"The Lord's Prayer says "Thy kingdom come..." It means the Kingdom is not here"
That's one kosta, I'll give you that but raise you:
Mark 1:15, John the Baptist, "The Kingdom of God is at hand."
Matt. 3:2, "Kingdom of Heaven is at hand".
Matt 10:7, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand".
Matt. 12:28, "Kingdom of god has come unto you".
Luke 11:20, "Kingdom of God is come upon you".
Luke 17:21, "Kingdom of God is within you".
It is the old "realm"-"reign" question. With the exception of verses 11, 12, of what present value is all the blessings if one has to wait until he/she dies to be comforted, inherit the earth, filled,obtain mercy,see God,know that you are a child of God? Jesus says consider the lilies...the Father knows our needs now. For the child of God, the Kingdom is already within and operative for him/her and ultimately will be evidenced in all of the new recreation in the eschaton.
Matt. 5:
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
It is near, we long for it in our hearts and minds but that Kingdom of God has yet to beocme a reality. So, we pray to the Father that His Kingdom (really) come.
Surely, the our world is not the Kingdom of Heaven, BD, but as Christians we have already left this world in spirit if not in body.
AMEN!
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -- John 16:33