The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven:
Is There a Difference?
By Ward Fenley
HARMONY OF THE KINGDOMS
There are several passages that show that the kingdom of God and the
kingdom of heaven are synonymous. Some futurists believe that there are
as many as three kingdoms of God and possibly even more. However, in examining
the Scriptures we will see that there is one kingdom that is identified
in several ways: two of which are the kingdom of God and the kingdom of
heaven.
First let us present the harmony of the kingdom of God and the kingdom
of heaven. The first words out of John the Baptist's mouth were:
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand.
So we immediately see that the kingdom of heaven was said to be at hand.
Jesus basically reiterated this identical statement when His ministry began:
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Here is the harmony of the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven in
the gospels:
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into
Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {15} And saying, The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe
the gospel.
We certainly cannot view Mark as having written an entire separate account.
If this hermeneutic were implemented, we would then have to completely
change our designation of the Gospels as synoptic. The kingdom of God and
the kingdom of heaven are the same. If they are different then we would
have to decide which one was nearer-the kingdom of God or the kingdom of
heaven. Then, once we figured out which one was nearer, we would have to
identify when the first came and when the second came. Let us suppose,
as many futurists do, that the kingdom of God took place at Pentecost.
Was this imminent? If so, how were the apostles to know this? Did they
know this because Jesus said in Mark that the kingdom of God was at hand?
If the futurist acknowledges this statement of imminence, then how would
they interpret the statement of imminence in Matthew's account where Jesus
says that the kingdom of heaven is at hand? Should we suddenly revert back
to a mystically dechronologizing hermeneutic? If not, then the only alternatives
would be to say that either the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God
were equally imminent and took place at Pentecost. Or, we would have to
say that one of the kingdoms took place at Pentecost and the other at the
Parousia in AD 70 when Jesus Christ destroyed the Temple. The last alternative
would be that the statement of imminence was referring to the complete
establishment of the New Covenant or the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom
of heaven.
The kingdom harmony continues:
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed
be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
The result of being poor in spirit is inheriting the kingdom of God or
heaven.
This same kingdom of heaven that was said to be at hand is the resting
place of all those who are the seed of Abraham (believers in Jesus Christ):
Matthew 8:11 I say to you that many will come from the east and
the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 13:28-29 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when
ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the
kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. {29} And they shall come
from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south,
and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
The same message Jesus preached at the beginning of His ministry was also
the same message with which He commissioned the disciples, i.e., the kingdom
of God or heaven is near. Matthew and Luke have different accounts of this
commission. Luke shows Christ associating healing with the kingdom of God.
Matthew associates imminence with the kingdom of heaven. Both are addressing
the same kingdom.
Matthew 10:7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven
is near.'
Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal
the sick.
John the Baptist, though the greatest of the prophets, was said to have
an inferior position compared to the status of the kingdom of heaven. Luke
describes this as the kingdom of God, whereas Matthew describes it as the
kingdom of heaven:
Matthew 11:11-12 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women
there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. {12} From the days of
John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing,
and forceful men lay hold of it.
Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women
there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least
in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Just what mysteries were to be revealed? Did Jesus reveal to separate sets
of mysteries? Or were the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom
of God one and the same?
Matthew 13:11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the
kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the
mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these
things are done in parables:
Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might
not see, and hearing they might not understand.
In these next passages we see that the inhabitants of the kingdom of God
must become as little children:
Matthew 18:3-4 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change
and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
{4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children
come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to
such as these.")
Mark 10:14-15 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and
said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid
them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. {15} Verily I say unto you,
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall
not enter therein.
Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little
children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom
of God. {17} Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom
of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Once again, the "two" kingdoms are synonymous.
