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Philip Davies
Supporter
To be "at hand", means that it is touchable and within your grasp. It is here and now. It is before you and you only need to reach out to take it and enter it. The Kingdom of God starts with the first coming of Christ and is amongst us. Luke 17:21 All who have faith in Jesus enter it when they confess that Jesus is Lord. Regards Philip
Pastor Shafer
Supporter
[kingdom of heaven is at hand] Literally, "kingdom from the heavens." It is headed by Jesus Christ for the purpose of re-establishing the kingdom of God over this rebellious part of God's realm. Only found in Matthew because it is the gospel of Jehovah's King. It is a dispensational term and refers to Messiah's kingdom on earth. Offered by both John and Jesus (Mt. 3:2; 4:17; 10:7). Because it was rejected, it was postponed until Christ comes to set up the kingdom (Mt. 11:12,20-24; 27:22-25; Lk. 19:11-27; Acts 1:6-7; 3:19-26). It is now the realm of profession (Mt. 13:11-17,30,38-43,47-50). The parables of the kingdom apply to this age. At the end Christ will come and set up a literal earthly kingdom forever (Mt. 25:31-46; Rev. 11:15; 19:11 -- Rev. 20:10; Zech. 14; Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-27; Lk. 1:32-33). During the first 1,000 years of His eternal reign He will put down all rebellion and rid the earth of all rebels. Then God will become "all in all" as before rebellion (Rev. 20:1-10; 21:1 -- Rev. 22:5; 1Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10). Anything said of the kingdom of heaven can also be said of the kingdom of God, because the former is only the earthly dispensational aspect of the latter. There are many things said of the kingdom of God, however, which cannot be said of the kingdom of heaven.
STANLEY S. DRANE
Supporter
I'm glad you asked. We see in Matthew 3:2 (Life Application Bible Notes) the Kingdom of heaven began when God himself entered human history as a man. Today, Jesus Christ reigns in the hearts of believers, but the KIngdom of Heaven will not be fully realized, until all evil in the world is judged, and removed. Christ came to earth first, as a suffering servant; he will come again as king and judge, to rule victoriously over all the earth.
Dannie Aasted
Supporter
The kingdom of heaven is at hand. At hand means right now, available, able to grasp. When it's added to you, you won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” It would seem that God is with us and in us right now, that we don't have to wait for a time to come, rather we are able to dwell in God and God in us right now.
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