Has the Kingdom come?

[yogi bear]

Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the kingdom and Has it come?

[Rella]

Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the kingdom and Has it come?

What it is... The phrase 'Kingdom of God' (also 'Kingdom of Heaven' ) appears more than 80 times in the New Testament. Most of these references occur in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. While the exact term is not found in the Old Testament, the existence of God's Kingdom is expressed similarly in the Old Testament.

The Kingdom has not yet come to blanket earth. We still pray, as Jesus taught us.... "Thy Kingdom come"  That possibility will not be until Jesus' 2nd coming.

The Kingdom of God can be summarized as the everlasting realm where God is sovereign and Jesus Christ rules forever.

What is more important is to answer is  the kingdom of God a physical place or a present spiritual reality? I suggest both, but is a subject for another time.

Jesus taught his followers how to enter the Kingdom of God: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Paul said the Kingdom was part of our present spiritual life ...Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Paul also taught that followers of Jesus Christ enter into the Kingdom of God at salvation...Col 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

But the kingdom suggested here IS NOT what Jesus was talking about in suggesting a future inheritance.

Matthew 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

2 Peter 1:11-13 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Neither verse you quote says anything about the "Kingdom having come"... [size=11]They say it is at hand.

That the Kingdom is "at hand" means that it is near or close. It does not suggest distance in either space or time, not does it suggest it is present.  By using these phrases together, Jesus indicates that it can be entered into at once when God's basic requirements are met.

Not everyone has met the requirements ergo it cannot be stated that the Kingdom has definitively come to all .... but at hand can mean is available.

A synopsis of my Kingdom understanding  is... to know where Jesus is King and God's authority is supreme.  It does exists here and now  in the lives and hearts of the saved, as well as in the future completing God's  perfection and fullness .

[yogi bear]

Mark 9:1
And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Question are those that "will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."" still alive today or does this verse indicate that the kingdom did indeed come min their lifetime?

If it did come in their lifetime when did it come with power according to scripture?

[johntwayne]

The kingdom is the rule of God through Christ and it came on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 with power.

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

Neither verse you quote says anything about the "Kingdom having come"... [size=11]They say it is at hand.[/size]

Better check your interlinear.  That verb means 'to approach' and it's in the perfect tense: 'to have finished approaching,' or 'has drawn near,' or 'arrived.'

[Jesus] answered them and said, '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 you.'

[RB]

Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the kingdom and Has it come?

The Bible has several kingdoms, some of which are listed in different senses, we must be careful to rightly divide them.

God reigns over a universal kingdom of all things~always has, always will.

1st Chronicles 29:11~"Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all."

Israel was a kingdom synonymous with the O.T. church (1st Samuel 15:28; 2nd Chronicles 2:1).

God translates us at regeneration into Christ's vital kingdom (Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 2:1-5).

There is a heavenly kingdom: we know it as heaven (2nd Timothy 4:18) which will be seen in its final state/glory in the new heaven and earth.

We also understand there are heretical kingdoms e.g. premillennial and postmillennial kinds we reject.

The kingdom halls of JW's are lunatic asylums of the followers of Charles Russell.

There is a spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ that is closely related to His true churches. It is closely related to the Old Testament kingdom of Israel, though more spiritual. Follow me, and let us consider this kingdom~i'll give the references and each person can verify them for themselves: Daniel prophesied the God of heaven would set it up while Rome ruled (Daniel 2:44).

The kingdom of God and heaven are identical; Scofield erred and many err from the truth by following his notes in the bible named after him. (Matthew 19:23-24).

This is the kingdom John, Jesus, and Paul announced as present with men entering.

Before there was any local church, baptism was God's ordained means to enter this kingdom beginning with the baptism of John the Baptist.

It is not identical to churches, for believers between churches are in His kingdom.

Kingdom is never used in the plural, while any two churches are certainly plural. The churches of Jesus Christ are the organizational, visible aspect of this kingdom. Each true church, considered individually, is the body of Christ itself (Ist Corinthians 12:12-27). Each true church is an outpost of Christ's kingdom in an enemy world, much like David established to protect his kingdom and collect tribute (2nd Samuel 8:1-15; Acts 15:16).

