When Christ Jesus started his public ministry, he said to the people, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 4:17 This kingdom—which he referred to as both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven —was central to Jesus' message to humanity. And though he said the kingdom was "at hand," he also taught his followers to pray, "Thy kingdom come." Matt. 6:10 In the centuries since Jesus' time, these words (part of the prayer known as the Lord's Prayer) have passed through the lips of billions of people.
As a reader of this magazine, you probably are a seeker of Truth. Would you like to have a clearer understanding of Jesus' teachings so you can put them into practice in your life? If so, perhaps you've asked yourself: "Just what is the kingdom of God? Where is it? Why pray 'Thy kingdom come'? What difference will it make?"
Unless you live in a country headed by a king, the concept of a kingdom, in which everyone is subject to one ruler's authority, may seem a bit irrelevant. And if you do live in such a place, it could seem far from ideal. The kingdom of God, however, is relevant to everyone, because it includes everyone (we are all God's children). And it is ideal—always just and merciful for all, because it is not God's nature to be anything but just and merciful.
