The Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God

[BanjoPicker]

THE DEFINITIONS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND KINGDOM OF GOD.

The Greek word for kingdom is basileia meaning a realm or a region governed by a king. In the last few centuries, some countries once known as kingdoms have become republics, for the reason that they no longer have a king and, instead, are governed by the people. There can be no kingdom apart from a king. While it is true that without a king a country remains the same, has the same people, the same cities, the same mountains and rivers, it is no longer a kingdom.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (Mat. 3:2; 4:17; 5:3, 10, 19, 20; 7:21; 8:11; 10:7; 11:11, 12; 13:11, 24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47, 52; 16:19; 18:1, 3, 4, 23; 19:12, 14, 23; 20:1; 22:2; 23:13, 14; 25:1). These are all the passages in the Bible where this expression, the Kingdom of Heaven is found. It is noticeable that all these references are found in Mtthew. The reason for this fact is that the gospel presents Christ as Jehovah's King. Mark's gospel presents Christ as Jehovah's Servant. Luke presents Christ as Jehovah's man, and John presents Christ as Jehovah's Anointed One, or the divine One- God manifested in the flesh.

The word Heaven in all the above passages is in the plural, and the phrase Kingdom of Heaven literally means the kingdom from the heavens. It is a dispensational term and refers to the Messiah's kingdom on the Earth. It is not from or out of this world. The sovereignty comes from Heaven, because the King is not from there (Jn. 18:36). It was to this end He was born, and this was the first subject of His ministry (Mt. 3:2; 4:17).

 

[BanjoPicker]

The main subject of the Gospels are four:
first the proclamation of the Kingdom (306 verses, Mt. 4:12-7:29; Mk. 1:14-20; Lk. 4:14-5:11; Jn. 1:35-4:54); second, the proclamation of the king (964 verses, Mt. 8:1-16:20; Mk. 1:21-8:30; Lk. 5:12-9:21; Jn. 5:1-6:71); third, the rejection of the king (901 verses, Mt. 16:21-20:34; Mk. 8:31-10:52; Lk. 9:22-18:43; Jn. 7:1-11:53); fourth, the rejection of the kingdom (782 verses, Mt. 21:1-26:35; Mk. 11:1-14:25; Lk. 19:1-22:38; Jn. 11:54-17:26).
And not only was the kingdom rejected, but the further proclamation of it was also rejected (Mt. 22:2-7; Acts 1:6, 7; 3:19-26). Thereafter the earthly realization of the kingdom was postponed, and now is in abeyance until the return of the King from glory (Acts 3:20; Rev. 19:11-21).

 

[Artfuldodger]

Which one of the two is it that won't have any sin in it? That's got to be a future one. I think the Kingdom of Heaven is suppose to come down to the Earth in the future.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The kingdom of Heaven is not the literal reign of Heaven over the Earth, but is the sphere of profession, or the professing Christian world, as is clear in each of the parables dealt with. This sphere of profession in the dispensation of grace covers that part of the world called Christendom. It now takes in good and bad, or any one who professes to be a child of the future kingdom Mt. 13.
In the next dispensation, the Millennium, the Kingdom of Heaven ceases to be the sphere of profession and becomes the real, literal kingdom of the Son of man, which was rejected at the beginning of this age. Then it will take in the good and bad, but Christ will be ruling with the rod of iron to put down all enemies under His feet, whether they profess to be real sons of the kingdom or not (1 Cor. 15:24-28). The Kingdom of Heaven is the kingdom foretold by the prophets for the purpose of re-establishing the Kingdom of God over the rebellious part of the universe so that God may be all in all as in the beginning.

