The kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus and Paul (Acts 1:3; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:30–31) is both now and not yet. We already enter the kingdom when we submit to Jesus as Lord (Romans 14:17). The kingdom has not yet come in all its fullness. That will only happen when Jesus Christ returns in glory. Until that day, many afflictions await God’s people. God determines these afflictions to be necessary and for our good (1 Thessalonians 2:13–16; 1 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–12; Hebrews 12:7–11). Though they are always difficult to experience, they must be borne with the certain hope of glory to come (2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18).1,2 The hardships in view are thus the sufferings and persecutions that come with being a Christian in the time before Jesus’ second coming.3
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.