There are several time elements related in the Gospels regarding the Kingdom, and the end times. These are Jesus’ words, and many of them are quite plain and hard to miss their meaning. The ones that are questionable certainly could be interpreted in one way or another, but among the possible interpretations, there is always room for the Kingdom being here. However, some leave absolutely no room at all for a Kingdom that is anywhere other than “at hand”.
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15
This is Jesus’ opening remarks concerning the Kingdom. Remember, that Jesus is the author of the Old Testament prophecies, and is speaking this in the context of all of them. In that state, He is the ultimate authority in the interpretation of what they mean, that is, what the Kingdom is. Remember His words, “What is the kingdom of God
like, and what can I compare it to?” (Luke 13:18). This was Jesus’ teaching, to tell people what the Kingdom of God is like.
Understanding the difficulty here that Paul later describes in the epistles.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14
Paul said, in light of the Kingdom, that the natural man simply cannot receive spiritual truths. Jesus’ words were just as plain, saying that a man can neither see, nor enter the Kingdom, without being born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:3-5). Further, Paul says that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:50).
So, Jesus’ statements at the beginning of His ministry reflect just that. The time is fulfilled. It is now. The Kingdom is at hand. It is here. What Kingdom? The only Kingdom God has.
There can be no confusion. Where ever the Old Testament prophesied a Kingdom, no matter what it might look like at the outset, Jesus authoritatively says, “This is it.”
Don’t let any one confuse you on this issue. Paul said that the things of the Spirit cannot be understood by the carnal mind, nor can a natural man grasp them, for they are only discerned by the Spirit, in the Spirit. If this is a problem, the problem lies in the hands of Paul, and then Jesus.
Jesus’ objective was to communicate the spiritual realities to natural men. These men first had to be converted, learn faith, and believe, and receive revelation from the Spirit. The stories (parables), although they contain spiritual truths, are not understandable, except to the person with faith. Since they are teaching Spiritual things, they must be spiritually discerned, that is, by the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ words cannot be misunderstood here. The time was fulfilled, there was no more waiting. The Kingdom is here.
The only instruction following is Repent and Believe the Gospel.