 

[BanjoPicker]

THE KNGDOM OF GOD

Mt. 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31, 43; Mk. 1:14, 15; 4:11, 22, 30; 9:1, 47; 10:14, 15, 23, 24, 25; 12:34; 14:25; 15:43; Lk. 4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 8:1, 10; 9:2, 11, 27, 60, 62; 10:9, 11; 11:20; 12:31; 13:18, 20, 28, 29; 14:15; 16:16; 17:20, 21; 18:16, 17, 24, 25, 29; 19:11; 21:31; 22:31; 22:16, 18; 23, 51; Jn. 3:3, 5; Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31; Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 6:20; 6:9, 10; 15:24, 50; Gal. 5:21; 1 Cor. 4:11; 2 Thess. 1:5; Rev. 12:10.
This term the Kingdom of God, means the sovereignty of God over the universe and includes and embraces the Kingdom of Heaven and all other realms in the whole universe. It is moral and universal and has existed from the beginning and will know no end The Kingdom of God existed even before the creation of the Earth. The angels and other spirit beings were in this kingdom when the Earth was created Job 38:4-7; The Kingdom of Heaven could not have existed then, for there was no Earth for the kingdom from the heavens to rule. The term Kingdom of God is used 72 times; the Kingdom of Heaven 33 times see also Mt. 13:43; 16:28; Col. 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11; Rev. 11:15.

 

[gordon 2]

When The Garden of Eden was our real estate was there then only one Kingdom and so specifically the Kingdom of God as you state it? The Kingdom of Heaven only came up after the fall before there was only one Kingdom, the all encompassing Kingdom of God. I would agree that the Kingdom of God was known after the fall... as is indicated in 2 Chronicles 13:9 And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD,...


Is this the first time that the Kingdom of Heaven is possibly mentioned in scripture? :

" And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Dan 2:44

The fact that the Kingdom of God was all encompassing, makes the new " set up kingdom" the Kingdom of Heaven?

In scripture, in all of scripture, is it in Matthew 3:2 we first read the term: Kingdom of Heaven? a kingdom whereby God will again take on Lordship of his people; again due that He had previously allowed to the Jews their own King and so that they could choose a king from themselves? After David, the kings got more and more blind to the point that the blind were leading the blind. etc...

If the Jews had had presidents instead of kings and theirs was a republic instead of a kingdom do you think that 2 Chronicles 13:9 in their civil war context could have read" And now you think you can resist the Republic of the Lord because we have kept the priestly order, the Levites, while you have not?

My point is that it seems that the chosen words used" Kingdom of God", comes from the fact of two sister Kingdoms fighting each other and one side says " Your kingdom is illegitimate. We have God, you don't". And not so much due that God's realm ( the Kingdom of God) is in fact a kingdom at all.??

 

[BanjoPicker]

The usage of "the Kingdom of Heaven" and "the Kingdom of God"

There is much controversy over whether there is a difference between these two kingdoms. This controversy over the question has come from the fact that both expressions are used in parallel passages. For example, compare Mt. 11:11 with Lk. 7:28 and Mk 13 with Mk. 8; Lk. 8 and 13.
The usage of the two terms in parallel passages may be explained as follows: The Kingdom of Heaven is a lesser term than the Kingdom of God. It is the earthly spere of the universal Kingdom of God, and in this respect the terms have almost all things in common. Therefore, in an earthly sense, everything that is or could be spoken of the Kingdom of Heaven could be spoken of the Kingdom of God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is the earthly sphere of the Kingdom of God. There are some statements made of the Kingdom of God in this age that could not possibly be spoken of the Kingdom of Heaven. When the two terms are used in parallel passages they refer to this age only, for the Kingdom of Heaven during this age has been changed from a literal kingdom to the sphere of profession, because of the rejection of the King who will be the earthly King of the Kingdom of Heaven when it is finally set up in the next age.

 

[BanjoPicker]

General Contrast Between the Two Terms

The Kingdom of Heaven

The kingdom of God

It has the messiah as its King.

It has God as its King.

It is from Heaven, under Heaven, and upon Earth during the millennium. Then it becomes submerged into the Kingdom of God forever Jn. 18:28-37; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 19:11-20:10.

It is in Heaven and over the Earth during the Millennium. Then it comes down to the Earth to engulf the Kingdom of Heaven forever 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 21:3; 22:5; Dan. 2:44, 45; 7:13, 14, 18.