To keep this short, the kingdom of God/heaven is a now present reality, that is spiritual in nature, yet very soon shall become a visible reality that shall cover the entirety of the earth, with all of the wicked rooted out, where Jesus Christ shall sit and ruled world without end, with the promised children of the kingdom, who shall come and take the kingdoms from the wicked and reign with Christ as kings and priests forever. 

Much more could be said, but enough for now.

Has the Kingdom come?

Yes, and no. Yes, when Jesus came around two thousand years ago...NO, in the sense in which Daniel prophesied it would come!

Daniel 7:22-27~"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

[4WD]

The kingdom is the rule of God through Christ and it came on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 with power.

Yes,

There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Kingdom of God [heaven] is the body, the body of Christ, the church.

[RB]

deleted

[RB]

Yes,

There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Kingdom of God [heaven] is the body, the body of Christ, the church.

Brother, In one true sense it came before Pentecost. So many scriptures would verify this truth. The kingdom of heaven began in one sense with John's preaching being a forerunner of Christ. Pentecost showed the SPIRITUAL aspect of the kingdom of God, nothing much more~it proved that Christ's kingdom WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD in one true biblical sense~just as Christ said in John 18:36. Selah!

During John's and Christ's ministry, it suffer holy violence and it was taken by force by those who were entering into this phase of God's kingdom. The Lawyers and Pharisees hindered men and women seeking to do God's will by their man-made doctrines, they themselves (lawyers and Pharisees) did not enter in and those that were they were used by the devil to hinder them!  Consider:

Luke 11:52 ~"Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

Matthew 11:12~"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

[yogi bear]

The Bible has several kingdoms, some of which are listed in different senses, we must be careful to rightly divide them.

Red with all due respect I do not give a flip about any other kingdom you bring up except the one I asked about in the following verses


Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

So if it is alright with you lets please just discuss the kingdom the opening verses are talking about.

The Kingdom has not yet come to blanket earth. We still pray, as Jesus taught us.... "Thy Kingdom come"  That possibility will not be until Jesus' 2nd coming.

Red first of all what do you mean by blanket earth?  It has come or it has not it is a yes or no answer. Second you need to answer the question I asked earlier that you neglected.

Mark 9:1
And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Question are those that "will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."" still alive today or does this verse indicate that the kingdom did indeed come min their lifetime?

If it did come in their lifetime when did it come with power according

[Rella]

Better check your interlinear.  That verb means 'to approach' and it's in the perfect tense: 'to have finished approaching,' or 'has drawn near,' or 'arrived.'

[Jesus] answered them and said, '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 you.'

I would but my interlinear as well as all the 14 other bibles I had access to in my files disappeared...

One day they were gone ( along with other needed stuff.

I have not had time to round them up again.

Thanks for the info

[RB]

Red with all due respect I do not give a flip about any other kingdom you bring up except the one I asked about in the following verses

I said very little to bring out how we should understand the word "kingdom"~without which a person would still be left in the dark concerning your question, just as you are now. The kingdom of God is not limited to Pentecost, not even close! Just as I said, it only proved the spiritual nature of God's kingdom, not its beginning as you want folks to believe, and as you have been taught by men void of the truth.

Red first of all what do you mean by blanket earth?  It has come or it has not it is a yes or no answer.

Well, why do you not ask the person who said those words, because I did not, yet she showed more light by her post than you have so far.

Second you need to answer the question I asked earlier that you neglected.

Yogi, I did clearly answer your question, your problem is you have you bias blinders on~please read our post carefully before speaking.

Has the Kingdom come?
Yes, and no. Yes, when Jesus came around two thousand years ago...NO, in the sense in which Daniel prophesied it would come after the final judgment.

Daniel 7:22-27~"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Mark 9:1
And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Question are those that "will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."" still alive today or does this verse indicate that the kingdom did indeed come min their lifetime?

If it did come in their lifetime when did it come with power according

I want to come back to these scriptures for they do not have reference to Pentecost, not even close.  Later....RB

[yogi bear]

OK I will await your come back for it will be interesting to see where it came with POWER if not in Acts 2 as recorded.

[RB]

Matthew 16:27,28~For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Matthew 27:1-9~"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."

