THE KINGDOM OF GOD

[Jean Beck]

Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God has several aspects. The Lord is the Sovereign of the universe, and so in that sense His kingdom is universal (1 Tim. 6:15). At the same time, the kingdom of God involves repentance and the new birth, as God rules in the hearts of His children in this world in preparation for
Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable.

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. 

More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God.

 In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5-7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again. See also 1 Cor. 6:9.

There is another sense in which the kingdom of God is used in Scripture: the literal rule of Christ on the earth during the millennium. Daniel said that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14), and many of the other prophets predicted the same thing (Obadiah 1:21; Habakkuk 2:14; Micah 4:2; Zechariah 14:9). Some theologians refer to the future, open manifestation of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of glory” and the present, hidden manifestation of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of grace.” But both manifestations are connected; Christ has set up His spiritual reign in the church on earth, and He will one day set up His physical reign in Jerusalem.

[Dennis1209]

3 hours ago, Jean Beck said:

Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God has several aspects. The Lord is the Sovereign of the universe, and so in that sense His kingdom is universal (1 Tim. 6:15). At the same time, the kingdom of God involves repentance and the new birth, as God rules in the hearts of His children in this world in preparation for
Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable.

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. 

More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God.

 In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5-7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again. See also 1 Cor. 6:9.

There is another sense in which the kingdom of God is used in Scripture: the literal rule of Christ on the earth during the millennium. Daniel said that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14), and many of the other prophets predicted the same thing (Obadiah 1:21; Habakkuk 2:14; Micah 4:2; Zechariah 14:9). Some theologians refer to the future, open manifestation of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of glory” and the present, hidden manifestation of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of grace.” But both manifestations are connected; Christ has set up His spiritual reign in the church on earth, and He will one day set up His physical reign in Jerusalem.

Yes. There has been a lot of discussion on this topic recently, especially between @AdHoc and myself. Matthew flips back and forth between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven. Do you think the two are synonymous?

I will not rehash it all, but did John the Baptist come preaching the kingdom of God or Heaven? I see the kingdom of God as all-encompassing, including everything, including the spiritual and dimensional realm. Whereas the kingdom of Heaven will come to Earth, our eternal home, having once again dominion and kingship over the planet, not reigning or ruling the cosmos.

Your thoughts?

[AdHoc]

3 hours ago, Jean Beck said:

Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God has several aspects. The Lord is the Sovereign of the universe, and so in that sense His kingdom is universal (1 Tim. 6:15). At the same time, the kingdom of God involves repentance and the new birth, as God rules in the hearts of His children in this world in preparation for
Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable.

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. 

More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God.

 In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5-7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again. See also 1 Cor. 6:9.

There is another sense in which the kingdom of God is used in Scripture: the literal rule of Christ on the earth during the millennium. Daniel said that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14), and many of the other prophets predicted the same thing (Obadiah 1:21; Habakkuk 2:14; Micah 4:2; Zechariah 14:9). Some theologians refer to the future, open manifestation of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of glory” and the present, hidden manifestation of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of grace.” But both manifestations are connected; Christ has set up His spiritual reign in the church on earth, and He will one day set up His physical reign in Jerusalem.

 

15 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

Yes. There has been a lot of discussion on this topic recently, especially between @AdHoc and myself. Matthew flips back and forth between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven. Do you think the two are synonymous?

I will not rehash it all, but did John the Baptist come preaching the kingdom of God or Heaven? I see the kingdom of God as all-encompassing, including everything, including the spiritual and dimensional realm. Whereas the kingdom of Heaven will come to Earth, our eternal home, having once again dominion and kingship over the planet, not reigning or ruling the cosmos.

Your thoughts?

I hope to reconcile the differences.

In Genesis 1:26-28 God laid forth His purpose with man. Man was to be in the image of God, and in this lofty character, was to first subdue and then rule the EARTH and its immediate environs of sea and sky. The Bible, to my understanding, never wavers from this purpose.