Luke and Mark speak of the difficulty a rich man has in entering the
kingdom of God. Matthew speaks of the rich man's difficulty entering the
kingdom of heaven. But what is particularly interesting is the fact that
Jesus uses both phrases in the account in Matthew:
Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you
the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. {24}
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:23-25 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! {24}
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again,
and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches
to enter into the kingdom of God! {25} It is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:24-25 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! {25}
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich
man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew and Mark compare the mustard seed to the kingdom of heaven and
the kingdom of God respectively:
Matthew 13:31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven
is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
Mark 4:30-31 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of
God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? {31} It is like a grain
of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all
the seeds that be in the earth:
In these next passages we find something interesting:
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time
the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
If the kingdom of God was to take place at Pentecost as an entirely separate
kingdom from the kingdom of heaven, and this kingdom was a spiritual, inward
kingdom, then we can understand Jesus speaking of the violent trying to
take it by force. However, if the kingdom of heaven is a far removed kingdom
of physical pleasure, and the physical earth has been destroyed, how are
the violent taking it by force and pressing into it? This of course is
presuming that violent has a negative connotation. If, on the other hand,
"violence" speaks of a holy zeal in Jesus Christ (as puritan Thomas Watson
says), the futurist still has a problem in that they cannot explain from
where these people are coming who are pressing into the kingdom. After
all, if all the believers are in heaven, and all unbelievers are in the
lake of fire after the cosmic dissolution of the universe, then there simply
could not be anymore people trying to enter. All the beneficiaries of the
promise would have it and all is well. However, Biblically, we see that
the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same, regardless of
the interpretation defended concerning the violent pressing into the kingdom.
From these passages, it is explicitly clear that the kingdom of heaven
and the kingdom of God are identical. They are not to separate kingdoms
nor are they even two different phases of one kingdom. They are one and
the same, just sometimes identified differently. An example of this would
be the identification of Jesus Christ as God and yet as the Son of God.
We do not negate His deity simply because of the difference in name.
THE KINGDOM OF THE SON IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD
From here we turn to another analysis: the kingdom of the Son and its
synonymity with the kingdom of God. This is especially clear in this monumental
statement of Christ concerning the timing of His return in His kingdom:
Matthew 16:27-28 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of
his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according
to his works. {28} Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here,
which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in
his kingdom.
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there
be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they
have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here,
which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Both Luke and Mark record that some of the disciples would not die until
they saw the kingdom of God. Matthew's account, however, says that the
disciples would not die until they saw the Son of man coming in His kingdom.
Not only is this an extremely strong case for the deity of Jesus Christ;
it also powerfully supports the fact that the kingdom of the Son and the
kingdom of God are the same kingdom. This kingdom would come before some
of the disciples would die.
A less direct example of the kingdom of the Son being synonymous with
the kingdom of God is seen in comparing the accounts of Matthew, Mark,
and Luke concerning Christ's disciples giving up all for the sake of the
kingdom of God:
Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren,
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting
life.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There
is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Luke 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is
no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children,
for the kingdom of God's sake,
The account in Matthew speaks of Christ's disciples giving up all for His
name's sake. The account in Mark says the same and interestingly adds,
"and the gospel's." However, the account in Luke is very clear when it
says, "the kingdom of God's sake." The implication is that the kingdom
of God is identical with Christ and His kingdom and His Gospel, thus being
a strong testimony that to have Christ in us is to have the kingdom in
us (Luke 17:20,21).
Concerning the precursory events to take place before the Parousia,
Jesus informs the disciples that when they saw these events come to pass,
they could know with certainty that the kingdom of Christ was at the doors:
Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,
know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come
to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass,
know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
The whole context of Matthew 24 is the coming of Jesus Christ. We see this
in the first three verses in Matthew 24:
Matthew 24:1-3 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple:
and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.
{2} And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say
unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall
not be thrown down. {3} And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples
came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and
what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The disciples were inquiring of the coming of Jesus Christ. They asked
what would be the sign of "Thy" coming. Jesus spoke clearly that He was
addressing His coming:
Matthew 24:30-31 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man
in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory. {31} And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one
end of heaven to the other.
Not only is the coming mentioned, Christ also bring the holy angels into
the picture, which harmonizes with the passage in Matthew 16:27,29 where
Christ teaches He would come in His kingdom with His holy angels before
some of the disciples would taste death. Therefore, when Matthew records
Jesus as saying, "when ye shall see all these things, know that it (His
coming) is near, even at the doors," He is saying exactly what Mark and
Luke are saying in their accounts of the same discourse:
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things
come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass,
know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Here it is very evident that the kingdom of God is equivalent with the
kingdom of the Son.