2nd Peter 1:11-19~"For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:"

Yogi, sir, you are badly deceived if you think for a moment that the experience Peter and others saw on the mount of transfiguration has any reference whatsoever to Pentecost when the scriptures clearly reveal to us that it had reference solely to the everlasting kingdom which will take place at Jesus' coming when such an entrance into that kingdom shall be administered unto us abundantly by the angels of God.

Peter, James, and John his brother did not taste of death until it was revealed unto them of the glorious everlasting Kingdom that awaits us in the future~which occurred only less than a week! By the fact Peter used this in his letter showing the power and glory and coming of Jesus Christ, we know 100% this has no reference to Pentecost where you want to go with these scriptures, but you would be going against the witness of the holy scriptures if you force them in Acts 2.  What happened at Pentecost, is nothing in comparison to Jesus' coming with glory and great power.

2nd Thessalonians 1:5-10~"Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

That's the main phase of the kingdom promised and taught by the apostles that they all looked and hope to come.

[RB]

OK I will await your come back for it will be interesting to see where it came with POWER if not in Acts 2 as recorded.

Yogi, It is NOT where, but "when" it will come with glory and great power.

Matthew 24:29-31~"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Here is your answer, sir. Pentecost was more to show the nature of the kingdom of God, which is spiritual in nature, not a visible great outward observevation. John 4:24 is done by the indwelling Spirit.

[yogi bear]

So let me get this straight Jesus has not ascended to heaven to set at the right hand of God on his throne but will establish it on earth for a thousand years then take all to the kingdom in heaven to live there after for ever and ever is that what you are saying? My mind is boggled at the present time and I am not following you very well.

[RB]

So let me get this straight Jesus has not ascended to heaven to set at the right hand of God on his throne but will establish it on earth for a thousand years then take all to the kingdom in heaven to live there after for ever and ever is that what you are saying? My mind is boggled at the present time and I am not following you very well.

Yogi, I have never said what you are saying~Jesus IS seated at the right hand of God now reigning and WAITING for God to make his enemies his footstool. Jesus' kingdom is a spiritual kingdom with us being the temple thereof! Ephesians 2:18-22; 1st Peter 2:5; etc.

I reject 100% an earthly kingdom of any sort since the scriptures do not teach this.

So, yes your poor mind is getting very confused, take a break and come back and try this again. Or, call some of your friends to help, but I hope they follow better than what you are doing.

[yogi bear]

Red here is where I am not following.

It is not identical to churches, for believers between churches are in His kingdom.

Kingdom is never used in the plural, while any two churches are certainly plural. The churches of Jesus Christ are the organizational, visible aspect of this kingdom. Each true church, considered individually, is the body of Christ itself (Ist Corinthians 12:12-27). Each true church is an outpost of Christ's kingdom in an enemy world, much like David established to protect his kingdom and collect tribute (2nd Samuel 8:1-15; Acts 15:16).

The church is the kingdom there is only one church while there may be different congregations scattered abroad they are all one body.


Also I am not fully understanding what you are saying here.

To keep this short, the kingdom of God/heaven is a now present reality, that is spiritual in nature, yet very soon shall become a visible reality that shall cover the entirety of the earth, with all of the wicked rooted out, where Jesus Christ shall sit and ruled world without end, with the promised children of the kingdom, who shall come and take the kingdoms from the wicked and reign with Christ as kings and priests forever. 

Yes it is a spiritual kingdom that we are now entered into here on earth as is in heaven but it is the same one that will be delivered up to heaven on judgement day. There is not two kingdoms Jesus is ruling not one today and one to come they are one and the same the difference is while we are in the kingdom today here on earth we will be transported to heaven but still in the one and only kingdom.

[RB]

Red here is where I am not following.
  The church is the kingdom there is only one church while there may be different congregations scattered abroad they are all one body.


Also I am not fully understanding what you are saying here.
Yes it is a spiritual kingdom that we are now entered into here on earth as is in heaven but it is the same one that will be delivered up to heaven on judgement day. There is not two kingdoms Jesus is ruling not one today and one to come they are one and the same the difference is while we are in the kingdom today here on earth we will be transported to heaven but still in the one and only kingdom.

Yogi, I will post tomorrow when I have more time to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the church, (whatever sect, or group you may define as the church. or others may call the church) is NOT the kingdom of God they are totally two different entities, even though some likeness may be drawn between them.

Later, let me give this some study and thought before posting.

