The "Lord's Prayer" -- "Thy Kingdom Come"

The "Lord's Prayer," in which Jesus said "thy kingdom come," should more properly be called the "model prayer" because Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray (Lk 11:2). At the time of His teaching the kingdom was evidently future. If the prayer was answered and the kingdom has come, then it would be pointless to continue to pray for it to come.

Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). Jesus taught His disciples the character of the kingdom (Mk. 4:11). He taught the people about it in many parables (Mk. 4:26-32; Matt. 13:24-35; Lk. 11:17-20). As His ministry on earth was nearing its close, Jesus said: "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power" (Mk. 9:1). After being resurrected, Jesus spoke to the apostles of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3). He promised them power upon being baptized with the Holy Spirit "not many days from" that promise (Acts 1:4-8). On Pentecost the Holy Spirit came, and the apostles were empowered to speak different languages, to perform other miracles and to teach by inspiration (Acts 2:1-47). Obedient ones were translated "into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13). They thus became companions with the apostles in the kingdom of Christ (Rev. 1:9). Few would deny in public debate that the kingdom of Christ has come, yet it is commonly preached that at Christ's coming Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth and will then rule and reign for 1000 literal years. But if the kingdom has come, and it evidently has, then that teaching has no foundation. The Scriptures are very clear in teaching that Christ is now reigning over His kingdom. He ascended into heaven to sit upon the throne of David at the right hand of God (Acts 2:29-36). He has been given all authority, in heaven and upon earth (Matt. 28:18). Is Christ your King? By divine right He should be honored and obeyed. Mere acknowledgement that Jesus is Lord and Savior is not obedience to the gospel. John wrote: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5b). Speaking to those who had obeyed the gospel (Rom 10:16) Peter wrote: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" 1 Pet. 1:22, 23). We learn from Acts chapter 2 how people get into the church. The church is the saved (verse 47). Since the saved are delivered "from the power of darkness" and translated "into the kingdom of his dear Son," then the church and the kingdom must be the same.

Christ's kingdom/church is present now and has been for nearly 2000 years. It is appropriate for disciples today to pray that people will enter it to be saved. Have you been born again by the Word of God (Jn. 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:22, 23) so that you might enter His kingdom, which is his church, and also called the "family" of God (Eph. 3:15)? Have you been baptized into Christ through faith in Him in order to put on Christ and to abide in Him (Gal. 3:26, 27)?

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