THE KINGDOM OF THE FATHER IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Just as the kingdom of the Son is the kingdom of God, the kingdom of
the Father is the kingdom of God:
Matthew 26:28-29 For this is my blood of the new testament, which
is shed for many for the remission of sins. {29} But I say unto you, I
will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when
I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Mark 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit
of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with me.
Luke 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until
it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the
vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and
sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
THE KINGDOM OF THE SON IS THE KINGDOM OF THE FATHER
In the accounts mentioned in Matthew we saw that Christ would come in
His kingdom with His holy angels. This same angelic accompanying is addressed
in Matthew 13:
Matthew 13:41-44 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and
they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which
do iniquity; {42} And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall
be wailing and gnashing of teeth. {43} Then shall the righteous shine forth
as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him
hear. {44} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a
field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof
goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Notice verse 44 continues the parables of Christ in his demonstrating what
the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus is merely continuing the context of
the details concerning His coming. But what is fascinating is how Matthew
nor Jesus makes any distinction between the kingdom of the Son and the
kingdom of the Father. Verse 41 speaks of the kingdom of the Son of man.
Verse 43 speaks of the kingdom of the Father. They are identical kingdoms.
In the well-known Lord's prayer, a kingdom for which the apostles were
to pray for its coming is designated as the Father's kingdom:
Matthew 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. {10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.
As we have seen, this kingdom is the kingdom of the Son. Even the Son declared
His unity with the Father:
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them;
that they may be one, even as we are one:
We first established that the kingdom of God is identical with the kingdom
of heaven. Second, we established that the kingdom of God is synonymous
with the kingdom of the Son. Therefore we must conclude that the kingdom
of the Son is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven, which is synonymous
with the kingdom of God. Third, we established that the kingdom of the
Son is the kingdom of the Father. They all are referring to the same kingdom.
It must follow then, that any passages that speak of the kingdom of the
Son must be the same as the kingdom of God, the kingdom of the Father and
the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, as we examine the New Testament passages
that testify that true believers are in one of these kingdoms, we can conclude
that whichever kingdom is mentioned it is synonymous with one eternal and
heavenly kingdom.
Besides the fact that word kingdom is used well over a hundred times
in the Gospels alone, here are some passages that reveal the immense significance
of the message of this kingdom:
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching
in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
every sickness and every disease among the people.
Acts 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of
the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning
the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women.
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the
space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the
kingdom of God.
Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have
gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many
to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom
of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses,
and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding
him.
Since we have already decisively concluded that there are not many different
kingdoms but, rather, different names for one eternal kingdom, it is imperative
that we acknowledge the Scriptures that teach the presence of true believers
in this eternal kingdom.
First, in Romans Paul teaches that some of the characteristics of the
kingdom are exactly contrary to the fleshly ordinances of national Israel:
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
From the passages we have already studied, we should have implied that
the kingdom of which Jesus and the apostles spoke was none other than the
eternal kingdom predicted in the law and the prophets. Paul brings to the
attention of the Romans the fact that three characteristics in particular
are present in the kingdom of God. Each of these characteristics was prophesied
in the law and the prophets concerning the eternal kingdom that was to
come:
Righteousness:
Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Psalms 24:5-6 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness
from the God of his salvation. {6} This is the generation of them that
seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
This last reference should be interesting to us in that Jesus Christ said
blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall
be filled. Christ also said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness…" Faith in Jesus Christ is seeking Christ, which is seeking
the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Upon faith in Jesus Christ, the
believer in Jesus Christ receives the everlasting righteousness that comes
from His sacrifice on the cross. This is why the Psalmist said this righteousness
comes from God. Isaiah conveys this same truth:
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness
is of me, saith the LORD.
Here are several passages that speak of righteousness being made known
or revealed from heaven:
Psalms 85:9-13 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;
that glory may dwell in our land. {10} Mercy and truth are met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other. {11} Truth shall spring
out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. {12} Yea,
the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
{13} Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of
his steps.
