Kingdom of God has MORE than one meaning...Lets Look!

[Christine]

How a Misinterpretation can cause a PROBLEM..The KINGDOM


The Term "The Kingdom of God", as used in the Bible, has more than one meaning. It is used in TWO different ways:

1. Of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, His thousand year reign on earth. This is future.

2. Of the Universal Kingdom of God. This has always been in existance.

Confusion abounds when this term is always used to mean the same thing.

In the gospel records of Matthew, Mark , Luke and John, the Kingdom of God is mentioned about 54 times. Another term, the Kingdom of Heaven, is mentioned around 33 times, all in Matthew.

The term 'Kingdom of Heaven' is a PROPHETIC term, and is based on Daniel 2:44:

Daniel 2:44
"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."

Daniel, chapter 2, presents 5 world wide empires or kingdoms. Four of these kingdoms are history, and the only one left to be fulfilled is the fifth, the one referred to in verse 44.

This is the Kingdom of Heaven that was the burden of John the Baptist, the 12 disciples , and of the Lord Jesus Himself (in His earthly ministry). God was ready to bring in the KINGDOM, to SET UP the Kingdom if the Nation had repented, but we know from the book of Acts that Israel did not repent.

Now, the Kingdom of Heaven is also called the Kingdom of God, and a list of where these two terms are uses synonymously is given to PROVE that the Kingdom of God can and does mean the earthly, Millennial Kingdom of Israel.

1. Matthew 4:17 with Mark 1:15

"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent , for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand" (Matthew 4:17)

"And saying, The time is fulfilled , and the KINGDOM OF GOD is at hand. Repent ye and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15)


2. Matthew 5:3 with Luke 6:20


"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" (Matthew 5:3)

"And he lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said, Blessed be ye poor; for yours is the KINGDOM OF GOD." (Luke 6:20)


3. Matthew 11:11 with Luke 7:28

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater thatn John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11)

"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." (Luke 7:28)

4. Matthew 13:11 with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13:11)

"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" (Mark 4:11)

"And He said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteris of the KINGDOM OF GOD; but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand" (Luke 8:10)

5. Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30,31

"Another parable put He forth unto them saying, The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field." (Matthew 13:31)

"And He said, Whereunto shall we liken the KINGDOM OF GOD? ow with what comparison shall we compare with it? It is like the grain of mustard seed which shen it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth." (Mark 4:30,31)

6. Matthew 19:14 with Luke 18:16

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children and forbid then not to come unto Me; for such is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." (Matthew 19:24)

"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." (Luke 18:16)

7. Matthew 19:23 with Mark 10:23 and Luke 18:24

"Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." (Matthew 19:23)

"And Jesus looked around about and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD?" (Mark 10:23)

"And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, H esaid, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD." (Luke 18:24)



All that to say, the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and the KINGDOM OF GOD are a vital part of Israels religion. It is the culmination of all their hopes and desires. There is NOTHING CHRISTIAN about it.

We find the UNIVERSAL aspect of the KINGDOM OF GOD in Pauls epistles. The two leading verses are Romans 14:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:50:

"For the KINGDOM OF GOD is not meant and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

"Now this I say ,brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD." (1 Cor. 15:50)

PAUL TEACHES THAT THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MATERIALISTIC BUT SPIRITUAL.

The materialistic kingdom is meat and drink. (Matthew 6:11)
and those who enter into it will have bodies of flesh and blood.

NOT SO WITH THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM of GOD.

Believers are in the UNIVERSAL KINGDOM by virtue of their being members of the Body of Christ. This is how we enjoy the righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.

The UNIVERSAL Kingdom of God is also called a HEAVENLY KINGDOM. (2 Tim. 4:18) ; it is called the KINGDOM OF CHRIST and of God (Ephl 5:5); it is also called the KINGDOM Of His dear Son (col. 1:13). This cannot be the Millennial Kingdom for the Body of Christ is ALREADY IN IT< NOW!

Excerpts taken from Robert C. Brocks "Christianity IS..The Gospel fo the Grace of God and NOT The Gospel of the Kingdom"