The kingdom of God.

[Checkpoint]

Some seem to think it is entirely future, while others give the impression they are always thinking of it as present, and to not be looking at the future in kingdom terms at all.

Jesus had much to say about the kingdom, including this:

Luke 16:

6 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is being zealously urged into it.

So, where do you stand as to whether it is present, future, or has both a present and a future aspect?

On what basis?

According to which scriptures?

[AquinasForGod]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #1178]

Yes. So first from the catechism.

II. "THY KINGDOM COME"

2816 In the New Testament, the word basileia can be translated by "kingship" (abstract noun), "kingdom" (concrete noun) or "reign" (action noun). The Kingdom of God lies ahead of us. It is brought near in the Word incarnate, it is proclaimed throughout the whole Gospel, and it has come in Christ's death and Resurrection. The Kingdom of God has been coming since the Last Supper and, in the Eucharist, it is in our midst. The kingdom will come in glory when Christ hands it over to his Father:

It may even be . . . that the Kingdom of God means Christ himself, whom we daily desire to come, and whose coming we wish to be manifested quickly to us. For as he is our resurrection, since in him we rise, so he can also be understood as the Kingdom of God, for in him we shall reign.86
2817 This petition is "Marana tha," the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: "Come, Lord Jesus."

Even if it had not been prescribed to pray for the coming of the kingdom, we would willingly have brought forth this speech, eager to embrace our hope. In indignation the souls of the martyrs under the altar cry out to the Lord: "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?" For their retribution is ordained for the end of the world. Indeed as soon as possible, Lord, may your kingdom come!87
2818 In the Lord's Prayer, "thy kingdom come" refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ's return.88 But, far from distracting the Church from her mission in this present world, this desire commits her to it all the more strongly. Since Pentecost, the coming of that Reign is the work of the Spirit of the Lord who "complete[s] his work on earth and brings us the fullness of grace."89

2819 "The kingdom of God [is] righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."90 The end-time in which we live is the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. Ever since Pentecost, a decisive battle has been joined between "the flesh" and the Spirit.91

Only a pure soul can boldly say: "Thy kingdom come." One who has heard Paul say, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies," and has purified himself in action, thought and word will say to God: "Thy kingdom come!"92

"The kingdom of God is at hand"

541 "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying: 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe in the gospel.'"246 "To carry out the will of the Father Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth."247 Now the Father's will is "to raise up men to share in his own divine life".248 He does this by gathering men around his Son Jesus Christ. This gathering is the Church, "on earth the seed and beginning of that kingdom".249

763 ... To fulfill the Father's will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church "is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery."162

764 "This Kingdom shines out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ."163 To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome "the Kingdom itself."164 The seed and beginning of the Kingdom are the "little flock" of those whom Jesus came to gather around him, the flock whose shepherd he is.165 They form Jesus' true family.166 To those whom he thus gathered around him, he taught a new "way of acting" and a prayer of their own.167

765 The Lord Jesus endowed his community with a structure that will remain until the Kingdom is fully achieved.


865 The Church is ultimately one, holy, catholic, and apostolic in her deepest and ultimate identity, because it is in her that "the Kingdom of heaven," the "Reign of God,"380 already exists and will be fulfilled at the end of time. The kingdom has come in the person of Christ and grows mysteriously in the hearts of those incorporated into him, until its full eschatological manifestation.

Then from Pope Benedict XVI - Jesus of Nazareth

THE CHRISTOLOGICAL DIMENSION
Here we see that “the Kingdom is not a thing, it is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms. It is a person; it is he. On this interpretation, the term ‘Kingdom of God’ is itself a veiled Christology. By the way in which he speaks of the Kingdom of God, Jesus leads men to realize the overwhelming fact that in him God himself is present among them, that he is God’s presence.” (Pope Benedict, Jesus of Nazareth, Part 1)

THE IDEALISTIC/MYSTICAL DIMENSION
Here we see that The Kingdom of God resides in the heart of man. Church Father, Origen [1] wrote, “those who pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God pray without any doubt for the Kingdom of God that they contain in themselves, and they pray that this kingdom might bear fruit and attain its fullness.”

THE ECCLESIASTICAL DIMENSION
Here we see that the kingdom of God is in the here and now, present in and through the Church. Yet it is a mixed reality that will only be perfectly realized at the end of history. This current “mixed” state can be seen as the Church on earth which now grows in the field of the world with both weeds and wheat until the harvest when Christ says he will “tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned. But gather the wheat into my barn” (Matt 13:30).

