19th September 2025

Throughout history kingdoms and empires have risen to greatness and then faded into memory. Babylon with its hanging gardens, Rome with its grand columns, the mighty dynasties and pyramids of Egypt, the palaces of Persia, and the castles of Europe. All of these, magnificent as they were, could not withstand the inexorable passage of time. Scripture presents a different voice that the creed picks up on: Jesus’s kingdom is not like these earthly realms. It is not founded upon the shifting sands of worldly power; it is not subject to decay; it is not threatened by rival powers, nor is it subject to the whims of human rulers – it is everlasting.

The assertion that God’s kingdom will never end is deeply rooted throughout the Old Testament. In the prophets we are told, ‘His kingdom is an eternal kingdom’ (Daniel 4:3), and ‘Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever.’ (Isaiah (9:7). And the psalms tell us, ‘Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom’ (Psalm 145:13); a theme that continues into the New Testament, as the header scripture shows.  

The kingdom of God is not marked by borders drawn on maps, nor by armies and fortresses. God’s kingdom is not an empire built on physical conquest, but a realm founded on love, justice, and mercy. Jesus says in John 18:36, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ It transcends politics and geography. It is not maintained by force, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s Kingdom is first and foremost the rule and reign of God and is both ‘already and not yet’. The kingdom is present in the lives of Christians and the church, where Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), and is present wherever God’s will is done, and his love and justice are evidenced. But the kingdom is awaiting its consummation and full realisation in the future. It is present, future, and will have no end.

What does it mean, then, to live as citizens of a kingdom that will have no end? It means that our ultimate allegiance is to God, not to any human authority or fleeting trend. It means that our values, our hopes, and our purpose are shaped by God’s eternal promises, not by the shifting sands of the world. It calls believers to live as citizens of that Kingdom now, aligning their values and actions with what will ultimately endure. This often means resisting injustice, loving one’s neighbour, cultivating humility, and proclaiming the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord. Our faith is not just a personal comfort, but a revolutionary allegiance to a realm that will outlast every nation, every system, and every age.

At the same time, the conviction that God’s Kingdom will never end is a source of great hope. It proclaims that evil, suffering, and oppression, do not have the ultimate victory: though the night may be long, the dawn is certain. This hope does not negate present struggles but imbues them with meaning, inviting people to see their lives as part of a great, unfolding story whose conclusion is secure in God forever.

Let us not put our trust in what is passing away, but in the One who endures forever. Let us not be distracted by the noise and spectacle of earthly powers, but fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let us live as citizens of a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church