Psalms 98:2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness
hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.
Micah 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have
sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me:
he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Psalms 50:6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for
God is judge himself. Selah.
Romans tells us that this revealed righteousness is the Gospel of Jesus
Christ:
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek. {17} For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live
by faith.
Here are a few other passages that speak of righteousness applied to the
people of God, or God as their righteousness:
Isaiah 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts
with righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with
my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are
in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness
and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against
him shall be ashamed.
Isaiah 46:13 I bring near my righteousness: it shall not be far off,
and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for
Israel my glory.
Isaiah 51:5-8 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth,
and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and
on mine arm shall they trust. {6} Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and
look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke,
and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein
shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness
shall not be abolished. {7} Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither
be ye afraid of their revilings. {8} For the moth shall eat them up like
a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness
shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be
joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh
himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall
dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Paul said that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy. Here
are several prophetic passages that speak of a time when these elements
in general would be fulfilled:
Psalms 89:15-16 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:
they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. {16} In thy name
shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be
exalted.
Psalms 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let
thy saints shout for joy.
Isaiah 32:16-17 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and
righteousness remain in the fruitful field. {17} And the work of righteousness
shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance
for ever.
Paul understood that in Jesus Christ, righteousness, peace, and joy are
fulfilled:
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea,
and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Ephesians 2:13-17 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far
off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. {14} For he is our peace, who
hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between
us; {15} Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body
by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached
peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may
be full.
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
As we have noted previously, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the
Son are one and the same. Paul explicitly proclaims that believers have
been translated into the kingdom of the Son:
Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made
us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13}
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: {14} In whom we have redemption through
his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
The real difficulty comes with trying to reconcile what futurists describe
as the "already but not yet" with the Scripture. There are two primary
reasons they have done this: First, they approach the study of the kingdom
with the presupposition that there is at least a spiritual kingdom and
a physical kingdom. All of the millennial schemes do this, whether pre,
post, or amillennial. Second, they do not see the clear Scriptural teaching
concerning what we must identify as the transformation period. It
is a recognition of this transformation period that will solve the "already
but not yet" problem. First, it is necessary to see several passages that
speak of the New Covenant being brought to consummation through process:
Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the
first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Here the Old Covenant (O.C.) is said to have been in the process of waxing
old and decaying. It tells us that it was ready to vanish away.
2 Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious,
much more that which remaineth is glorious.
The phrase, "done away" is translated "is passing away" in the New King
James Version clearly implying that the fading glory of the O.C. was approaching
its end as the New Covenant (N.C.) was progressing.
Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He
taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Once again, the present tense is extremely important to our understanding
of the gradual progression of the N.C. and the gradual digression of the
O.C. From here we turn to chapter 12 of Hebrews to observe the use of the
present tense to describe the unfolding of the New Covenant kingdom:
Hebrews 12:18-28 For ye are not come unto the mount that might
be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness,
and tempest, {19} And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which
voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them
any more: {20} (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And
if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust
through with a dart: {21} And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said,
I exceedingly fear and quake:) {22} But ye are come unto mount Sion, and
unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels, {23} To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect, {24} And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of
Abel. {25} See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped
not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape,
if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: {26} Whose voice then
shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake
not the earth only, but also heaven. {27} And this word, Yet once more,
signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that
are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. {28} Wherefore
we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby
we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
The context is definitively speaking of the contrast between the two covenants.
Verses 18-21 deal with the mountain and kingdom of the O.C., a covenant
that only produced the wrath of God. Verses 22-28 deal with the mountain
and kingdom of the N.C., a covenant that produced righteousness and forgiveness.
The O.C. is metaphorically described here as the heavens and earth. These
were in the process of "being shaken" (vs.27). The verb is in the present
tense, showing the gradual removal of the curse upon the people of God.
However, this gradual removal was not without a replacement far better:
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing
in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Hebrews 8:6-7 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established
upon better promises. {7} For if that first covenant had been faultless,
then should no place have been sought for the second.