So it is from the whole doctrine that we see the kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God is a state of being because only a state of being explains everything the kingdom of God is said to be.

And the kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God is heaven itself of course, which the catechism says.

1024 “This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity—this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed—is called ‘heaven.’ Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.”

[wannabe]

Some seem to think it is entirely future, while others give the impression they are always thinking of it as present, and to not be looking at the future in kingdom terms at all.

Jesus had much to say about the kingdom, including this:

Luke 16:

6 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is being zealously urged into it.

So, where do you stand as to whether it is present, future, or has both a present and a future aspect?

On what basis?

According to which scriptures?

Consider Jesus as a midwife delivering souls to the receiving Father. But only those, available to him, Next!, and then there are no more and heaven starts (the kingdom of God).
At this point a new awareness begins. The Earth is God's Foundation of his kingdom. And we are the fruit of his labor. However his kingdom is greater than the earth, and (the earth) is , also on its way out.

Whoever missed the boat are then regarded by the creator to his desire. And he is a merciful God as well. After receiving the scales of justice from Jesus, he is ready to listen.
Advise: Don't blow your 2nd chance.
Repent accept Jesus as king and enjoy.

Thing is, One has to believe in eternal.
Easy.

" So, where do you stand as to whether it is present, future, or has both a present and a future aspect? "
" On what basis? "

So as to the above on the basis of the overall picture I would say both, present and future Domains.
Whether it is believed or not the 'kingdom of god' is now and towards the future, but not as we know it.
Eternal bypasses death. Live it for a good reason, try checking with Jesus.

" According to which scriptures? "

Mark 1: 14 - 15
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[e] repent and believe in the gospel.”

From way back and ongoing, or spiritual, it's happening.
One could say that the 'kingdom of God' is the title of Gods' project.

[OneWay]

Some seem to think it is entirely future, while others give the impression they are always thinking of it as present, and to not be looking at the future in kingdom terms at all.

Jesus had much to say about the kingdom, including this:

Luke 16:

6 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is being zealously urged into it.

So, where do you stand as to whether it is present, future, or has both a present and a future aspect?

On what basis?

According to which scriptures?

The Kingdom of God is past, present and future.
Luke 17:21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for,
behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

[JehovahsWitness]

A kingdom cannot exist without the following four elements: a king, subjects, laws, and realm/territory.

.... We know the kingdom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is here now (Colossians 1:13, Revelation 1:9). We know from Scripture that when Jesus comes again, He will deliver His present kingdom to God, the Father in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24). The kingdom is spiritual now and will be in the future.

...

Hope it helps!

Not really, but thank you for trying ...

I'm not surprised I honestly believe Jehovahs Witnesses are the only religion on earth that can clearly and simply numerize the four points you raised. Everyone else I have come across simply Kuffufle or give incomprehensible platitudes like "its exisitance", only we can simply explain, in a word or two

[1] king,
[2] subjects,
[3] laws
[4] realm/territory


That is why I believe only Jehovahs Witnesses can preach the good news if the kingdom, because only we can teach people what it is (compare Mat 24:14). You know enough to know that he who says "kingdom" says "rulership" but only we (Jehovahs Witnesses) can explain ...

• Who the king is

• Who his subjects will be

• What laws there will be and

• What territory the king will rule over.

Bravo however for grasping that territory has to come into the picture somewhere!



JW

[JehovahsWitness]

HOW DO CATHOLICS EXPLAIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE?

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #1178]

Yes. So first from the catechism.

II. "THY KINGDOM COME"

2816 In the New Testament, the word basileia can be translated by "kingship" (abstract noun), "kingdom" (concrete noun) or "reign" (action noun). The Kingdom of God lies ahead of us. It is brought near in the Word incarnate, it is proclaimed throughout the whole Gospel, and it has come in Christ's death and Resurrection. The Kingdom of God has been coming since the Last Supper and, in the Eucharist, it is in our midst. The kingdom will come in glory when Christ hands it over to his Father:

It may even be . . . that the Kingdom of God means Christ himself, whom we daily desire to come, and whose coming we wish to be manifested quickly to us. For as he is our resurrection, since in him we rise, so he can also be understood as the Kingdom of God, for in him we shall reign.86
2817 This petition is "Marana tha," the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: "Come, Lord Jesus."

