What Does the Bible Say About the Kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God, also known as the kingdom of Heaven, is not a geographical location. In the kingdom of God, Jesus reigns as Lord and King, in contrast to the kingdom of the World, where the Devil reigns. The kingdom of God has come to earth with Jesus, is spreading more and more as the message of Jesus spreads, and will come in its fullness on the day Jesus returns. To enter the kingdom of God, one needs to repent, believe in Jesus, leave everything and be born again. Those who are poor, small, and sinful have an easier time entering the kingdom of God than those who are rich, haughty, and self-righteous. Once inside the kingdom of God, the rules and conditions are different from those in the kingdoms of the world; we are no longer slaves and masters, but brothers and sisters, and the idea is that there should be love, peace, forgiveness, restoration, purity, and joy between us.

Bible Verses

“¹In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ²“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (Mt 3:1–2)

“¹⁶“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.” (Lk 16:16)

“¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Mt 24:14)

“²⁰Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, ²¹nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”” (Lk 17:20–21)

“¹⁵Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”” (Mk 10:15)

“³Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” (Jn 3:3)

“⁵Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (Jas 2:5)

“¹⁵Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, 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 shall reign forever and ever.”” (Re 11:15)

Study Questions

1. What is the difference between being a citizen of the Kingdom of God and a member of a church?
2. In what ways is the Kingdom of God visible in our church?
3. How can we become better at learning to live according to the rules and conditions of the Kingdom of God?
4. Why is it so difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God?

Additional Bible Verses

Luke 6:20, Col 1:12-13, Eph 5:5, Gal 3:26-28, Rev 12:10, 1 Cor 15:24, Luke 22:18, Luke 9:59-62, Acts 14:22, Matt 16:28, Luke 13:20-21, Mark 4:30-32, Acts 28:31, Luke 8:1, Matt 13:44, Matt 19:23-24, Matt 8:11, Matt 5:10, Matt 19:14, Matt 7:21, John 18:36