¿IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE LITERAL OR FIGURE?

What is the Kingdom of God — a literal or figurative kingdom? While it is generally understood that the message Jesus preached was that of the Kingdom of God, the question of whether this Kingdom is literal or figurative is more complicated. Since Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom "had drawn near" (Mark 1:15), some think that this kingdom is literally here on earth through the Church or figuratively in our hearts. Others recognize that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50), and say that the kingdom is not here yet.

Jesus recognized the difficulty in understanding this part of his message, which is why he called it a "mystery." Speaking to his disciples, Jesus said: “To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, by parables all things; so that seeing, seeing and not perceiving; and hearing, hear and do not understand; so that they do not convert, and their sins be forgiven ”(Mark 4: 11-12).

So what did the disciples understand? What did Jesus and the prophets predict? A careful study of the Scriptures gives us clarity.

The Kingdom of God is a literal kingdom. God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream of an image of a man with a head of gold, his chest and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of bronze, his legs and feet partly of iron and partly of mud. God revealed the meaning of the dream through Daniel, showing that there would be four world empires (Daniel 2: 31-43). History has shown that these were the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greco-Macedonian and Roman empires. 

Concluding this explanation, Daniel wrote: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will raise a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will the kingdom be left to another people; He will crush and consume all these kingdoms, but he will remain forever ”(v. 44). The Kingdom of God will replace the governments of this land in this way.

The Kingdom of God will be established on earth when Jesus returns. The Kingdom will be established after Christ returns to earth. Revelation 11:15 states: “The seventh angel blew the trumpet, and there were great voices in heaven, which said: The kingdoms of the world have come to be of our Lord and of his Christ; and he will reign for ever and ever. ” Jesus told his disciples that when the Kingdom was established: "You who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, to judge the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28, also compare Luke 22:30). 

We prepare for the Kingdom by living according to the rules of the Kingdom now. Jesus explained to Nicodemus how one can enter the Kingdom of God. He told him that one must "be born again" (John 3: 1-8). This process begins with baptism, which means the death of the old sinful man and the beginning of a new life dedicated to Christ (Romans 6: 1-5). This culminates in a change of mortal flesh and blood to an immortal spirit upon the return of Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 50-53; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17). 

When we begin this process, we are symbolically "transferred" to the Kingdom (Colossians 1:13) and our "citizenship" is now considered as if it were in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Upon completion of the process of being born again, we will be changed to immortal beings and become kings and priests serving in the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 1: 6; 5:10). For a deeper explanation, look on this site for the article "What does it mean to be born again?"

Now that you know what the Kingdom of God is, you need to understand how to obey Jesus' command to seek this Kingdom and his justice (Matthew 6:33). Your task is to learn what the laws of God are and then begin to live according to the rules of that Kingdom.