Bible Question:
How many kingdoms are there in the Bible?
Bible Answer:
We have assumed that you are not asking about human kingdoms such as those of the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, but about God’s kingdoms. The Bible uses six basic terms for kingdom: kingdom, kingdom of God (KOG), kingdom of Heaven (KOH), 1,000 year kingdom, and millennium. Currently, God rules a spiritual and physical kingdom. He rules the spiritual kingdom absolutely and sometime in the future He will rule the physical, earthly kingdom absolutely. Satan also has a kingdom full of darkness and evil. Let us look at each one.
Spiritual Kingdom
The Psalmist in the Old Testament reminds us that God is a King. He is the King of glory and rules the nations of this world.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (NASB) Ps. 45:6
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. (NASB) Ps. 24:10
The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. (NASB) Ps. 29:10
For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods . . . (NASB) Ps. 95:3
Yet, the gospel of Matthew tells us that God does not completely rule this earth. He rules the heavenly kingdom absolutely but not the earth. That is the message in Jesus’ model prayer for us. Jesus encouraged His disciples to ask that the Father’s kingdom would come to earth and that His will would be executed here on earth just as it is in heaven. Jesus hinted to Pontius Pilate that His (Jesus’) kingdom was spiritual.
Pray, then, in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (NASB) Matt. 6:9-10
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” (NASB) John 18:36
God has allowed Satan and his demons to have limited control of this earth until the end of the world. Luke 11:18 tells us that Satan has a kingdom too! Fallen angels, demons, and the followers of Satan are the members of Satan’s kingdom. The study “Angels – Good & Evil” provides an overview of Satan and fallen angels. Satan’s domain includes false teachers, false prophets, and false religion (2 Cor. 11:14).
If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. (NASB) Luke 11:18
The terms kingdom, kingdom of God (KOG), and kingdom of Heaven (KOH) all refer to the same thing. The study “Are the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven the same?” will discuss this in detail.
Earthly Kingdom
Some day God and all dead believers will come down to earth and join every living believer in a literal, earthly kingdom that will last for 1,000 years. The book of Psalms says that God rules the nations now. Nebuchadnezar understood that when he said that God’s kingdom endures from generation to generation (Dan. 4:34-35). God directs the course of human history and has delayed His absolute rule until later.
For the kingdom is the LORD’S and He rules over the nations. (NASB) Ps. 22:28
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” (NASB ) Dan. 4:34-35
When the end of the world comes, Jesus Christ will return and will destroy the armies of the world in a horrible battle called Armageddon. Then He will establish His earthly rule here on earth.
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (NASB) Rev. 11:15
Conclusion:
The earthly kingdom will be physical and touchable. The spiritual kingdom which exists today will always exist and include the souls of believers. The physical 1,000 year kingdom will come to an end when the earth and the heavens are destroyed. Then every man and woman will enter eternity. Some will go to the Lake of Fire and others into the New Earth and New Heaven. Our destiny depends upon what we do with Jesus Christ.
Suggested Links:
Angels - Good & EvilAre the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven the same?
Thy Kingdom Come
The King Reigns
Finally Together!
Searching For God