It is limited in its scope 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 5:10.

It is unlimited in its scope Ps. 103:19; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11; 5:11.

It is political in its sphere Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:13, 14, 18.

It is moral and spiritual in its sphere Rom. 14:17; Jn. 3:5; 1 Cor. 4:20.

It is Jewish and exclusive in its character. Isa. 9:6, 7; Lk. 1:32-35; 2 Sam. 7:1-29; Ezek. 43:7.

It is universal and inclusive in its character 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Ps. 103:19; Col. 1:10-18; Rev. 4:11.

It is national in its aspect Isa. 9:6, 7; Lk. 1:32-35.

It is universal in its aspect Ps.109:19; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.

It is dispensational in duration 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Isa. 9:6, 7.

It is eternal 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Ps. 90; Jn. 1:1-3.

It includes only a portion of time and eternity Matt. 3:2.

It includes all time and eternity Ps. 90:2; Pr. 8:22-29; Rev. 11:15.

It has a beginning Lk. 1:32-35.

It has no beginning or ending.

All who profess are in the Kingdom of Heaven in this age Matt. 13.

One must be born again to be in the Kingdom of God Jn. 3:5.

The Kingdom of Heaven comes with outward show Matt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Jude 14: Dan. 7:13.

The Kingdom of God does not come with outward show for it is mainly spiritual Lk. 17:20, 21; Matt. 6:33; Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 4:20.

"Flesh and blood" does not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, for it is for earthly, natural people Ps. 37:11; Matt. 5:5; Ps. 138:4; Isa. 60:3, 10, 11; 62:2; Ezek. 43:7; Dan. 7:18, 27; Lk. 1:32-35; Rev. 21:23-26.

The Kingdom of God is not inherited by "flesh and blood" but by glorified saints who become heirs of all things Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Cor. 4:20; 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:5; Heb. 1:1-2; 12:28; 2 Peter 1:11.

Men are never told to seek the Kingdom of Heaven.

Men are told to seek the Kingdom of God Mt. 6:33; Lk. 12:31.

The Kingdom of heaven is future Dan. 2:44, 45; 7:13, 14, 18, 27.

The Kingdom of God is now Mt. 6:33; Jn. 3:1-5; Rom. 14:17.

 

[BanjoPicker]

Entrance into the Two Kingdoms

A word of explanation may be necessary to make clear the technical differences in entrance into the two kingdoms. The Kingdom of God on Earth now is mainly spiritual and in a sense includes only those who are willingly subject to the will of God. It takes in those who are willingly subject to God in the same sense that any kingdom includes rebels. God's purpose in establishing the Kingdom of Heaven and sending His Son with an expeditionary force from Heaven is to put down rebellion in this earthly part of the universal Kingdom of God. After this is done the Kingdom of God is submerged into the Kingdom of God, and God becomes supreme over all as before rebellion started in the universe. As in any kingdom, during the rebellion rebels could not considered a part of the kingdom or subjects of the king they are rebelling against, until they become reconciled or submissive again. When the Messiah puts down all rebellion and every enemy is destroyed, then everyone in the universe, except the rebels who confined to external He11, will be willing subjects of God. God becomes all in all as before the rebellion. The Son becomes subject to the Father, but continues to reign with the Father forever and ever Isa. 9:6, 7; Dan. 7:13, 14; Lk. 1:32-35; Rev. 11:15; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.

 

[BanjoPicker]

Both the professed sons and the true sons of God are in the Kingdom of Heaven in this age, and these with the rest of the universe are in the universal Kingdom of God, but God recognizes only the true sons of God as being in the Kingdom of God. This is why one must be born again in order to become a willing subject of God and a part of His Kingdom Jn. 3:1-8; Rom. 8:1-13. One does not have to be born again to be recognized as a part of the Kingdom of Heaven in this age, for it is the sphere of profession Mt. 13, but one must be born again in order to be a true subject of God and have a part in the Kingdom of Heaven in the next age Mt. 5:3, 5, 10; 18:3.