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The Bible scholar Graeme Goldsworthy has helpfully summarized the kingdom of God as “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule”; in short, it is the sphere of God’s reign. While the term does not occur in the Old Testament, the idea definitely does. Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God being here (Mark 1:15), and still to come (Matthew 6:10). Jesus’ coming to earth inaugurates the Kingdom of God on earth, but it will be complete at His second coming. In the Garden of Eden, God’s reign was complete – God’s people, Adam and Eve, were in the garden living under the reign of God. However, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, and live independently of God; they sinned against God. God banished them, so that they were no longer living in His place under His rule. It would be just for God to leave them as they were, but He began a plan to reinstate His good and rightful rule over them. This culminated in Jesus’ death on the cross, to pay the penalty for their sin. Now, those who repent of their sins, and place their faith in Christ, are in fact willingly submitting to the rule and reign of God. We now live in what theologians call the ‘now and the not yet’ of the Kingdom. Jesus has died and hence dealt with sin decisively on the cross. However, the presence of sin is still here, and this is the period of time where all humanity everywhere are being urged to repent and turn to God, and enter His Kingdom. When Jesus comes again, He will establish the Kingdom of God fully.