"Thy Kingdom Come" - Praying the Lord's Prayer - Part 3
- Rebecca Montrone
- 1 day ago
- 15 min read
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
God's answering of this one-sentence powder-keg prayer request spans eternity past, weaves its way through time, and moves on throughout eternity future. As I think about it, it really captures all of our longings as believers and even all of God's. Yes, I think it's safe to say that.
"As believers."
By that I mean as those of us who have received the sacrifice of the life of Jesus Christ on the cross and His victory over the power of death and the grave by coming back to life after having died. Receiving that sacrifice as payment for our own personal sin is our key to being "in." Having made that life-changing, one-time, eternal-destiny-changing transaction with God we are now:
"Believers"
"Followers of Christ"
"The Saved"
"The Redeemed"
"The Children of God"
Pause. Let's stop and savor this truth for a moment, especially as I write this we are in the midst of what many Christians celebrate as Holy Week, the time that begins with Palm Sunday and takes us through to Easter Sunday. As I began writing this it was Thursday, the day Jesus celebrated His last Passover with His disciples; "The Last Supper." As I finish up and release this post today, it is Easter Sunday, and as I smile and slowly shake my head, I am expressing my sheer wonder at this most extravagant and incomprehensible truth:
Jesus Christ has successfully paid the price of my sin in my place and - by coming back to life and walking out of the tomb - has defeated that last enemy, which is death. For the believer, death has no power whatsoever.
Because of this...
We are - through the saving work of Jesus Christ - the children of God, and as children of God we come to Him in prayer whenever we wish. He is...
"...our Father, which art in heaven..."
Ah. Just think about it!
And...
"Hallowed be His glorious name." Oh, yes, at this very moment let's with loving hearts hallow His precious, unsurpassable name! Amen, and Amen.
Okay, now, back to "The Kingdom!"
First, we must address the question:
"What exactly is His Kingdom?"
We are praying "Thy kingdom come..." after acknowledging that His dwelling place is in heaven. We are asking that His kingdom come here to the earth so that His will will be done here on earth as it is already being done in heaven.
Oh, yes, it is being done in heaven! Right now. This very moment. This isn't some strange, fanciful, fictional imagination. Wondrous-Kingdom-industry is actively ongoing while we carry on our affairs of the day here on earth. My! If we kept that more in the front of our conscious thoughts, how might it bring healthy color to how we carry on the affairs of our day today while still living on this earth!?
So, maybe now is a good time to take out our scripture shovels and see what we can unearth when it comes to better understanding what is meant by the Kingdom of God and the prayer request:
"Thy Kingdom Come"
"The Kingdom of God" in Scripture
Entire books could be written - and I'm sure have been - on this one topic. Within the constraints of limited time and space here, let's do our best to wrap our heads around the concept of God's kingdom.
When Jesus began His ministry, His central message was seemingly simple:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
But that raises the obvious question:
What is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom Is God’s Rule and Reign: At its most foundational level, the Kingdom of God is not a place—it is the rule of God.
“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
God has always been King. His Kingdom is not something that begins—it is something that is revealed, expressed, and ultimately will be fully established. There will be no depraved, sinful, competing earthly kingdom; no, "The earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14.
The Kingdom - Definition & Nature
"Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20–21
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
“My kingdom is not of this world…” John 18:36
“…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed…” Daniel 2:44
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Colossians 1:13
“…we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” Hebrews 12:28
“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” 1 Cor 4:20
The Kingdom Present (already here, yet hidden/growing)
Wherever Jesus went—healing, teaching, forgiving, restoring—the rule and reign of God were being made visible in real time. And yet, in one of the great - and tragic - ironies of life, many were looking for signs of the Kingdom while missing the King who was right before their eyes.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
“…if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28
“The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Luke 10:9
“…the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Luke 11:20
Note, that when Jesus declared, “The kingdom of God is at hand,” or “The kingdom of God is in your midst,” He was not speaking abstractly or symbolically—He was pointing to a present reality that many did not recognize:
The King Himself was standing right there among them!
While the Kingdom of God is also a literal kingdom which will one day be fully and visibly established, Scripture makes it clear that it is already present—active, advancing, and at work in ways that are more often unseen. And, the reality that when Jesus was on earth His presence was entirely common and natural to those around Him should encourage our faith when we have a tendency to think heaven is so VERY FAR away from us. It isn't, and HE isn't! He lives in and through each one of us believers, uniting us in Him across the span of heaven and earth.
The Kingdom Future (Fulfillment, Consummation, Return of Christ)
So, yes, The Kingdom of God/The Kingdom of Heaven are here and alive and working powerfully among us all the time, but there is coming a day when His Kingdom will be fully revealed to absolutely everyone who has ever lived or will live and to all created beings - whether angels, principalities, or powers - in all of its power and glory.
