CHAPTER 8 – WHERE IS the KINGDOM of GOD FOUND on the EARTH?

Many teachings found in the Bible are extremely fascinating and interesting to me!
We have learned in “The MYSTERY of the KINGDOMS REVEALED – PART I” that Lucifer/Satan sinned in “Eden the Garden of God” which I believe to be the “Kingdom of God” in the third heaven and was thrown down to the earth by God. I believe that by God doing this is when and where He gave Satan the authority to eventually establish the physical concept of the “kingdom(s) of the world.” I believe this is the time and place in history when and where Satan become the “god of this age,” the “prince of the power of the air,” the “ruler,” and the “evil one” of the “kingdom(s) of the world.”
Luke 10:18 And He {Jesus} said to them, I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from heaven {to the planet earth}. AMP
Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! {Lucifer/Satan} You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! NIV
Ezekiel 28:16 Through the abundance of your commerce you {Satan} were filled with lawlessness and violence, and you sinned; therefore I {God} cast you out as a profane thing from the mountain of God {part of the Kingdom of God in the third heaven} and the guardian cherub drove you out from the midst of the stones of fire. AMP
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age {Satan} has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the {spiritual} image of God, should shine on them. NKJV
Ephesians 2:2 In which at one time you {an unsaved sinner} walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air {Satan}. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. AMP
John 14:30 {Jesus speaking} I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming {Satan}, and he has nothing in Me. NKJV
1 John 5:19 We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one {Satan}. AMP

The desire of Satan’s sinful mind-set and spiritual heart was to exalt himself so as to be “God” with his own kingdom.
Isaiah 14:13-14 {God talking to} And you {Lucifer} said in your {spiritual} heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. AMP

When Satan and one third of God’s angels now known as “demons” was thrown to the earth, he brought with him his sinful mind-set and spiritual heart to frustrate the desires of men’s mind-sets and spiritual hearts from the worshiping and serving of the true God to now walk with him – Satan – to actually worship and serve him in the “kingdom(s) of the world” and his demonic army! He has done an excellent job of deceiving the unsaved peoples of the world including “Christians” in their making an “idol/god” of this world and the things of this world.
Revelation 12:3-4a And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon {Satan – Revelation 12:9} having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4a His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth NKJV
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He {Jesus Christ} made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air {Satan}, the {demonic} spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience {unrepentant sinners}, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature {sinful} children of wrath {of God}, just as the others. NKJV
Psalms 24:4-5 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. NKJV

The Kingdom of God/heaven and the “kingdom(s) of the world” are one of those teachings that fascinate me. As we have learned earlier in this study, Jesus instructed us to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God/heaven. Jesus also adamantly proclaimed that His Kingdom did NOT belong to this world, and that It is indeed His Kingdom. We also have learned in “The MYSTERY of the KINGDOMS REVEALED – PART I” that Jesus Christ is the very embodiment/example of His Kingdom! Where He is, there it is with Him! This is a very bold statement to make because of the implications that goes with it! We have learned that Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit – the Godhead – live in us, thus making US Christians the SAME embodiment and example of His Kingdom here on earth!!!
Matthew 6:33 {Jesus said} But {you} seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. AMP
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would have been fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, My kingdom is not from here (this world); [it has no such origin or source]. AMP
Matthew 12:28 But if I {Jesus Christ} cast out demons by the Spirit of God {which He did}, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. NKJV

Many Christians use the Scripture from Isaiah 9:6 as giving Jesus Christ the authority to rule over the present day governments of the world. I do NOT believe this is what that Scripture means when taken in context with John 18:36 and Revelation 11:15.
Isaiah 9:6 {The prophecy given for Jesus Christ.} For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. [Isa 25:1; 40:9-11; Matt 28:18; Luke 2:11.] AMP
{Notice the word “government” is singular rather than plural meaning He shall shoulder HIS worldwide government upon His Second Coming!}
Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world {and its people and governments} has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” NIV

Also many many Christians like to use 2 Chronicles 7:14 for the healing of the land and restoring it back to what it was previously. Jesus told us to FIRST seek His Kingdom, His righteousness, and then He said that ALL of the things we need for our ministry in His spiritual Kingdom would be given us. The Bible also shares with us that we – Bride Church Christians are “aliens” – NOT permanent dwellers on the earth. This being the case, we do NOT have any land to be healed!
2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. NASU
1 Peter 2:11 Dear brothers, you are only visitors {aliens} here. Since your real home is in heaven, I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls. TLB

In John 18:36, Jesus Christ tells us very plainly that His Kingdom is NOT of this world! If His kingdom is NOT of this world, He is NOT involved in the ruling of the present day “governments of the world!” It is His Father who controls the governments of the “kingdom(s) of the world.” But it is Christ Who will rule His Kingdom now containing the peoples from their nations and governments of the world for 1000 years. I do NOT know how He as Judge is going to sort it out, but we also must realize that at His Second Coming, His revealed title as KING of kings and LORD of lords means that He will NOT rule His Kingdom with any “kingdom(s) of the world” types or systems of government. He will then rule His Kingdom on earth with a loving Spirit, a welcoming Spirit, and the Spirit of complete and total redemption for His children.
Romans 13:1 {You} Obey the government, for God {the Father} is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. TLB
2 Timothy 4:1 I {Paul} CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: AMP
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. NKJV {Christians are being beheaded NOW!}
Revelation 19:16 And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name (title) inscribed, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. [Deut 10:17; Dan 2:47.] AMP
Revelation 22:14 Blessed (happy and to be envied) are those who cleanse their garments, that they may have the authority and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city. [Gen 2:9; 3:22, 24.] AMP
Revelation 19:8 She {Christ’s Bride Church} has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white–for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people). AMP
Revelation 22:16-17 I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and to give you assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies). I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and brilliant Morning Star. [Isa 11:1, 10.] 17 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. [Isa 55:1.] AMP

We must understand that Christ’s Kingdom under His authority and rule upon His Second Coming is NOT the same as God the Father’s Sovereignty and Providence over His placing in power every ruler of any type of worldly government at any time and place in human history prior to Christ’s Second Coming. His Kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom.
Psalms 145:10-13 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion {domain and power} endures throughout all generations {from the beginning to the end}. NKJV
Romans 13:1 LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction {His predestined plans}], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment. [Prov 8:15.] AMP
Psalms 75:6 For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another. TLB

The Kingdom of God at the present time is a spiritual kingdom, but upon Christ’s Second Coming, He will bring with Him the new physical city of Jerusalem from which He will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords for 1000 years.
Revelation 21:1-3 THEN I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea. [Isa 65:17; 66:22.] 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband; 3Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God. [Ezek 37:27.] AMP