 3, when we are born again, we become citizens of the kingdom of God, instantly. Jesus literally gives us the Holy Spirit, which allows us to be a part of the kingdom of God here and now. We have been given the power to function as citizens of the kingdom of God, but we don’t function that way. We think we have to wait. There’s an aspect of the kingdom of God that was established through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Nelson’s Commentary implied that Jesus’ leadership reigns in our lives. His current and active work is to redeem the world.³It happens through us when we go find the lost sheep. In the future, the kingdom will come when Jesus returns. We don’t know the time. It will happen suddenly and unexpectedly. We are citizens of the kingdom of God now and in the future. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus’ disciples healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed those with skin diseases, and drove out demons. We have the resurrection power inside of us. The kingdom of God is among us, and it is coming in the future. Some people think the church is the kingdom of God. But the church is a part of the kingdom of God.⁴God has a bigger picture in mind here.

Luke 17:24–25: Daniel actually prophesied that the Son of Man would come on the clouds in power and glory. We have to get ready for this. He’s coming back in human flesh to hang out with humanity. Before that future return, He must suffer many things. He was talking about His death, burial, and resurrection.

Luke 17:26–27: “Just as it was in the days of Noah.” While everybody did what was right in their own eyes, God sent the flood and wiped out everyone. What happened in Noah’s time will happen before the Son of Man comes back again. People lived life as usual, going through everyday stuff. The people paid little attention to God. They were focused on the rich man’s mentality, thinking about earthly things. People would rather focus on daily activities without thinking about the eternal things. If we don’t think about the future, then the torment (Luke 16) becomes reality.

Luke 17:28–29: “It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building.” People today are also focused on daily life, not the eternal, not living in expectation of Jesus coming back. “But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained and destroyed them all” (v. 29).

Luke 17:30–33: “It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.” We’re literally talking about the apocalypse, the end, when Christ shows up, when total judgment will come. Are we trying to get people ready for the Son of Man’s return? Or are we focused on earthly things? When we have the perspective of citizens of the kingdom of God, then we’ll want to get ready for the future. Otherwise, we might just blend in with the people focused on worldly things. “On that day” (v. 32) referred to Jesus’ Second Coming. It won’t matter what a person has (possessions); they won’t go back to gather them up. Nelson emphasized that people won’t pause, won’t look back, but will move quickly because the wrath is coming.⁵Jesus urged His disciples, “Remember Lot’s wife!” She looked back and became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Something in her spirit was still connected to the earthly things. As Jesus’ disciples, our eyes can’t be on the earthly things; we have to focus on the eternal things. When we can’t see what God is doing, it’s hard to keep our eyes on the eternal. We naturally gravitate to the things that make us feel good. “Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (v. 33). This is Mark 8:34 all over again. When you follow Jesus, you have to deny yourself (the earthly things you really like), take up the cross (be willing to suffer, to be rejected and persecuted), and follow Jesus. We can’t “look back” or “go back to those things.” As citizens of God’s kingdom, we have to look forward.

Luke 17:34–36: These verses probably aren’t talking about the rapture but rather are talking about the judgment. Nelson’s Commentary explained that one would be taken in judgment and one would be left to live and reign with Christ.⁶This perspective works when you understand that you’re a citizen of the kingdom of God now, and you just can’t wait for Him to come back. If you’re always looking forward, you don’t have time to look back or to grab at the earthly things.

Luke 17:37: “Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” When judgment comes, you will smell the stench of death. You won’t have to look for it because the predatory birds will be everywhere.

CLOSING

One of the things we need to understand is how can we actively pursue and expand the kingdom of God now? By praying and living out Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Because we expect His future return and judgment, we should desire to help others get ready. Romans 13:11–12 reminds us that “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed,” and encourages us to put on the armor of life now, instead of waiting until He comes back.