Even if it had not been prescribed to pray for the coming of the kingdom, we would willingly have brought forth this speech, eager to embrace our hope. In indignation the souls of the martyrs under the altar cry out to the Lord: "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?" For their retribution is ordained for the end of the world. Indeed as soon as possible, Lord, may your kingdom come!87
2818 In the Lord's Prayer, "thy kingdom come" refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ's return.88 But, far from distracting the Church from her mission in this present world, this desire commits her to it all the more strongly. Since Pentecost, the coming of that Reign is the work of the Spirit of the Lord who "complete[s] his work on earth and brings us the fullness of grace."89

2819 "The kingdom of God [is] righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."90 The end-time in which we live is the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. Ever since Pentecost, a decisive battle has been joined between "the flesh" and the Spirit.91

Only a pure soul can boldly say: "Thy kingdom come." One who has heard Paul say, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies," and has purified himself in action, thought and word will say to God: "Thy kingdom come!"92

"The kingdom of God is at hand"

541 "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying: 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe in the gospel.'"246 "To carry out the will of the Father Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth."247 Now the Father's will is "to raise up men to share in his own divine life".248 He does this by gathering men around his Son Jesus Christ. This gathering is the Church, "on earth the seed and beginning of that kingdom".249

763 ... To fulfill the Father's will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church "is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery."162

764 "This Kingdom shines out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ."163 To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome "the Kingdom itself."164 The seed and beginning of the Kingdom are the "little flock" of those whom Jesus came to gather around him, the flock whose shepherd he is.165 They form Jesus' true family.166 To those whom he thus gathered around him, he taught a new "way of acting" and a prayer of their own.167

765 The Lord Jesus endowed his community with a structure that will remain until the Kingdom is fully achieved.


865 The Church is ultimately one, holy, catholic, and apostolic in her deepest and ultimate identity, because it is in her that "the Kingdom of heaven," the "Reign of God,"380 already exists and will be fulfilled at the end of time. The kingdom has come in the person of Christ and grows mysteriously in the hearts of those incorporated into him, until its full eschatological manifestation.

Then from Pope Benedict XVI - Jesus of Nazareth

THE CHRISTOLOGICAL DIMENSION
Here we see that “the Kingdom is not a thing, it is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms. It is a person; it is he. On this interpretation, the term ‘Kingdom of God’ is itself a veiled Christology. By the way in which he speaks of the Kingdom of God, Jesus leads men to realize the overwhelming fact that in him God himself is present among them, that he is God’s presence.” (Pope Benedict, Jesus of Nazareth, Part 1)

THE IDEALISTIC/MYSTICAL DIMENSION
Here we see that The Kingdom of God resides in the heart of man. Church Father, Origen [1] wrote, “those who pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God pray without any doubt for the Kingdom of God that they contain in themselves, and they pray that this kingdom might bear fruit and attain its fullness.”

THE ECCLESIASTICAL DIMENSION
Here we see that the kingdom of God is in the here and now, present in and through the Church. Yet it is a mixed reality that will only be perfectly realized at the end of history. This current “mixed” state can be seen as the Church on earth which now grows in the field of the world with both weeds and wheat until the harvest when Christ says he will “tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned. But gather the wheat into my barn” (Matt 13:30).

So it is from the whole doctrine that we see the kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God is a state of being because only a state of being explains everything the kingdom of God is said to be.

And the kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God is heaven itself of course, which the catechism says.

1024 “This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity—this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed—is called ‘heaven.’ Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.”

Excellent. Thanks so much!

“the Kingdom is not a thing....” - Pope Benedict, Jesus of Nazareth, Part 1

[tam]

Peace to you both,

A kingdom cannot exist without the following four elements: a king, subjects, laws, and realm/territory.

.... We know the kingdom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is here now (Colossians 1:13, Revelation 1:9). We know from Scripture that when Jesus comes again, He will deliver His present kingdom to God, the Father in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24). The kingdom is spiritual now and will be in the future.

...

Hope it helps!

Not really, but thank you for trying ...

Yes, but there are direct answers to those questions.

I'm not surprised I honestly believe Jehovahs Witnesses are the only religion on earth that can clearly and simply numerize the four points you raised. Everyone else I have come across simply Kuffufle or give incomprehensible platitudes like "its exisitance", only we can simply explain, in a word or two

That is not true, because you have had conversations with me, and I have shared as I have learned from my Lord, and those answers have not been Kuffufle or platitudes. I can reiterate though:

[1] king,

Christ.

(Christ shares His reign with His Bride - His brothers; His Church - for a thousand years. These ones reign as king-priests in the Kingdom for the thousand years.)

