"While many have supposed Christ's coming to be something that changes people's hearts but makes no difference to the public order. This was not the hope of the Jews. Had they expected that kind of a kingdom, Herod may not have lifted an eyebrow when the news reached him that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem.
As is was however, Herod knew what Zecharias knew and had prayed about, that when the Messiah came, the game would be up for the tyrants like himself and a new order of justice and peace would be introduced."
"Christ's kingdom is a reality for this age which touches every area of life. It is a public, tangible, visible reality that transforms the world ... People will quote John 18.36 where Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world...". It's helpful to realize that a more accurate translation of the Greek is: "My kingdom is not from this world...". Wright points this out in one of his excellent articles on Paul. While Christ's kingdom does not arise from this world, but from Heaven, it comes to the earth. So Christ's kingdom is very much of and for this world.
That's how our Lord taught us to pray! They kingdom come they will be done on earth!"
- Robin Phillips, author of Saints & Scoundrels: from King Herod to Solzhenitsyn
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