Hope in the Revelation of God’s Kingdom

This sentence is a doxology that closes the Lord’s Prayer. However, if we look at Indonesian Bibles, this sentence is placed in parentheses. That indicates that this portion appears in some later biblical manuscripts. It’s likely that in the earliest Greek manuscripts this sentence was not present. Even though this sentence is an addition, we believe what was added to the Lord’s Prayer is closely related to the preceding lines. In fact, there is a sense that this sentence repeats the main points already stated. For that reason, we will analyze this sentence and examine the truths contained within it.

Through the phrase, “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever,” we are urged to courageously set our hope on the revelation of God’s Kingdom. Here we find the true color of Christian life — the color of heavenly nobility whose hope is fixed on the revelation of God’s Kingdom. If someone’s purpose, hope, and delight in life are this world, then their life will have the same character as that of worldly people in general. Many Christians still actually retain that worldly character. They relate to God not to move their hearts toward the hope God desires, but to achieve and preserve outward success and glory in this world.

The apostle Peter wrote in his letter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Then, “Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). This means we must strive to be able and bold to place our entire hope on the revelation of God’s Kingdom, namely at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the second time. For those who truly struggle, it is not easy to move the heart toward the Kingdom of Heaven—much less for those who are not earnest. Indeed, we cannot become perfect at once, but there must be signs in that direction.

The revelation of Jesus Christ is His second coming, when the Lord will visibly show His kingdom, power, and glory. The coming of Jesus Christ is the hope we must await as His bride. Titus 2:12–13 says, “It trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” This appearing of the glory of God is written in Greek as ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia), which means “an appearance” or “manifestation.” Christ will manifest Himself physically, descending from heaven. He will be seen by all people, just as people saw Him ascend into heaven (Acts 1:11). At that time the statements in Philippians 2:10–11 will be fulfilled.

The confession that Jesus Christ is Lord will be made not only in heaven but also on earth. All the inhabitants of the earth and all that is in it will ultimately acknowledge that Jesus is truly Lord, because they will see Jesus Christ come as King. If we truly believe what God’s word says, we must learn to orient our hearts toward that hope. Mere verbal agreement is not enough. Our assent must be accompanied by concrete action. Otherwise, that agreement has no value.