Already and Not Yet

Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 6:10; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 11:15

The Tension in the Texts

Set the verses side by side and the puzzle appears:

  • "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:21) — present tense.
  • "Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10) — still being prayed for.
  • "He has delivered us... and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13) — done.
  • "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord" (Revelation 11:15) — sung at the end, not yet from where we stand.

Scripture is not confused. The Kingdom has genuinely arrived in Jesus — and awaits its consummation at His return. Theologians call this inaugurated eschatology; the working shorthand is already and not yet.

D-Day and V-Day

The classic illustration: in the Second World War, the decisive battle (D-Day) effectively settled the outcome, yet fighting continued until final victory (V-Day). The cross and resurrection are D-Day — the decisive victory won, the enemy's defeat certain. We live between that victory and its full enforcement.

Why This Framework Matters

Most spiritual confusion comes from collapsing the tension one way or the other:

  • Over-realised ("all already") — expect total healing, prosperity, and justice now; produces triumphalism, and cruelty toward sufferers whose faith gets blamed.
  • Under-realised ("all not yet") — expect nothing until heaven; produces passivity, escapism, and a gospel with no power for present life.

The Biblical posture holds both: real healing and remaining sickness; the Spirit's power and groaning creation (Romans 8:22-23); genuine transformation and ongoing struggle. We have the "guarantee" — the Spirit as down-payment (Ephesians 1:14) — not yet the full inheritance.

Kingdom Connection

This is the Kingdom's own grammar. It explains why we pray "your kingdom come" with confidence rather than anxiety: we are not fighting for victory but from it. Plant, build, heal, evangelise, endure — the outcome is already decided.

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