"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 forever and ever.'” Revelation 11:15
And... from the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before the Son of God appeared as the Son of Man on the earth:
“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 40:5
These verses direct our eyes to that ultimate fulfillment—when Christ returns and God’s rule is established completely and without opposition. First, the verse we are pulling apart here today:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Then... In Matthew 25, Jesus is speaking about the end of the age and what will happen when He returns in glory. He describes Himself as the Son of Man coming as King, seated on His throne, with all nations gathered before Him. In this scene of final judgment, He separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats—those who belong to Him from those who do not.
The distinguishing mark is not outward religious activity, but the evidence of a transformed life—expressed through acts of love, mercy, and care for others, especially “the least of these.” These actions are not the basis of salvation, but the visible fruit of lives that have truly responded to Him.
It is in this moment that He says to those on His right:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:31-34
This is a breathtaking reminder that the Kingdom is not an afterthought—it has been God’s plan from the very beginning, prepared in advance for those who belong to Him. As Jesus said in His prayer to His Father as recorded in John 17:
THAT, by the way, is what the Resurrection - Easter - is all about!
The following passages continue to carry us forward to the breathtaking culmination of God’s Kingdom plan. What was prepared “from the foundation of the world” will one day be fully revealed, as Christ returns in glory to judge the living and the dead and to bring all things under His rightful rule. The Kingdom, now present but contested, will no longer be hidden or resisted.
As Paul writes, there will come a moment when Christ delivers the Kingdom to the Father (what a scene to witness, right?? - and we will!), having subdued every opposing power, and the reign of God will stand unchallenged.
“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father...” 1 Corinthians 15:24–25
“…Christ Jesus… who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom.” 2 Timothy 4:1
“…for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 Peter 1:11
What we now enter by faith will then be experienced in fullness—an eternal Kingdom where heaven and earth are finally brought into perfect alignment. In that day, the declaration will ring true in its fullest sense:
New heaven and new earth—ultimate fulfillment! Revelation 21:1-4
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”
But! The Timing of Kingdom Affairs Is Not Ours to Control... or even know!
There is a stream of teaching today that suggests the Church is responsible for “bringing in” or preparing the earth for the full arrival of the Kingdom of God—sometimes framed as establishing righteousness, reforming culture, or achieving a level of spiritual maturity that will trigger Christ’s return.
While this perspective often arises from a sincere desire to see God’s will done on earth, it can unintentionally place a burden on believers that Scripture does not assign to us. You can spot these erroneous teachings by anyone calling him or herself a "prophet" today and claiming God saying "I say...". He is not speaking in this way today to anyone, so do not listen to anyone quoting anything God is saying unless they are quoting scripture.
The Bible speaks with remarkable clarity—and seriousness—about the danger of putting words in God’s mouth. Again and again, we are warned against those who claim, “Thus says the Lord,” when the Lord has not spoken. Whether through presumption, imagination, or a desire for influence, attributing human words to God is treated not as a small error, but as a grave offense. These warnings call us to humility, restraint, and a deep reverence for the weight of speaking in God’s name.
Clear Warnings Against False or Presumptuous Prophecy
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak… that same prophet shall die.” — Deuteronomy 18:20
“How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies… who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams…?” — Jeremiah 23:26–27
“Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the LORD.’” — Jeremiah 23:31
“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.” — Jeremiah 23:21
“They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’… though I have not spoken.” — Jeremiah 23:17
“Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” — Ezekiel 13:3
“They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them…” — Ezekiel 13:6
“Its prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.” — Ezekiel 22:28
“You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it…” — Deuteronomy 4:2
“Every word of God proves true… Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” — Proverbs 30:5–6
People often ask with some uneasiness about the command to "fear God." We want to soften things by saying He really means "respect God." This is a perfect example of when that respect means FEAR:
The Standard for True Prophecy
In Scripture, the standard for a true prophet was absolute accuracy; 100%. If someone spoke in the name of the Lord and what they predicted did not come to pass, it was not considered a partial error—it was definitive proof that God had not spoken through them. The instruction was clear:
“When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true… the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)
In fact, under the Old Covenant, such presumption carried the most serious consequence:
“That same prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:20)
This underscores the weight Scripture places on speaking for God—true prophecy was never approximate or speculative, but fully accurate, because it originated from Him.
Back to how we are not given any details regarding the timing of Kingdom things...
Jesus Himself corrects this line of thinking when the disciples ask Him point-blank about it just before He ascends into heaven:
"So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” - Acts 1:6-8
An obsession with tracking world events as prophetic signals can distract from the very mission we’ve been given. Jesus did not instruct us to calculate timelines, but to make disciples.
The Kingdom grows not through speculation regarding details surrounding its arrival, but through faithful engagement in the work of the gospel. Right? Kind of MYOB and share the gospel with anyone and everyone you can! I like that. It keeps my marching orders simple and easy to understand!