The better replacement is very evident in Hebrews 12:
Hebrews 12:27-28 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing
of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those
things which cannot be shaken may remain. {28} Wherefore we receiving a
kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve
God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Notice the phrase, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom." The verb receiving
is likewise in the present tense, and shows how the N.C. kingdom was being
brought to its fulness by progression. This progression or transformation
involved the reforming work of the Holy Spirit to bring the church into
the image of Christ-an image into which Paul says they were already being
changed:
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The kingdom of which Paul speaks in Hebrews 12:28 is none other than the
kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven we have already studied.
What we must conclude, therefore, is the fact that three different analyses
of the kingdom must be taken into consideration: First, the first-century
saints were said to already be in the kingdom:
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness,
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in
tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the
isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony
of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
of angels,
And yet in other passages the kingdom seems to be a future event for the
first-century church:
Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp,
bearing his reproach.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor
of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised
to them that love him?
2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
However, there is no contradiction or "already but not yet" when the passages
dealing with the transformation are observed:
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be
moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence
and godly fear:
1 Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies
under his feet.
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,
much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
This last verse uses the present tense for the verb exceed. The
passage actually reads, "For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,
much more is the ministration of righteousness exceeding in glory." This
is because the New Covenant was growing into fulness as it was exceeding
the glory of the Old Covenant.
The ministration of righteousness, the N.C. kingdom, was exceeding in
glory while the ministration of death, the O.C. kingdom, was diminishing
in glory. In fact, though the literal veil was torn in two at the crucifixion
of Christ, the actual veil of spiritual death was still upon the elect
unsaved Jews, but was in the process of being done away as the remnant
according to the election of grace were believing in Christ. Not only this,
but for those who were believers, the veil was in the process of being
removed as they had not yet entered into the holiest of holies.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this
day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which veil is being done away in Christ.
It is also important to realize that the first-century Christians honestly
believed they were serving a King:
Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to
the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the
only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus Christ the King was ruling over the kingdom that was being transformed
into the fulness of the New Covenant. This one kingdom was in the process
of being received by the first-century believers.
From what we have studied, it is evident that the kingdom of which it
was said that it was at hand began to unfold at Pentecost and was brought
to its fulness at the Parousia. This occurred at the destruction of the
Jewish Temple. This was the outward sign that the inward kingdom was in
its full form and Christ the King was, at last, in His people who had previously
had the Spirit as the deposit of the guarantee of their inheritance. This
inheritance was that prepared for those who would be made kings and priests:
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy
to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue,
and people, and nation; {10} And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:
and we shall reign on the earth.
Peter called them a royal priesthood:
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises
of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
This light of the kingdom was prophesied in the O.T.:
Isaiah 60:19-21 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither
for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall
be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. {20} Thy sun
shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the
LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall
be ended. {21} Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit
the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that
I may be glorified.
The Psalmist predicted the presence of the Bride with Christ her King:
Psalms 45:10-15 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline
thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; {11} So
shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship
thou him. {12} And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even
the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour. {13} The king's daughter
is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. {14} She shall
be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions
that follow her shall be brought unto thee. {15} With gladness and rejoicing
shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
The Psalmist relates the city of the great King to Mount Zion:
Psalms 48:1-2 A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is
the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain
of his holiness. {2} Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth,
is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
As does the writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
of angels, {23} To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which
are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect,
The Psalmist predicts the relationship of the creation of the spiritual
Israel of God as the children of Zion with their King:
Psalms 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children
of Zion be joyful in their King.
This creation is none other than that which is created in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Notice that the passage in Psalms speaks of Israel rejoicing in the King
that made him. Paul says if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
Isaiah predicted the eternity of the government of this King of Israel:
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace. {7} Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be
no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and
to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
There was one kingdom predicted in the prophets. There was one kingdom
of which our Lord spoke. And there was one kingdom that began at Pentecost
and was brought to its fulness at the Parousia. This is the heavenly kingdom
of God, the Kingdom of the dear Son, the kingdom of the Father-a kingdom
in which all the elect of God are ruling with their King and rejoicing
in the God of their salvation.