[2] subjects,

Non-Christians also invited into the Kingdom (conditions laid out in the parable of the sheep and goats, where the sheep are in fact non-Christian).

(See the following thread from this forum titled: "A good God would not send a decent atheist to hell" viewtopic.php?p=731804#p731804 )

[3] laws

Love.

(Love is the law of the new covenant, the law that is written upon the heart, the law that is from God from the beginning.)

[4] realm/territory

The Kingdom is established upon the earth.

(The Kingdom is also within us - if Christ and God are in us.)



Peace again to you both,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[MissKate13]

Peace to you both,

A kingdom cannot exist without the following four elements: a king, subjects, laws, and realm/territory.

.... We know the kingdom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is here now (Colossians 1:13, Revelation 1:9). We know from Scripture that when Jesus comes again, He will deliver His present kingdom to God, the Father in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24). The kingdom is spiritual now and will be in the future.

...

Hope it helps!

Not really, but thank you for trying ...

Yes, but there are direct answers to those questions.

I'm not surprised I honestly believe Jehovahs Witnesses are the only religion on earth that can clearly and simply numerize the four points you raised. Everyone else I have come across simply Kuffufle or give incomprehensible platitudes like "its exisitance", only we can simply explain, in a word or two

That is not true, because you have had conversations with me, and I have shared as I have learned from my Lord, and those answers have not been Kuffufle or platitudes. I can reiterate though:

[1] king,

Christ.

(Christ shares His reign with His Bride - His brothers; His Church - for a thousand years. These ones reign as king-priests in the Kingdom for the thousand years.)

[2] subjects,

Non-Christians also invited into the Kingdom (conditions laid out in the parable of the sheep and goats, where the sheep are in fact non-Christian).

(See the following thread from this forum titled: "A good God would not send a decent atheist to hell" viewtopic.php?p=731804#p731804 )

[3] laws

Love.

(Love is the law of the new covenant, the law that is written upon the heart, the law that is from God from the beginning.)

[4] realm/territory[/quote

The Kingdom is established upon the earth.

(The Kingdom is also within us - if Christ and God are in us.)



Peace again to you both,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

There is a spiritual kingdom on earth presently. All true followers of Christ are citizens of His kingdom.

The phrase “a thousand years” is a symbol, not to be taken literally. True followers of Christ are living and reigning with Him now. The thousand years symbolizes the entire Christian dispensation, however long that may be. It will end when Christ comes again.

The kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is and always will be spiritual. It will never be physical. It began on Pentecost AD 33 when the Lord added to His Kingdom those who accepted Peter’s message of repentance and baptism (Acts 2:41,47).

At the end of time, when Jesus comes again, He will deliver the kingdom to God the Father, who is in heaven. Until such time, Jesus will continue to reign over His kingdom, His church.

“24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-25)

[JehovahsWitness]

I can reiterate though:

is below is you MissKate or Tam?

[1] king
Christ.

[2] subjects,
Non-Christians

[3] laws
Love.

[4] realm/territory
The Kingdom is established upon the earth.

(The Kingdom is also within us - if Christ and God are in us.)

If its you, that was what I was looking for. If it was not, can you see how much clearer that was. If the above was Tam do you think you MissKate, could do something similar?



JW

[tam]

[Replying to MissKate13 in post #1187]

Peace to you both,

A kingdom cannot exist without the following four elements: a king, subjects, laws, and realm/territory.

.... We know the kingdom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is here now (Colossians 1:13, Revelation 1:9). We know from Scripture that when Jesus comes again, He will deliver His present kingdom to God, the Father in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24). The kingdom is spiritual now and will be in the future.

...

Hope it helps!

Not really, but thank you for trying ...

Yes, but there are direct answers to those questions.

I'm not surprised I honestly believe Jehovahs Witnesses are the only religion on earth that can clearly and simply numerize the four points you raised. Everyone else I have come across simply Kuffufle or give incomprehensible platitudes like "its exisitance", only we can simply explain, in a word or two

That is not true, because you have had conversations with me, and I have shared as I have learned from my Lord, and those answers have not been Kuffufle or platitudes. I can reiterate though:

[1] king,

Christ.

(Christ shares His reign with His Bride - His brothers; His Church - for a thousand years. These ones reign as king-priests in the Kingdom for the thousand years.)

[2] subjects,

Non-Christians also invited into the Kingdom (conditions laid out in the parable of the sheep and goats, where the sheep are in fact non-Christian).

(See the following thread from this forum titled: "A good God would not send a decent atheist to hell" viewtopic.php?p=731804#p731804 )

[3] laws

Love.