The consistent testimony of Scripture is that:
The Kingdom belongs to God—He establishes it in His timing
The return of Christ is not dependent on human readiness or achievement
The Church’s role is not to engineer the Kingdom, but to bear witness to the King
We are called to:
Live faithfully
Proclaim the gospel
Reflect His character
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Matthew 24:36
THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - in Jesus' Parables
In His parables, Jesus reveals The Kingdom of Heaven as something both profoundly real and deeply mysterious—present, yet often hidden; small in its beginnings, yet destined for vast and undeniable growth.
It advances quietly, secretly almost, like seed in the soil or leaven in dough, not by human control but by divine power. Its true value is beyond comparison—worth the surrender of everything else once it is truly seen.
And though it presently unfolds in a world where good and evil exist side by side, a day is coming when its full reality will be revealed, and all will be set right (Yay! "Even so, come, LORD Jesus!").
In every way, the parables invite us not merely to understand the Kingdom, but to recognize it, treasure it, and - most importantly - align our lives with it.
Here are a few examples:
Hidden, Quiet, Always Growing
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed…He sleeps and rises… and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.” (Mark 4:26–27)
So true when you think about gardening in general. But this is extraordinary when you really think about it.
The Kingdom is:
Growing even when we don’t see it
Advancing in ways we don’t control
Working beneath the surface
It is not dependent on human awareness to be active and probably actually benefits from lack of human awareness, because with human awareness often comes human self-congratulations and pride! Right? If we knew everything God was up to in and through us, we'd either try to organize and manage it "better" or take credit for it, or, more likely, BOTH! Ugh!
Small Beginnings, Massive Outcome
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…” (Matthew 13:31–32)
As every cook who loves to work with spices knows, the mustard seed is a very small seed. Yet, the people in that region of the world knew as Jesus was speaking, it grows into a surprisingly large plant—often described as tree-like—big enough for birds to rest in its branches. What begins as something nearly invisible becomes something expansive and life-giving. Like the mustard seed, the Kingdom rarely announces itself with spectacle at first—it expands quietly, then undeniably.
This is very encouraging for those of us who look at the world around us and shake our heads, wondering where God is in certain areas and situations - "Is He doing anything here?"
"Yes," quite simply said, "He is!" And...one day, all of a sudden, it will be enormously apparent.
Influence That Spreads Invisibly
“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven… hidden in flour…” (Matthew 13:33)
Leaven - think yeast - works from the inside out. Whenever I've made bread or rolls, I've loved watching the slow progress of the dough puffing up. I wonder, "How does it do that?!"
I don’t see it happening—but eventually I notice that that lump of kneaded dough has been completely changed.
Of Incomparable Value
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…” (Matthew 13:44)
In this parable, Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven as a treasure hidden in a field, which a man discovers and, in his joy, sells all he has to obtain. The point is that the Kingdom is of such incomparable value that, once it is truly recognized, everything else becomes secondary. What might appear costly on the surface is, in reality, a joyful exchange for something infinitely greater.
“Like a merchant in search of fine pearls…” (Matthew 13:45–46)
Here, Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a merchant searching for fine pearls who, upon finding one of great value, sells all he has to buy it. The emphasis is similar: the Kingdom is worth everything. But in this case, the focus is on intentional seeking—those who are searching for truth will recognize its worth when they find it and willingly surrender all to possess it.
In these two parables, the tone shifts a bit. Not only does the Kingdom expand mysteriously, but it is supremely valuable.
So valuable, in fact, that:
Everything else becomes secondary
Surrender is not loss, but gain. Jesus said,
"He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:39
The one who truly sees it responds with joy
A Final Sorting (aka "Not Everything That Looks Like Kingdom Is Kingdom")
“The kingdom of heaven is like a net…” (Matthew 13:47–50)
In this parable, Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven as a net cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. When it is full, the good are kept and the bad are thrown away. The point is that the Kingdom, in its present form, includes a mixture—people of all kinds—but a day of separation is coming, when God will clearly distinguish between those who truly belong to Him and those who do not.
So, what does it really mean when we pray...
As we pray these words, we are not only aligning ourselves with God’s will—we are also participating in its advance. We are asking for His rule to press into real places of brokenness, pushing back darkness and establishing His truth, His righteousness, and His peace.
Woohoo! What this actually means for you 'n me right now!
Because the Kingdom of God exists on multiple levels—within us, among us, in heaven, and one day fully established over all the earth—it means that all who belong to Christ are already part of this Kingdom, whether we fully grasp it or not.
Every believer, whether still living on earth or already in heaven, is a subject of the same Wondrous King, under the same rule, and held within the same eternal reality. This is what makes our unity in Him so profound: we are not merely connected by shared belief, but by shared citizenship - through His Spirit - in a Kingdom that transcends time, place, and even death itself.
Lyrics
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
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