In Ephesians 4:10 we learn that God's Throne is "above the highest heaven". Heaven IS god's throne, and so all rule must proceed from heaven. In heaven despite the current presence of Satan, an angel, things are done according to God's will. On earth, NOT. So when our Lord Jesus prayed He brought both concepts of the Kingdom together with; "THY (God's) Kingdom COME (He was on earth as He prayed), Thy (God's) will be done ON EARTH as it already was in heaven."

Summarized;
1. The Kingdom of God is the universe, ruled from heaven
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is when God's Kingdom, with its rule and glory, are exercised on earth

The Bible follows a recovery of God's plan in accordance with...
1. Man being recovered from a corrupt fallen nature to the image and likeness of Christ (Rom..8:29)
2. Man proving himself to be motivated and disciplined to bring a rule that is worthy of God's Name

Thus, for man to be in the image and likeness for ruling well, man must;
1. Have his sins and their consequences cancelled
2. Have his human spirit born with a second birth to infuse God's nature into him
3. Have his soul transformed from fallen human function to Christlike function (2. Cor.3:18)
4. Have his corrupted body made new (2md Cor. 5:1-5)
5. Have cooperated with God's discipline and proved Himself a worthy co-king with Christ (Lk.19:17-19)

The Bible starts with God's good order on earth. Genesis 1:2 indicates a process of induced chaos. God then restores the earth in 6 days and has His Rest. Man fails and God is deprived of His Rest (Hebrews 3 & 4). God send His Son Jesus as the "Second" and "Last" Adam and He introduces the Kingdom OUT OF Heaven to Israel. Israel fail and refuse it and God sets aside a period of time to develop the Kingdom with a New Body of People. He completes this task with a Remnant (Rev.2:27) after 6 - 1,000 year-days. In the 7th 1,000 year-day, the Millennium, He makes good His Promises to Israel (Act.15:14-16).

The greatest stumbling block to this scenario is reading "The Kingdom IN Heaven" instead of "The Kingdom (out) OF Heaven". The rebellion is not in heaven. It is ON EARTH.

[Dennis1209]

5 hours ago, AdHoc said:

 

I hope to reconcile the differences.

In Genesis 1:26-28 God laid forth His purpose with man. Man was to be in the image of God, and in this lofty character, was to first subdue and then rule the EARTH and its immediate environs of sea and sky. The Bible, to my understanding, never wavers from this purpose.

In Ephesians 4:10 we learn that God's Throne is "above the highest heaven". Heaven IS god's throne, and so all rule must proceed from heaven. In heaven despite the current presence of Satan, an angel, things are done according to God's will. On earth, NOT. So when our Lord Jesus prayed He brought both concepts of the Kingdom together with; "THY (God's) Kingdom COME (He was on earth as He prayed), Thy (God's) will be done ON EARTH as it already was in heaven."

Summarized;
1. The Kingdom of God is the universe, ruled from heaven
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is when God's Kingdom, with its rule and glory, are exercised on earth

The Bible follows a recovery of God's plan in accordance with...
1. Man being recovered from a corrupt fallen nature to the image and likeness of Christ (Rom..8:29)
2. Man proving himself to be motivated and disciplined to bring a rule that is worthy of God's Name

Thus, for man to be in the image and likeness for ruling well, man must;
1. Have his sins and their consequences cancelled
2. Have his human spirit born with a second birth to infuse God's nature into him
3. Have his soul transformed from fallen human function to Christlike function (2. Cor.3:18)
4. Have his corrupted body made new (2md Cor. 5:1-5)
5. Have cooperated with God's discipline and proved Himself a worthy co-king with Christ (Lk.19:17-19)

The Bible starts with God's good order on earth. Genesis 1:2 indicates a process of induced chaos. God then restores the earth in 6 days and has His Rest. Man fails and God is deprived of His Rest (Hebrews 3 & 4). God send His Son Jesus as the "Second" and "Last" Adam and He introduces the Kingdom OUT OF Heaven to Israel. Israel fail and refuse it and God sets aside a period of time to develop the Kingdom with a New Body of People. He completes this task with a Remnant (Rev.2:27) after 6 - 1,000 year-days. In the 7th 1,000 year-day, the Millennium, He makes good His Promises to Israel (Act.15:14-16).

