The transcendence of the kingdom is bound to the resurrection (Mark 12:18-27) and rebirth (Mt. 19:28). The kingdom exists on the other side of death, namely the death of Jesus. Therefore the transcendence of the kingdom must not be understood in a static spacial sense, from which a two world metaphysic or an ontological dualism could be deduced.2.13
In order to clearly understand this, Van Ruler distinguishes three moments in this transcendence.2.14 In the first place it refers to the overwhelming power with which God works with his world. ``Het rijk is het overmachtige handelen Gods met deze wereld. Het rijk is dit, dat God iets met deze wereld doet.''2.15Thus the idea of the kingdom is directed only at this world and the overwhelming power of the acts of God indicates God's victory over all historical and cosmic demonic powers.
In the second place it means that the kingdom is concealed. Nobody knows why it is the Father's pleasure to give the kingdom (Luke 12:32) or when the kingdom will come (Acts 1:6,7) and what the kingdom is (1 Cor. 2:9; 1 John 3:2). The kingdom of God is not fully described by words such as forgiveness of sins, justice, childhood etc. Something always remains that is to be expected and is not yet known.
In the third place it refers to the soteriological character of the kingdom. The miracles of Jesus consist especially in the healing of sickness and the exorcism of demonic powers. The salvation character of the kingdom is also clearly spoken out by all the attributes, synonyms and predicates of the kingdom presented in Scripture. God comes in order to overcome sin and death and the demons. The transcendence of the kingdom is not metaphysical but soteriological. ``Het rijk is een handelen Gods met deze wereld ter redding uit het verderf, dat over haar is gekomen en waaraan zij is prijsgegeven.''2.16 Following this understanding of transcendence and in order to express the salvation-historical and the eschatological-soteriological character of the kingdom of God, Van Ruler presents the following definition : ``Onder het koninkrijk Gods in bijbelschen zin is te verstaan : het uiteindelijke en heilrijke handelen Gods met deze wereld.''2.17