The Kingdom of God

There are two great systems, economies or divine administrations in the counsels of God respecting the earth. One is based on the responsibility of man In connection with his faithfulness in carrying out that responsibility. The other flows from the purposes and the effectual power of God. The first is the household of the Law, the second the household of the Kingdom. The first, under which man willingly placed himself (Ex. 19:8), began with the giving of the law on Mount Sinai and continued until John the Baptist. The second began with the testimony of the forerunner of the Lord Jesus and was immediately announced by John as "at hand." This message was then taken up and continued by the Lord Jesus and His disciples.
Israel stood on the ground of the law, and had the law been kept and the message of the Kingdom accepted, this kingdom would have been established in power, with accompanying peace and order on earth under the scepter of the Prince of Peace. But we know that man is not capable of keeping the law, and as soon as the true Light began to appear, the deep shadows of darkness began to be visible. The true condition of man, his natural corruption and his enmity toward God became manifest. The witness of John, as that of the Lord Jesus, was rejected; John was beheaded and Christ nailed to the cross.
With this, the setting up of the kingdom in power and glory manifestly became impossible. Daniel's prophesy was fulfilled: "Messiah shall be cut off and shall have nothing." (Dan. 9:26 Marg.) Instead of a time of outward unfolding of power there followed centuries of debasement and rejection for Israel. These times will continue until the "Son of man" returns to take up His rule over all things in heaven and upon earth. In confirmation of this, the Lord told the leaders of the Jewish people on the eve of His departure: "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matt. 26:64.
Was the kingdom, then, not set up at all? The kingdom was indeed set up, but it had taken on a new, mysterious form. This new form or character is the subject of the well-known parables of Matt. 13, in which the Lord instructs the disciples. To them, and thus to us, it has been given to be led into the "mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens." To the "things old" were added things hitherto unrevealed. Thus the Lord had shown them, that a scribe discipled to the kingdom of the heavens would bring forth out of his treasures "things new and old.”
Let us examine the meaning of the expression
The Kingdom of God
The expression "Kingdom of God" of itself suggests to the mind a realm or condition in which the ruling power of God is expressed or unfolds itself in the course of circumstances brought to pass in His wisdom. It is the widest, most encompassing designation of the various similar expressions which we encounter in the Word of God. We read of the kingdom, the kingdom of the heavens, the kingdom of My (or your) Father, the kingdom of the Son of man, and the kingdom of the world of our Lord and His Christ.
“Kingdom of God" is a generic or family name under which the others are grouped. The expression has an internal, spiritual or moral meaning and an outward meaning falling more into the sphere of the senses.
When God appeared on this earth in the Person of His Son, the kingdom of God was there because He was there manifested in all His divine power and wisdom. And thus the Lord says to the Pharisees, who in the enmity and blindness of their hearts asserted that He cast out devils through Beelzebub the prince of the demons: "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." Matt. 12:28. (See also Luke 11:20.) Also in Luke 17:20, 21 we read: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within [among] you.”
If Israel had accepted Christ, nothing would have stood in the way of the kingdom's being established. He who coming after, but preferred before John, was there with His winnowing fan in His hand to thoroughly purge the granary. But consequent upon the rejection of Christ, the establishment of the kingdom in judicial power and glory must be postponed. This establishment is yet future and will only be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ, that is at the appearing of the Son of man when all flesh and every eye shall see Him, even those who have pierced Him. In the meantime He is seated at the right hand of the majesty on high and awaits the time when God will put all His enemies under the footstool of His feet, and send the rod of His strength out of Zion. Then, in "the day of His power," His people (the believing remnant of Israel) "shall be willing" and He will sit as "priest forever after the order of Melchizedek," ruling "from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth." (Psa. 110; Zech. 6:13; Psa. 72; Isa. 9:7; etc.)
Faith sees Jesus already glorified above, crowned with honor, and knowing that soon all things will be subjected unto Him. All is secured for faith in the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the slain Lamb who has overcome and is set down on the throne of His Father—not yet on His own throne. (Rev. 3:21.)
In the Gospel of Matthew is the only place where the expression is found: