In Luke 17:20-21, we have an important insight into the coming of the kingdom:

         Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;

         “nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

         This could have been translated that the kingdom is not coming with signs that can be seen outwardly, but with the heart. In Ephesians 1:18, the apostle wrote that he prayed for “the eyes of your hearts” to be opened, our spiritual eyes. These are the eyes through which we see the coming kingdom.

         Later in this discourse and in the other gospels, the Lord said that many events would accompany the end of this age, such as the signs of a world in chaos. Conversely, the coming kingdom is not in chaos. This is one of the ultimate contrasts between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God at the end of the age—as the kingdoms of this world are descending into increasing discord and chaos, the kingdom of God will stand out as the place of increasing order and peace.

         We are told in Romans 14:17 that the kingdom of God is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” These are signs of the coming kingdom in our midst, in the hearts of God’s people. As the world is growing in fear and depression, those living in the kingdom will be growing in peace and joy. Because of this, those who have put their hope in this world that is falling apart will look at those in the kingdom as being completely out of touch with reality, when in fact they will be the only ones in touch with reality.

         Righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of the Lord. This leads to a peace that is incomprehensible to the world. This peace that only comes from being right with God is the basis for true and lasting joy.

         As the world falls into deeper crises, fear and depression will be magnified. This will make the peace and joy that God’s people are growing in even more of a contrast. This peace and joy growing in the midst, or hearts, of God’s people will be one of the clearest signs of the coming kingdom.

         I was told that in the times to come, God’s people will be so happy that the rest of the world will think we are mentally challenged. One major reason for this is that God’s people will have become obedient to the exhortation of Colossians 3:1-2:

         Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

         Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

         For those who love the Lord and long for His coming, there is no greater peace than seeing who Jesus is and where He sits—far above all rule and authority and dominion. There are none that can overcome Him, and none that He cannot overcome. He is the Irresistible Force and the Immovable Object. He is the Rock that cannot be moved. If we build our lives on doing His will, nothing can move us either. As He encouraged us in John 16:33:

         “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

         If our hope is in the things of this world, we will experience increasing tribulation. If we have built our lives on this world, our hearts will be full of fear like everyone else in the world. It is only in the Lord that we have peace. Now is the time to set our hearts wholly on Him and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.