What is Meant by Kingdom in the Gospels

What is Meant by "Kingdom" in the Gospels
Jesus' ministry was conducted under the covenant of Moses, the "old law." In the time of the gospels, John the Baptist's ministry rose and receded in favor of the ministry of Jesus. In considering the question of proclamation and response in the gospels, it is important to discuss the kingdom because this terminology is so prevalent.

"The Kingdom" is often used as an all encompassing term to identify the preaching of Jesus and the apostles. This terminology identified Jesus with "The King" of Deuteronomy 17 and as the Son of David (2 Sam 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:7, Lk 1:32). The kingdom terminology is often used in a proclamation/response context.

In Jesus' ministry, the kingdom is held in tension between the present and the future. Sometimes the term refers to God's existing rule in Israel (Mt 21:43) and it is certainly manifested in Christ's miraculous works (Mt 12:28, Lk 17:21). Yet there is something new being brought about in regards to the kingdom, as it is the coming kingdom of David (Mk 11:10, Lk 19:11), a future entity that is "at hand" or "near" (Mt 3:2, 4:17, 10:7, Lk 22:18, 23:51) and may be entered at some future time (Mt 5:19-20, 6:10, 7:21, 18:3, Mk 15:43, Jn 3:3,5).

This "future" kingdom spoken of during Jesus' ministry has its manifestation in the church (Mt 16:19, Acts 1:8, Rom 14:17, 1 Cor 4:20, Col 1:13, 1 Th 2:12, 2 Tim 4:1, Heb 12:28, Rev 1:6, 1:9), even as it is a future kingdom at the culmination of all things (1 Cor 6:9-10, 15:24, 15:50, Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, 2 Th 1:5, 2 Tim 4:18, Jas 2:5, 2 Pt 1:11).