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     Early in His three years ministry, Jesus told His disciples, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11).  Although the Jews thought they had been God’s kingdom for nearly 1500 years, the kingdom Jesus referred to was yet to come and indeed was a mystery.  In the last several articles we briefly considered three of the four elements of which a kingdom consists.

     (1) The sovereign king — Jesus who is reigning on His throne in heaven (Acts 2:29-36; Hebrews 10:12; 12:2).

     (2) His citizen subjects of which the apostle Paul declared he was one (Colossians 1:13-14).

     (3) The standard or royal edicts by which the sovereign rules.  Jesus gave the New Testament beginning 10 days after he ascended into heaven (Acts chapters 1 & 2).  The New Testament writings were given by Jesus via the Holy Spirit to the writers (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:13-14).

     Every king has a territory over which he rules.  Ancient Israel believed their kingdom was intact because God promised their land to Abraham (Genesis 17:8; Numbers 33:50-53; Deuteronomy 12:10).  Included in God’s admonitions to Israel, repentance of idolatry and continuing to live in the land were connected — “Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers forever and ever” (Jeremiah 25:5).  Territory!  All important!  No territory, no kingdom!  So where is Jesus’ kingdom?

     On the one hand, the apostle John wrote, “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5).  Yet, Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world… ” (John 8:36).  Some 30 years later, the apostle Paul wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).  How could King Jesus’ territory be in heaven, yet a citizen (Paul) be on earth?  How could Jesus effectively rule His kingdom?

     Regarding this new covenant and new kingdom, God’s prophetic promise, reveals the territory over which Jesus would rule — “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:31-34).  Each Christian’s heart is the territory of Jesus kingdom.  More of mystery of the heart and kingdom to be revealed.

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