(Love is the law of the new covenant, the law that is written upon the heart, the law that is from God from the beginning.)

[4] realm/territory

The Kingdom is established upon the earth.

(The Kingdom is also within us - if Christ and God are in us.)



Peace again to you both,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

Miss Kate responds:

There is a spiritual kingdom on earth presently. All true followers of Christ are citizens of His kingdom.

Do you mean this similar to what I wrote above, in the sense that the Kingdom is within us (if Christ and God are in us)?

The phrase “a thousand years” is a symbol, not to be taken literally. True followers of Christ are living and reigning with Him now. The thousand years symbolizes the entire Christian dispensation, however long that may be. It will end when Christ comes again.

The beginning of the thousand years occurs when Christ returns and reigns (with His brothers/Church/Bride) upon the earth. See Matt 25 (the sheep and goats parable), because that occurs at His return. Yes, He reigns over us (His sheep) now, training us, subduing us, teaching us peace. But He has not exercised His authority upon the earth just yet. He will do so when He returns.

We can also know that the thousand years (however long a time that might be) has not yet begun, because the Adversary is locked away in the Abyss before that time, then released at the end of that time. Yet currently, the Adversary is free to roam about.

Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering 1 Peter 5:8

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. Rev 20:1-4


The thousand years cannot have begun.

The kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is and always will be spiritual. It will never be physical. It began on Pentecost AD 33 when the Lord added to His Kingdom those who accepted Peter’s message of repentance and baptism (Acts 2:41,47).

I don't know what you mean when you say it will always be spiritual and never physical. I don't know what you mean when you use those terms.

The Kingdom could be described as both, in a sense. The Kingdom is within us by means of Christ and God being in us (and us in them), and they are in us by means of holy spirit (which Christ gives). Spiritual. But the Kingdom will also spread across an actual physical earth, with actual people in it (reigning as king-priests and/or living as subjects). The Bride - the people who reigns with Christ - comes down out of heaven and reigns upon the earth (Rev 21:2, 3).

At the end of time, when Jesus comes again, He will deliver the kingdom to God the Father, who is in heaven. Until such time, Jesus will continue to reign over His kingdom, His church.

At the beginning of the thousand years, Christ returns and begins His reign upon the earth. (see above response) At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released and misleads the nations (who are outside the Kingdom) into coming against the people who belong to God, but fire from heaven devours them.

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Christ does hand the Kingdom back to His Father - for the Judgment (which occurs at the time of the second resurrection; the resurrection of the dead... Rev 20:11-15; also Rev 20:5) - but then His Father hands the Kingdom back to Him, because there is no end to the reign of His Son, and God will be all in all.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:32, 33

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy. Psalm 45:6, 7

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. Hebrews 1:8


Christ does not become a footnote, His throne is not removed from Him; He is King forever, His reign is forever.

“24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-25)

Yes, see above, though the thousand years have not yet begun.

Not to mention the fact that the first resurrection has not yet occurred and that occurs when Christ returns (at the start of the thousand years). Paul speaks of it here:

By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 1Thessalonians 4:15-17

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1 Corinth 15:52

These are both the same event; this is the first resurrection (which occurs at the start of the thousand years); when all who have fallen asleep in Christ are raised to life... aka... resurrected. In addition, those in Christ who are yet alive are caught up and 'changed' in a twinkling.


The second resurrection occurs at the end of the thousand years. See Rev 20:5 perhaps, and of course the end of that chapter which speaks OF the second resurrection, the resurrection of the dead.


Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[onewithhim]

The state of being of the kingdom is to be united with Christ, to have Christ in our hearts...

Okay, so the kingdom of God is the condition or state when people feel united with Chist in their hearts. Its a feeling or a mental state. Is that about right?

No, that is not about right.

It is far from what Aquinas wrote and meant.
Kingdom
Take closer look at what he did say, and compare that with what you added.as beig what he meant.

He did not mean "a feeling or mental state"

But that is what you indicated.....You said that it is to "be united with Christ, to have Christ in our hearts." That is a mental state. Tell me, please, what the Kingdom looks to be from these quotes:

"The God of heaven will set up a Kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. It will crush and put an end to all [men's] kingdoms, and it will stand forever." (Daniel 2:44)

"The government shall rest on [the Son's] shoulder....To the increase of his government and to peace there will be no end. On the throne of David and on his
Kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it through justice and righteousness, from now on and forever." (Isaiah 9:6,7)


Doesn't the Kingdom seem to be more than just having Christ in our hearts?