Thy Kingdom Come
In the days when I worked in Mexico (in Spanish), I would come to the US about once a year to try to raise financial and prayer support. One Sunday I was speaking at a church in Illinois. At a certain place in my message, I could not think of how to say my next point. All I could think of was Venga Tu Reino. So I said that. Probably almost no one understood me yet I could not think of my original point, either. I said it again, “Venga Tu Reino”. The congregation stared at me. I stared back. I could not think of how to continue my message in English. I said it again as if that were going to help, Venga Tu Reino.
The pastor's daughter was present in the congregation that morning. She had married a man from Guatemala. She finally shouted out, “Thy Kingdom come!” Relived, I said, “Thank you!” and I was back on track with my message. I told the people that believers for the past 2,000 years have been praying that. Some day someone will make that petition for the last time and the Kingdom on earth will become a realization instead of a promise.
Then the seventh angel sounded; 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 will reign for ever and ever. (Rev 11:15 NASB)
Someday the kingdom of this world will be come the promised Kingdom of Heaven.
The Kingdom of Heaven will become the Kingdom of Christ.
The Kingdom of Christ will become the Kingdom of the Father, as Jesus taught His followers to pray
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (Luke 11:2)
This is when Jesus has reigned as Sovereign Dictator for 1,000 years. After He, a resurrected and glorified Man (though also Divine), has put down all rebellion and resistance, will hand His Kingdom over to the Father (1 Cor 15:24). Then, will brought to pass the fulfillment to the petition, “Our Father...Thy Kingdom come!”
Who will rule the Kingdom then? “... and He will reign for ever and ever.” Jesus never stops ruling (Isa 9:7). The end of the One Thousand Years is not so much an event as it is a marker. The end of the Millennium marks the point where God wants to do the next thing on His agenda, The Father's Kingdom. This is a universe characterized by no more warfare or conflict. This is because Jesus has made it all possible.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
(George Frideric Handel 1742)
Dec.
14, 2024