Thy Kingdom Come
A Study of the Kingdom of Heaven and of God
We are going to study about God's kingdom: what, where, when, and how it applies to our lives today. Many places refer to God as king, but we will only deal with the "kingdom"
The world "kingdom" can mean a people, a place, or the king's reign itself. Example of the third usage are Rev 17:12,17 and Luke 19:12,15, when the owner received a "kingdom". The kingdom of God is defined as: "those scattered everywhere who have submitted to God's reign, which ultimately will be the entire universe."
Prior Usage of Kingdom of God/Heaven
When a Jewish person heard John the Baptist and Jesus say "kingdom of God" or "kingdom of Heaven", they would be familiar with both terms.
Old Testament
Daniel 2:44 says, "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom…". In Dan 4:3,34 God's kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting.
Israel was the kingdom of the LORD in 1 Chr 28:5; 2 Chr 13:8.
God's kingdom is in 1 Chr 7:14; Ps 22:28; 103:19; 145:11-13; Ob. 21, 1 Chr 29:11; Dan 4:3,34; 7:27
The OT does not have "kingdom of Heaven".
Jewish Talmud and Targums
Joshua b. Korha "yoke of the kingdom of Heaven"
Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai in Qiid. 59b (ca.80 AD) "the yoke of the kingdom of Heaven"
Targums: "kingdom of YHWH" ten times.
Targum Onkelos "kingdom of the Lord" Ex 15:18
Targum of Jonathan "kingdom of Y-Y"
Other Jewish literature
Philo of Alexandria "royal power of God" The Special Laws 4 164 p.632
The Kaddish Prayer has "his [God's] kingdom"
Psalms of Solomon 17:3 "the kingdom of our God"
Mekilta de-Rabbi Ishmael on Exodus "His kingdom"
Sipre Leviticus 20:26 (ca.100 A.D.) "yoke of the kingdom"
Sipre Deuteronomy 113 mentions "King of heaven, and "King over heaven and earth."
Gamaliel II (early 2nd cent. CE) yoke of the kingdom
The Importance of the Kingdom
John the Baptist preached the kingdom was coming, Jesus preached the kingdom was near, and Jesu told His disciples to preach the kingdom was near. While all the New Testament mentions the kingdom, it is especially prominent in the gospels.
The kingdom of God is also used five times in Matthew (6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31; 21:43), the term "kingdom of Heaven" is used 32 times in Matthew (3:12; 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; 20:21; 22:2,13).
Mark has 20 references to the kingdom of God
4:10-12; 4:26-29; 4:30-32; 9:1; 9:47; 10:14-15; 10:23,24,25; 14:25; 15:43
The Gospel of Luke uses "kingdom of God" 32 times, plus just kingdom 14 more times, such as "His kingdom" in Lk 1:33.
John uses the kingdom of God two times (Jn 3:3, 5) and "my [Jesus] kingdom" in Jn 18:36
Acts uses "kingdom of God" seven times (1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31, not counting 1:6)
The rest of the NT just refers to one kingdom.
Rom 14:17 "The kingdom of God"
1 Cor 4:20 "kingdom of God"
1 Cor 6:9,10; 15:50; 1 Cor 15:50 (kingdom of God)
Gal 5:21
Eph 5:5 "kingdom of Christ and of God"
Col 1:13 "kingdom of His beloved son"
1 Th 2:12 "His kingdom"
2 Th 1:10 "kingdom of God"
2 Tim 4:1 "his [Christ's] kingdom
Heb 12:28 only one kingdom
Jms 2:5 only one kingdom
Rev 12:10
Eternal kingdom of Jesus (2 Pet 1:10-11; Rev 11:15)
Given the emphasis on the kingdom, we should mention the kingdom in our preaching. But we want to know what it is, and whether the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are the same or is one a superset of the other?
Are the Two the Same of Different?
Everyone agrees that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are not separate. Most Christians say they are synonyms, but some say that the kingdom of Heaven is a subset "on earth" of the kingdom of God. Here is the evidence and the arguments of them being synonyms vs. a subset.
Evidence for the Two being synonyms
Of the two terms "kingdom of Heaven" is found only in Matthew in the New Testament. It is thought that Matthew, writing to primarily Jewish readers, avoids mentioning God to have less of a barrier for them. If one was a subset, why would the kingdom of Heaven refer to the kingdom on earth? On the other hand, if it was the kingdom of God that was a subset for Israel, then why would Matthew, writing to the Jews use kingdom of Heaven?
In the New Testament, "kingdom of Heaven" is only used in Matthew. So, if they are different, no other NT writer saw any need to differentiate these terms.
In the gospels the two are used as synonyms in different places. For example, John the Baptist preaches that the kingdom of ___ is at hand in Mt 4:17 (heaven) and Mk 1:15 (God)
In Matthew 19:23 it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:23-24 it is difficult for those with riches to enter the kingdom of God.
When the angel prophesied of Christ that "of His kingdom there shall be no end" in Luke 1:33 should the shepherds have said, "we don't understand, which of the two kingdoms are you talking about?
18 Pre-Nicene writers, as well as Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo after Nicea, all taught on the kingdom of Heaven, and none of them mentioned any difference from it being the kingdom of God. If someone believed that God said that one was a subset of the other for Israel, this never got communicated until around 1909. The subset view is only a novel, modern innovation.
