My working understanding of the KIngdom is that it has been inaugurated with the first advent (although I may be open to considering an earlier start date). It's clearly here (Jesus said it was among us, even "in us," I think depending on the translation), and yet it's not fully here (we're instructed to pray for God's Kingdom to come). I think the Kingdom is where the King is (as in I want the Kingdom to come in my heart, my family, my city, and to the ends of the earth). We the Church, believers from every tongue, tribe, and epoch of time, are in a very real sense the Body of Christ, going forth in His authority proclaiming/demonstrating His Kingdom on the way (hence the ample explanations of what "the kingdom of Heaven is like" from Jesus). We, of course, don't always obey the King as He's accustomed to in Heaven (thereby misrepresenting what the Kingdom of God is like), and so we must regularly pray that He will help us remedy that.
I think it's probably a mistake to say that we, the Church, are the Kingdom, but the Kingdom should be alive in us and the King should be reigning through us (so it's an honest mistake). When Jesus was telling Pilate that His kingdom was not of this earth, I think He was distinguishing between typical human kingdoms that are a matter of geographic jurisdiction (as in, "this dirt is ours"). God is building a kingdom, a Heavenly country, a city that crosses over political/social/geographic/etc. boundaries and is made out of "living stones."
I think the period of time we live in now is reminiscent of King David's early years when he was on the run from King Saul. He was identified by God as the rightful king of Israel. God told Saul his services were no longer needed. And yet Saul went on for years sitting on the throne as an illegitimate king, calling the shots, wrecking havoc, etc. All the while David's influence continually grew while Saul's diminished. David was amassing an army of followers, waiting for the day when all would recognize his right to rule (just as Jesus now waits for the Father to make all His enemies His footstool). Jesus is clearly the King, however, Satan still has considerable rule (illegitimate as it may be) though it is consistently diminishing (the gates of Hell not prevailing against Jesus advancing Church and all that). I think Jesus eluded to being the "stronger man" who had bound the strong man, Satan, and was now plundering his house (the context of Jesus snatching demonized people out of Satan's kingdom and into His own, while Satan looks on powerless to stop Him).
Jesus spoke of the "gospel of the kingdom." What we think of as "the gospel," God's plan of salvation, is only a part of the gospel of the kingdom (an important part, no doubt). What we think of as "the gospel," is really just the getting in part, or becoming a citizen of the kingdom. In the American church, we often stop here and call it good. Say the prayer and you're in (we don't so much bother to tell them what they're in). I think the whole deal, though, goes something like this: You've been living a lie, serving a false king, but the rightful King is coming in force. His kingdom is like no other (no death, suffering, or malice). He cares for His subjects like children and they adore Him as a father. As rebels, we are enemies to the King and against everything His kingdom stands for. When He arrives in force, He will rightly establish His kingdom, in which we are unfit to dwell. However, He is a merciful King, and He came in secret and purchased legitimate citizenship, at great expense to Himself, for all who are willing to switch sides. So switch sides now. Become the resistance. Pledge your allegiance to Him, live under His reign now, and He will equip you to be a citizen, even a prince, of His kingdom, living in enemy territory and to stand your ground until He arrives. He is already on the move. His Kingdom is unstoppable. Tell others that the rightful King is almost here. His offer of amnesty is only good until He arrives. By then it will be too late. He is patient, but He cannot wait forever.
Credit of this Article is attributed to Josh Armstrong
