WHEN Will the Kingdom Come?

Back to By David C. Pack

All want to know when Christ will return. The disciples asked Him, “What shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3.)

The entirety of the next forty-eight verses in Matthew 24:1-51 is Christ’s answer detailing many of the events, in sequence, that would precede His Coming. In Mt 24:36, referring to the exact time of His Coming, He stated, “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Just a few weeks later, in Acts 1:6-7, prior to Christ’s final ascension back into heaven, the disciples proved that they still did not either understand or really accept His previous explanation. So, they asked Him again. Notice: “…they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will You at this time RESTORE again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power.” Christ gave them the same answer as in Matthew—“it is not for you to know the times or the seasons.”

It is important to note that the New Testament Church would be established just ten days after this encounter (Ac 2:1). Why would Christ answer, “it is not for you to know the times or the seasons” if the kingdom of God was going to be the Church, which was to be almost immediately established (on Pentecost)—just ten days later?

The same is true for us today. We cannot know exactly when Christ’s kingdom will come, but we can know a close approximation. In Luke 21:31, at the end of a long prophecy paralleling Matthew 24:1-51, Christ stated, “WHEN you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is nigh [near] at hand.”

He did want them to know that “you shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you” (Acts 1:8), but not to know when the kingdom would arrive. The same is true for all who are converted today. We cannot know exactly when Christ will return, but we can know that we will receive power now to grow and overcome—and to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God until He does.

Men’s Efforts Cannot Bring the Kingdom

True Christians are not activists seeking to “make this world a better place”—thereby bringing the kingdom of God to earth. They have their “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). They walk through life having their “feet” covered with the knowledge of how the true gospel spells the only way to all the good things that mankind longs for. They understand with certainty that the kingdom of God is coming. They know what lies ahead for this world. They do not go off to serve and kill in the endless, futile wars of men and nations, or participate in the governmental affairs of men.

They do not take matters into their own hands, and try to supposedly “spread the kingdom,” thereby attempting to neutralize God’s purpose, which is to show man that he is not capable of governing himself! (Take time to read our two booklets War, Killing and the Military and Should Christians Vote? to understand why.)

Notice what Paul was inspired to write: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they [leaders and religionists] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (I Thes. 5:2-4).

All who understand the truths of this booklet need never again be “in the dark” about God’s Plan or their awesome potential role within it.

Citing Isaiah 52:7, Paul also recorded, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings [the good news of the gospel] of good things” (Rom. 10:15). In Rom 10:16, he went on to cite another passage from Isaiah: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah said, Lord, who has believed our report?” (Isa 53:1).

Of course, most people will not believe “God’s report” of what lies ahead for civilization. They will not believe that they are unable to bring world peace through human effort. Many will shout “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11, 14-15), and most will continue eagerly believing their false predictions, even in the face of abject failure.

The professing Christians of this world will continue desperately striving to bring about the kingdom of God and world peace through human effort. Deceived religious leaders will tell them that this is their “Christian duty.” Many will see this as the sole mission of their church. Millions are looking for happiness, abundance, peace and security around every corner—but will be terribly disappointed in the short term. This is because world conditions, leading into a final devastating period of worldwide calamity, will get far worse before they ultimately get better.

“Thy Kingdom Come”

Most people are familiar with what is called “The Lord’s Prayer.” Many can recite it without effort, having practiced it without understanding that it is simply a model or guideline for how to pray. I learned it at age four. It begins, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth…” (Matt. 6:9-10). This short prayer continues for three more verses. But, of the millions who know and use it, how many actually think about the phrase “Thy kingdom come”—or God’s “will [His Master Plan] being done on earth”? For 2,000 years, many may have basically sought to follow Christ’s instruction, praying, “Thy kingdom come” without ever really pondering the staggering meaning behind this small phrase. Have you?

Only a few verses later, in the same chapter, Christ stated, “But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt 6:33). Christians must be continually seeking the kingdom of God FIRST—above everything else—in their lives! How can they do this if they do not know what it is—or when it will come—or how it affects their own salvation?

But now YOU do!

The Kingdom MUST Come

The following quote comes from Herbert W. Armstrong’s booklet Just what do you mean…KINGDOM OF GOD? It is an extraordinary summary of the wonderful truth contained in the answer to the question, what is the kingdom of God? This appeared under the subhead “The Two Fateful Alternatives”:

“This world trouble began in 1914, with World War I. There was a recess from 1918 until 1939. We are in a second recess now…But now at last we have nuclear energy. We have hydrogen bombs stock-piled in such power and volume that they could blast all human life off this planet several times over. There are two other destructive weapons today in existence, either of which could erase humanity from the earth.

“Today world-famous scientists say only a super world-government can prevent world cosmocide. Yet MEN cannot and will not get together to form such a world-ruling government.

“It’s time we face the hard, cold, realistic FACT: humanity has two alternatives: either there is an Almighty, all-powerful GOD who is about to step in and set up THE KINGDOM OF GOD to rule all nations with supernatural and supranational FORCE to bring us PEACE—or else all human life would be obliterated (Matt. 24:22).

“If the deceived religionists, who think the CHURCH is the Kingdom of God, were right, and there is not going to be any supernatural and all-powerful WORLD GOVERNMENT which is the Kingdom of God, then humanity is utterly without HOPE. All human life is in danger of extinction.

“But notice what Jesus Christ said!

“Can you BELIEVE Jesus Christ?

“Where is your trust—in the Word of God, or in paganised, empty, deceiving teachings falsely labelled ‘Christianity’—inherited as ‘Christian tradition’—which says the CHURCH is the Kingdom of God; or, that the Kingdom is merely a meaningless, frothy and ethereal sentiment ‘set up in our hearts’? It’s about time you come to know who are the false prophets, and WHO is speaking the true Word of God faithfully!”