[Reformer]

MY THOUGHTS ON THE "KINGDOM OF HEAVEN"

    "Kingdom" in the new scriptures is best rendered "reign." So when we speak of the "kingdom of heaven," as Jesus often did, we are talking about heaven's reign or the rule of heaven. Jesus also expressed heaven's rule by referring to the "kingdom [reign] of God."  He told the Twelve, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom [reign] of God come with power" [Mark 9:1].

    By comparing the above scripture with Acts, chapter 2, we find that God's new reign [kingdom] was ushered in "with power." Thus God's new reign or era of grace began. From this information, we can correctly conclude the "kingdom age" has been a reality for 2,000 years.

    The old kingdom age prevailed under Moses, when God reigned over the nation of Israel. His Son Jesus reigns over new Israel today—the redeemed community or household of faith. Even assuming that "church" is a correct rendition instead of a distortion of the Greek ekklesia, the kingdom and the "church" would be equivalent—one and the same. The scriptures are mum in regards to a separate terrestrial "church age" and a "kingdom age."

    To confirm even further that the "kingdom age" has been with us for 2,000 years, believers at Colosse had been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into that kingdom [Col. 1:13]. Jesus came 2,000 years ago and set up that kingdom and is reigning as King at the right hand of His Father. The writer of Hebrews refers to Jesus' second coming, not a third. "So Christ, having been offered to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him" [Heb. 9:28]. 

    When He returns the second or final time, He will deliver His kingdom or reign back to the Father, according to Paul in I Cor. 15:24.  Nothing is said about another earthly reign being launched. I  understand the  "thousand-year" reign in Revelation as a symbolic figure and covers the entire course of the grace era. Jesus is reigning as King over His subjects now!

Buff

[e.r.m.]

Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the kingdom and Has it come?

Luke 9:27 But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

By this point the Kingdom had not yet come. Since it would come in some of their lifetimes, and since people would enter the kingdom of God by way of being born of the water and the Spirit, then I believe the arrival of the Kingdom was at Pentecost Acts 2:38-41. I believe the kingdom of God includes His church, but is also God's dominion and plan for us on earth.

Paul also refers to God's kingdom as our future heavenly dwelling.

[Reformer]

yogi bear:

"What is the kingdom and has it come?"

    The grace era with Jesus as our King. An extension of our current kingdom or reign will be the eternal kingdom. See my Reply #19 above.

Buff

[RB]

I'm marking this to post later, so I will not forget, as I have already.

[Jaime]

Mathew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

To me, in the Lord's  prayer Jesus seems to be saying God's Kingdom comes when His will is done on earth, as it is in heaven, for those that DO HIS will.

[RB]

Before the reformation started with Martin Luther, Rome had closely identified the Kingdom of God with the institutional Church. The Church, with the Roman See as its head, was the voice of the Kingdom of God  The Church's human head was the Vicar of Christ, the Pope. The Church held the keys of the kingdom and interpreted the Word of God to all believers...so they believe and taught.

Many in our day desires the same by laboring to identify the kingdom of God with the institutional churches of our day.

The Only Mediator Between God and Man....The Reformers denied to the Church the right to mediate between God and man. To the Reformers, Jesus Christ was the only Mediator. The Reformers saw the Kingdom of God as being wherever men submitted themselves to the reign of Jesus Christ. The Church was not the Kingdom of God , but was rather in the Kingdom. The Kingdom was not seen as an institution but as the rule of Jesus Christ, the activity of God by grace, not of man by works. The Reformers, mainly behind John Calvin's teachings, made the believer a member not just of an institution to which he owed subjection and deference, but also of an eternal eschatological order. John Calvin reoriented the Christian's dominion responsibility from the authority of the institutional church to the over-arching reign of Christ Himself. Calvin was not anti-institutional church; he merely defined its authority as ministerial rather than mediatorial.

"Rome, of course, saw this (and still sees all who are not Cathloics) as anarchistic. This ought not to surprise us. All authoritarians believe order depends on visible, institutional structure. Rome 's idea of a God-centered world was, in reality, a church-centered worldview.

