God has conjoined both the end and the means to obtain that end with an unbreakable bond. He who does not use the means should not expect to attain the end. This is common knowledge to everyone. Sometimes the means—such as heavy labor and perilous circumstances—are unattractive and we would not avail ourselves of them if it were not for the fact that we would thus attain the desired end. Sometimes the means in and of themselves are attractive. We would make use of them without any further objective in view—as is true for delectable food and drink. In the spiritual realm all is sweet—the end and the means which we use and avail ourselves of in order to attain the end (I am not referring to suffering here). They are sweet in view of the end to be attained, and they are inherently sweet as well. How amiable and desirable the ultimate of all objectives is—the hallowing of God’s Name—we have demonstrated in the preceding petition. The five subsequent petitions are the means to that end—each individual petition being very precious and giving cause for rejoicing to the truly spiritual person. The means which most preeminently promotes the glorification of God’s Name is the coming of God’s kingdom. Its nature, glory, advantages, and desirability we shall now explain.
In the second petition reference is made to a kingdom, relative to which the prayer is uttered that it might come.
The Word “Kingdom” Defined and Expounded
Let us consider the word “kingdom.” A kingdom consists of a populace united under one leader. There have always been many kingdoms in the world, and it is still divided into many. Among them there have been four empires; that is, eras when the entire world was subjected to one ruling head. These are the empires of Babylon, of the Medes and Persians, of the Greeks, and of the Romans. There is yet a fifth empire of an entirely different nature: the kingdom of the Lord Jesus, of which we are now speaking. This is otherwise referred to as the congregation of God and of Christ, and we denominate it with a word not found in Scripture: the church.1
Let us furthermore consider the word “Thy.” In this prayer God the Father is addressed, and thus the reference here is to the kingdom of the Father, for all things are out of Him and through Him. The Father gathers, rules, and preserves this kingdom by His Son Jesus Christ. This is therefore conjoined in the following passage: “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ” (Rev 12:10). God is King in and of Himself. He is the original cause of all things; He inherently has the preeminence, is exalted, has all majesty and glory, and all power and dominion from all eternity. This was true before there were any creatures, and now that creatures do exist, they are all subject to God in consequence of His nature. “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” (1 Chron 29:11). The Lord is great—yes, He alone is King: “I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen” (Mal 1:14).
The kingdom of God is distinguished between 1) the kingdom of His power, 2) the kingdom of His glory, and 3) the kingdom of His grace.
The kingdom of His power has all creatures as its subjects: good and evil angels, good and evil men, all living animals, and all inanimate objects in the heavens and upon earth. Everything is so fully in His hand that they cannot move without Him. Furthermore, they immediately stand ready at His bidding and execute His will. The Lord is therefore generally referred to in Scripture as the Lord of hosts. David speaks as follows: “They continue this day according to Thine ordinances: for all are Thy servants” (Ps 119:91); “The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all” (Ps 103:19). Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged this by saying, “Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou” (Dan 4:34-35).
The kingdom of His glory has as its subjects the holy angels and the glorified elect in the third heaven—that is, paradise or the house of the Father. “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34). “God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory” (1 Thess 2:12), that is, to His glorious kingdom.
The kingdom of His grace is also denominated as “the Church of God.” First, the subjects of this kingdom are all true believers and converted persons. “… the Lamb shall overcome them … and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Rev 17:14).
Secondly, God separates them from the world, all nations, all communities, and all kingdoms, and causes them to dwell alone. “Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations” (Num 23:9); “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor 6:17).
Thirdly, there is a very intimate interrelationship among them—a most intimate and spiritual bond—so that together they form one whole. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul” (Acts 4:32). This union exists:
(1) As a result of true doctrine: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph 2:20); “One Lord, one faith” (Eph 4:5). The apostle therefore exhorts: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house” (2 John 1:10).
(2) Due to being united by the same Spirit who dwells in all of them and by whom they all live: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom 8:14); “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph 2:18).
(3) By love: “Their hearts … being knit together in love” (Col 2:2); “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
(4) By that selfsame faith, by which they are united to Christ and in Christ to each other. “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us” (John 17:21).
Fourthly, this kingdom has the Lord Jesus as its King. “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion” (Ps 2:6). Even though only true believers are the actual subjects of this King—they being God, knowledge the only members who truly constitute the church, being united to the Lord Jesus with a spiritual bond, and in Him to each other—the Lord Jesus is nevertheless King of the entire church as she manifests herself in the world, which includes many unconverted members. Just as an earthly king rules over strangers, residents, hidden enemies, and traitors, likewise Christ also rules over the unconverted in His kingdom. For they acknowledge Him to be their King, subject themselves to Him, have sworn allegiance to Him, and confess Him, even though they do it but in an external sense and with an unchanged heart. Kingdom of God, church
Fifthly, God designates this kingdom as the object of His goodness and all manner of blessings. In that kingdom:
(1) God dwells with His gracious presence: “God is in the midst of her” (Ps 46:5); “In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion” (Ps 76:2). Jesus is their King “who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” (Rev 2:1).
(2) There is safety: “I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day” (Isa 27:3); “For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (Zech 2:5). Therefore all who know the Lord take refuge there: “The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of His people shall trust in it” (Isa 14:32).
(3) There is light: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee … but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isa 60:1-3).
(4) There is spirituality, life, and holiness. “But ye are … an holy nation” (1 Pet 2:9).
(5) There is peace and joy: “For the kingdom of God is … righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom 14:17).
(6) There is comfort and refreshment for an oppressed soul: “All My springs are in Thee” (Ps 87:7).
(7) The elect are converted and are gathered in: “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her” (Ps 87:5); “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). Such glorious things are said of the city of God—of the kingdom of Christ.