The greatest stumbling block to this scenario is reading "The Kingdom IN Heaven" instead of "The Kingdom (out) OF Heaven". The rebellion is not in heaven. It is ON EARTH.

I think we pretty much agree in general, but I characterize and word it differently. Would you clarify your thoughts on the following? I understand the rebellion as universal, not contained to earth only, but in Heaven and on earth. That the Father of Lies and sin itself contaminates Heaven by their very presence if the following verses occur in Heaven, as I suspect. Rebels are the rebellion wherever they are.

The rebellion is not in Heaven. It is ON EARTH.

Job 1:6 (KJV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Revelation 12:10 (KJV) And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Psalm 115:16 (KJV) The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

As a silly example with the Devil and princes and powers of the air (not to be confused with demons), did the Apollo astronauts walking on the surface of the Moon escape accusation, demonic influence, and temptation?   

[BornAgain490]

7 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Matthew flips back and forth between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven. Do you think the two are synonymous?

Kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven are synonyms. 

We need keep in mind that Matthew's audience was predominately Jewish.  Accordingly, he was careful to limit the use of the word Hebrew or Greek word for "God" so as not to offend his targeted audience (Jews) who, many to this day, will not spell out God,  but will instead write G-d. 

It's a tradition of men, and it dates back thousands of years to scribal days when every time a scribe wrote out the tetragrammaton YHVH, they were required to destroy the quill used to wrote it, and they would have to conduct an ablution to cleanse themselves before re-commencing their writing.  Somr Yeshiva still teach tradition to this day, minus the ablution. 

Matthew employed what we today call circumlocution, or by another term paraphrastics, which is a method in writing in which the writer  uses a word or phrase to get around (circum) using another word or phrase that means the same thing, and that the reader would clearly understand its meaning. 

With Matthew using kingdom of heaven, his Jewish audience would understand from their knowledge of the book of the prophet Daniel that the word "heaven" is a word that describes where God resides, it's where God's throne is. 

Whereas in Mark and Luke, who only used the term 'kingdom of God', and whose audiences were primarily non-Jewish, their audiences would understand, through their familiarity with Greek and Roman mythology, that the kingdom of God's was a place where God lives, i.e., heaven. 

When we compare scripture with scripture, we see Matthew use heaven and Mark and Luke use God, and we see that in at least a dozen synoptic passages, each of the three writers are referring to the same times and places in Jesus's ministry. 

Furthermore, Jesus uses both phrases interchangeably in Matthew when He is speaks of it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom. 

[AdHoc]

54 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

I think we pretty much agree in general, but I characterize and word it differently. Would you clarify your thoughts on the following? I understand the rebellion as universal, not contained to earth only, but in Heaven and on earth. That the Father of Lies and sin itself contaminates Heaven by their very presence if the following verses occur in Heaven, as I suspect. Rebels are the rebellion wherever they are.

The rebellion is not in Heaven. It is ON EARTH.

Job 1:6 (KJV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Revelation 12:10 (KJV) And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Psalm 115:16 (KJV) The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

As a silly example with the Devil and princes and powers of the air (not to be confused with demons), did the Apollo astronauts walking on the surface of the Moon escape accusation, demonic influence, and temptation?   

I understand that the rebellion is acted out on earth by heavenly beings. The Serpent was in Eden, not the Tabernacle in heaven. This constrains me to thik the problems are on earth;

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house (Isa.14:12–18).

I'm not sure that God and a current rebellion could exist together. If Aaron made one mistake in the presence of Jehovah, he was slain on the spot. The prayer of our Lord Jesus was "Thy will ... as it is in heaven", implying that God's will is done in heaven. But I will agree that Satan's rebellion has affected heaven. Thus, a New Heaven when he is in the Lake of Fire: