IS THIS KINGDOM NOW THEOLOGY?

Almost before this ministry drew its first breath, there were those who accused us of promoting "Kingdom Now" theology. We therefore consider it very important to clarify this point right from the beginning.

A quick search on the internet will reveal that "Kingdom Now" theology, otherwise known as "Restorationism", "Dominion Theology", "Manifest Sons of God" and a swag of other names, covers a wide range of beliefs, some of which we would endorse and some of which we most definitely would not.

Rather than try to address every point which is raised under these various titles, we have simply set out below what we believe concerning the Kingdom of God.

1. A Kingdom is the rule of a King. Therefore when we talk about the Kingdom of God, we are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ ruling and reigning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This concept is surely one to which no true Christian should object.

2. The Kingdom of God has both a present and a future aspect. Both John the Baptist and Jesus Himself began their ministries by proclaiming "The Kingdom of God is at hand." That is, it is here! Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is within you" and "The Kingdom of God has come among you." At the same time, the Bible makes it clear that there is a future aspect to the Kingdom. Jesus told His followers to pray, "Thy Kingdom come." We believe there will be a literal Millennial Reign when Jesus will rule on this earth, and that this will be the fulfilment of the Kingdom.

3. The present aspect of the Kingdom is spiritual, not material. When Jesus stood before Pilate He made it clear that His Kingdom was not of this world. Therefore we do not expect that governments, media, or other world systems will become totally Christian before the return of Jesus.

4. As Christians we are not just to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, but as our Lord and King. We are to live as part of His Kingdom. If nowhere else in the world, Jesus should be King of kings and Lord of lords in our hearts and lives.

5. Individually, God has "predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son." (Romans 8:29) Our God-given destiny is to become like Jesus!

6. Corporately, we are to "attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4: 13). Corporately, we are meant to become like Jesus!

7. The purpose of (5) and (6) above is that the world might see Jesus in us. This means that they are to see all aspects of Him in His Body – both His righteousness and His mercy, both His love and His truth. If Jesus is King, then this means that the world is to see Him as King in His Body.

8. Both during His earthly life and at the time of His ascension, Jesus gave His followers authority in the spiritual realms. By His death on the Cross He defeated satan and all the powers of darkness (Col. 2:15.) Whatever power the devil exercises on earth now, he exercises by default because the Church has not taken up either the victory that Jesus won or the authority that He has given to us. We are meant to exercise that authority to establish Jesus' rule in the hearts and lives of men and women on earth now. If we are not seeking to establish Jesus' rule, then we are by default agreeing to satan's rule.

9. There are two kingdoms in operation at the present time, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of satan. They are on collision course, and that collision will happen on the earth at the end of time.

10. In the end times the church will have divided into two parts: those who have fallen away and are Christian in name only, but are really part of the kingdom of satan; and those who individually and corporately are being increasingly changed to be like Jesus, who are the Kingdom of God on earth.

11. The more those who are part of the Kingdom of God become like Jesus (that is, they become corporately the visible manifestation of the King) the more the kingdom of satan will persecute them. However, this will be self-defeating because the more they are persecuted, the more they will become like Jesus. They will be like Him not only in His character, but in His authority and power, and the only time the kingdom of satan will be able to stand against them will be when God gives them into his hand. When this happens, they will accept death with such joy and such love for their persecutors that their deaths, rather than a defeat, will be a further victory for the Kingdom of God, and many will be brought to repentance by the faith of those they have martyred.

12. God's promise is that "the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former" (Haggai 2:9) This was not just a promise for ancient Israel concerning the Temple, but for the Church. The early church was small and persecuted, yet it was said of them that "they turned the world upside down." The latter day church will move with greater power and authority, see greater miracles and greater conversions – and experience greater persecution – than the early church ever did. It is this very power and authority in the Body of Christ that will stir up the devil to gather the whole of his followers into armies to fight against the King, who will then personally return, defeat His enemies with a word, and establish His earthly millennial Kingdom.