The Reformation teaching on salvation denied the mediatorial work of the church and all other institutions.1 Because justification was an act of God, there was no process involved, and no mediation except that of Jesus Christ. Rome 's position was that society and its institutions were to lead men to God. The social implications of this theology placed men and institutions under the institutional authority of the Church as the voice of, if not the manifestation of, God's Kingdom. Rome's theology of mediated redemption brought all of society under its authority.

Freedom......Calvin's teachings freed men from social and religious institutions and traditions that presumed to mediate God's grace. He envisioned a society in which the church and other institutions were ministerial of, and under the authority of, the Word. Both the Mediator and the Word's authority transcend man and history, though any man could know them through the redemptive call to knowledge, righteousness, and dominion. The Reformation made good works not acts of penance before a God of vengeance but evidence of justified man's new life in righteousness. The church, social institutions, and good works became part of man's ministry of proclaiming God's grace not his mediation of that grace. Freed from control by the church as a mediator, the outworking of man's salvation in his calling and personal sanctification exploded after the Reformation into a multitude of manifestations.

Because the medieval Roman Church saw its role as mediatorial, it prescribed faith to promote its concept of godly order. The Reformation, because it saw the role of the faithful as ministerial, applied the faith in order to promote godly order. Calvin freed Christians from the illegitimate mediatorial role of the church to citizenship in the Kingdom of God. In doing this he freed the church, too, from the impossible task it had assumed and enabled it to return to its role in the ministration of the whole counsel of God.

Calvin's doctrine of the Kingdom of God and justification by faith ushered in for the West a new perspective, one that catapulted it into the modern era. For several generations, before the secular humanistic worldview of the Enlightenment came to predominate, the heirs of Calvin controlled the direction of Western Civilization. The religious worldview of Rome was concerned with controlling men, not with setting them free to exercise dominion as citizens of the Kingdom of God . One of the lessons we have learned in the West is that free men can accomplish things of which institutions cannot dream. Calvin made the activity of the most humble worker noble in the service of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

Even as Calvin's message was drowned out by the revival of secular humanism in succeeding centuries, that movement had, because of Calvin, two battles to wage. One was the promotion of the secular political-economic outlook. It also had to contend with the loss of freedom this shift entailed. The secular outlook itself led to a loss of freedom, but the Reformation made this trend the subject of much resistance. The love of liberty to serve God and the respect for the labors of individuals in the furtherance of His Kingdom, when secularized after a loss of faith, still gave men a love of freedom and a purposefulness to their work that they give up to the state only grudgingly. The Reformation had to respond to the secular humanism of the Renaissance as well as to the institutionalized religious humanism of Rome . Today the situation is somewhat different. The primary challenge is now post-Enlightenment humanism, and the chief reform needed in the church is its recall to the work of the Kingdom and present dominion in terms of the eternal reign of Jesus Christ. Without a return to the doctrine of justification by God's sovereign grace, and to a life of sanctification and dominion work in the name of the only Mediator between God and man, believers will remain unprofitable servants.

Neither the Reformation nor any other period of history should be seen as the high-water mark of Christian activity, however. If we are truly dominion-oriented believers in the Kingdom of God, we know that His reign is sure and that His will shall come to pass in time as well as in eternity. There are no setbacks to the Kingdom of God , though we as mortals are unable to see the course Providence has established for it. God did not use the Reformation to cast down Rome from its arrogant claim to the mediation of God's work only to replace it with our frail reasoning. God does not mediate His grace through either priests or human understanding. Ours is to have faith and to serve God in newness of life. This powerful Reformation message must be ours to carry forward." Author unknown....

[4WD]

Much of that is "sort of" true.  The problem with it is that Calvin inserted his faulty doctrine of election into the discussion, thus distorting real message of the kingdom of God and the citizens of that kingdom.  The kingdom and the NT church are one and the same.  It is just that the NT church and the Roman Catholic Church are NOT one and the same.  The NT church is that total group or assembly of the saved, the saints.  And that is the Kingdom of God, prophesied in the OT to be established and instituted by Jesus in His work here on earth.

[Glorious]

Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the kingdom and Has it come?

The kingdom of God is an encapsulation (a combination) of His glory, grace (rest) and works.

The kingdom appears (is revealed) in His glory, comes in His grace and is given in His works by faith.

Already, the kingdom has appeared and come to whoever is both born of water and Spirit, but has yet come to believers and faithfuls not born of the Spirit.