The Kingdom of
heaven is the sphere in which God's rule is acknowledged. The
Word "heaven" is used to denote God.
There are two
aspects of the kingdom of heaven. In its broadest sense it
includes everyone who professes to acknowledge
God as Supreme Ruler. In its narrower aspect it includes only
those who have been genuinely converted
The kingdom
of heaven in its inward aspect can be entered only by those
who are converted. (Matt. 18:3) "Assuredly, I say to you,
unless you are converted and become as a little child, you
will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."
1. The kingdom was prophesied in
the OT. Daniel predicted that God would set up a kingdom that
would never be destroyed nor yield it sovereignty to another
people. He also foresaw the coming of Christ to wield
universal and everlasting dominion.
(Dan. 2:44 : Dan 7: 13,14: Jer.
23:5, 6)
2. The kingdom was described
by John the Baptist, Jesus and the twelve disciples as being
at hand and present. (Matt.
3:2 - 4:17; 10:7) In
Matthew 12:28, Jesus said "..if I cast out demons by Spirit of
God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. In
Luke 17:21, He said, " For indeed, the kingdom of God is
within you," or in your midst.
3. The kingdom is
described in an interim form. After Jesus was
rejected by the nation of Israel, the King returned to heaven.
The kingdom exist today, while the King is absent, in the
hearts of all who acknowledge His Kingship, and its moral and
ethical principles, including the Sermon on the Mount, are
applicable to us today.
4. The kingdom is
what might be called its manifestation.
This is the one-thousand reign of Christ on earth which was
pictured by the Transfiguration of Christ when He was seen in
the glory of His coming to reign. (Matt. 17;1-8) Jesus
referred to this phase when he said, "...many will come from
east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in
the kingdom of heaven."
5. The final form
will be the everlasting kingdom. 2 Peter 1:11-"..the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
The phrase
"kingdom of heaven" is found only in Matthew's Gospel, but
"kingdom of God" is found in all four gospels.
Final Note: The
kingdom is not the same as the church. The kingdom began when
Christ Jesus embarked on His public ministry; the church began
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) The kingdom will continue on
earth till the earth is destroyed; the church continues on
earth until the Rapture (the catching away or removal of the
Church from earth when Christ descends from heaven and takes
the believers home with Him. (1 Thess 4:13-18)
The Church will
return with Christ at His second advent to reign with Him as
His Bride! Hallelujah! So come Lord Jesus.
Believer's Bible Commentary