The Kingdom of God

Series: Buried Treasure — Key Terms & Concepts

Key Scripture Passages: Isaiah 61:1–2, Luke 4:18–21, Luke 17:20–21, Romans 8:22–25, Revelation 21:1–5

Focus Keyphrase: kingdom of god now and not yet

In the world of prophecy and biblical history, things rarely happen just once. This concept—often called “Prophetic Telescoping”—can be really confusing for readers unless you give them a good visual. If Typology is the pattern, then understanding the kingdom of god now and not yet (or Near and Far Fulfillment) gives us the exact timeline.

Near and Far Fulfillment: The “Two Peaks” Analogy

Imagine you are standing in the Oklahoma plains looking toward a distant mountain range. You see a mountain peak, and from where you stand, it looks like it’s right next to another, taller peak directly behind it.

• The Near Fulfillment: This is the first peak. It’s an event that happens “soon” in the biblical story, such as the return of Israel from exile in Babylon.
• The Far Fulfillment: This is the second, taller peak. From a distance, they look like one single event, but as you get closer across time, you realize there are hundreds of miles (or years) between them. This is the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus or at the end of time.

Now and Not Yet: The “Inauguration” Analogy

This is about the Kingdom of God. It’s the “tension” we live in every single day.

• The “Now”: Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” Through Him, we have access to peace, healing, and forgiveness right now. The true “Return from Exile” has already begun.
• The “Not Yet”: We still get sick. We still encounter “thorns and thistles” in our gardens and daily responsibilities. The full restoration—the world where there is no more death, sorrow, or pain—is “Not Yet.”

D-Day vs. V-E Day

A helpful way to visualize this tension comes from modern military history:

• Now (D-Day): The decisive invasion has taken place and the strategic battle has been won. The final outcome of the war is completely certain. The power of the enemy has been broken.
• Not Yet (V-E Day): The war is still technically going on until the final declaration of peace. There are still skirmishes, local friction, and real pain before the ultimate surrender and the grand celebration begins.

Concept	The “Near” / The “Now”	The “Far” / The “Not Yet”
Exile	Israel physically leaving Babylon and rebuilding the altar.	Humanity being permanently restored to God’s presence.
The King	An earthly ruler setting up a temporary throne (like David).	Jesus reigning eternally over a renovated universe.
Healing	A miracle or touch of physical restoration happening today.	The day when all bodies are resurrected and made completely new.

Finding Sanctuary in the “Not Yet”

If Typology is the pattern, then “Now and Not Yet” (or Near and Far Fulfillment) is our true operational map.

This concept is a wonderful tool for humility and comfort. It tells us: “It’s okay if your life still feels like a mess sometimes.” We live in the “Not Yet.” We possess the unshakeable promise (the “Now”), but we are still waiting for the full, final harvest. Understanding this timeline prevents us from getting discouraged when our own “Return” doesn’t look completely flawless just yet.

Pause & Consider

We often look at the lingering brokenness in our lives—the physical exhaustion, the sudden disruptions, and the heavy structural maintenance of a fallen world—and assume that something is fundamentally wrong with our faith blueprint. We experience a deep tension because we know the battle has been won, yet we still feel the intense friction of the daily grind. But on the Master’s map, this tension is not a failure of design; it is the deliberate overlap of two historic seasons.

Release the frustrating pressure to experience a completely flawless, friction-free life today. You are currently walking through a real, transitionary landscape. The verdict of your justification is already fully finalized, and your place in the sanctuary is absolutely secure; yet the physical restoration of all creation is still moving toward its designated completion date.

You do not have to perform perfectly or manufacture a false reality to prove your faith. It is okay to feel the ache of the wilderness while you hold the certainty of the Promise. Sit quietly in the space between the victory and the fulfillment, drop the ledger of your anxieties, and simply trust that the One who authored the beginning is perfectly capable of maintaining your stride until you reach the final boundary line.

Let’s Talk About It!

Living in the tension of the “Now and Not Yet” gives us such freedom to rest in Christ’s completed work while having patience with our present season! How does this truth speak to your heart today? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below:

• Where do you feel the tension between the “Now” and the “Not Yet” most acutely in your daily walk or family life?
• How does the D-Day vs. V-E Day analogy help relieve the pressure when you encounter “skirmishes” or trial in a world where Christ has already won?
• What practices help you hold onto the certainty of the “Promise” while navigating the messy realities of the “wilderness”?

If you haven’t yet discovered this deep peace and joy that is found only in surrender to Jesus, it would be my sincere honor to walk alongside you on that journey. You’re welcome to leave a comment or send me an email, and I will respond as quickly as possible. In the meantime, a wonderful place to start is by reading the Gospels of Mark and John in your Bible. Mark is short and action-packed, getting straight to the point of what Jesus did, while John is a beautifully profound look at exactly who Jesus claimed to be. If you want to explore further right here on the blog, you might also find comfort in posts within the series: Connections. — Beth

Key Terms & Concepts

Theological Coordinate	The “Now” (The Already)	The “Not Yet” (The Future Fulfillment)
Inaugurated Eschatology	The decisive intrusion of the Kingdom of God into human history through the first coming, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.	The Consummation: The final, ultimate consummation of the Kingdom of God at the return of Christ, where every shadow is permanently swallowed up by the substance.
The Spiritual Status	Total Justification: The absolute clearance of our performance ledger, the tearing of the veil, and immediate, unbroken access to the Father’s presence.	Total Glorification: The physical resurrection of our bodies, the absolute eradication of sin’s presence, and the cessation of all bodily decay and death.
The Current Ecosystem	The Earnest of the Spirit: The structural deposit of the Holy Spirit inside the believer, serving as a real down payment and guarantee of our final inheritance.	The New Creation: The total structural renovation of the cosmos, replacing the thorn-choked soil of the curse with a pristine, eternal landscape of rest.
The Overlapping Ages	The Present Evil Age: The fading system of self-reliance, death, and decay that still exerts real environmental friction on our daily walk.	The Age to Come: The eternal reality of Christ’s undisputed rule that has already broken into our hearts, providing a literal sanctuary amidst the darkness.