The synonym view is the most common, now and throughout history.
Evidence that the Kingdom of Heaven is a subset
The kingdom of God is all beings who are willingly subject to Him. Many (but not all) Dispensationalists teach that the kingdom of heaven is God's rulership on earth, which is a subset of the kingdom of God (or else the other way around). They say that Jesus offered it to the Jews, but when they rejected it (and Him), God then went with "Plan B" and the church.
There are three main scripture arguments for saying the one kingdom is only for Israel and a visible earthly subset of the ultimate kingdom.
First, people cannot be lose their salvation, yet the Sons of the kingdom can be cast out according to Matthew 8:11-12; 24:50-51; 25:28-30.
Second, the kingdom of Heaven has both wheat and tares according to Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
Likewise, the kingdom of Heaven is like a net with both good and bad fish in Matthew 13:47-50.
Rebuttal: While Matthew 13:33 says the kingdom of Heaven is like leaven that that spreads, Luke 13:20-21 says the same about the kingdom of God.
This view goes back to Plymouth Brethren William Kelly (died 1906), Arno C. Gaebelein (around 1903), and Lewis S. Chafer in The Kingdom in History and Prophecy (1919).
Three Aspects of the Kingdom of God
But regardless of semantics, Christians agree that the kingdom of God has three aspects.
Present in People in Hidden form: The kingdom of God is here, on earth, in hidden form. It is inside the hearts of Christians.
Place of the Visible Church: The church on earth is a visible expression of the kingdom of God. Of course, there can be unsaved people in the church.
Future Reign: In the future Jesus will reign over all during the Millennium, and then there will be the kingdom of God in the New Heaven and earth.
Who Enters the Kingdom of Heaven?
Must be born of water and Spirit. Jn 3:5
The kingdom of Heaven belongs to the poor in spirit and persecuted for righteousness'. Mt 5:3,10; Lk 6:20
God calls into His kingdom. 1 Th 2:12
Will not enter if your righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees. Mt 5:20
Yet many non-Jews will come. Mt 8:11; Lk 13:29
Even tax-collectors and robbers will enter the kingdom of Heaven before Pharisees. Mt 21:31
Scribes and Pharisee s shut up the kingdom of Heaven against others. Mt 23:14
Not everyone says "Lord, Lord" will go. Only those who do the Father's will. Mt 7:21
The unrighteous will not inherit it. 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5
Have to receive God's kingdom like a child to enter Mt 10:15; 19:14; Mk 10:14-15; Lk 18:16-17
It is difficult for the rich to enter. Mt 19:23-24; Mk 10:23-25; Lk 18:24-25
Poor in the world and rich in faith inherit the kingdom. Jms 2:5
The kingdom of Heaven will be like the sheep and the goats in Mt 25:32-34
Enter through many afflictions. Acts 19:8
The kingdom of heaven is based on grace, not merit. -like laborers in the vineyard in Mt 20:1-16
Present Aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven
There are mysteries to the kingdom of God/Heaven. Mt 13:11; Mk 4:11; Lk 8:10
The kingdom of God is within us. Lk 17:20-21
We have been translated into His kingdom. Col 1:13
It is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14:17
We are to be worthy of God's kingdom. 2 Th 1:5
Not in word but in power. 1 Cor 4:20
Imminent in Jesus' time. The kingdom was near (but not yet) in ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus. Mt 3:2; 4:17
Jesus and His disciples preached the kingdom. Lk 4:43; 9:2,11,60; 10:9; 16:16; Acts 1:3; 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23
God's kingdom came to people with the disciples preaching, and some rejected it. Lk 10:11; 11:20
Some disciples would not die until seeing the God's kingdom come with power. Mk 9:1; Lk 9:27
The Place of the Kingdom on Earth Today
Christ's kingdom is not of this world. Jn 18:36
He who is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than John the Baptist (on earth) Mt 8:11; Lk 7:28
From John the Baptist's time until now, the kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence. Mt 11:12
We are partners in the kingdom. Rev 1:9
If you put your hand to the plow and look back, you are not fit for God's kingdom. Lk 9:62
Future Timing of the Kingdom of God
It will be near in the endtimes. Lk 21:31
An angel will loudly announce it. Rev 11:15; 12:10
Jesus won't drink fruit of the vine again until He drinks in the kingdom. Mt 26:29; Mk 14:25
The kingdom is like a wedding feast in Mt 22:2.
Flesh and blood will not inherit it. 1 Cor 15:50
Breaking the OT law would make one least in the kingdom of Heaven. Mt 5:19
The kingdom cannot be shaken. Heb 12:28
Christ's kingdom will never end. Lk 1:33; 2 Pet 1:11
Christ will deliver it up to His Father. 1 Cor 15:24
Metaphors of the Kingdom of Heaven
The kingdom of Heaven is like a buried treasure, or a hidden pearl in Mt 13:44-45.
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed in Mk 4:30-32; Lk 13:18-29
It grows like leaven in Mt 13:33; Lk 13:20-21
Better to enter the kingdom with one eye, then go to the Lake of Fire with two eyes. Mk 9:47
The good news is about the kingdom. Mt 4:23; Lk 8:1
We Need to Seek the Kingdom Now
Joseph of Arimathea was looking for God's kingdom. Mk 15:43
"But seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, Mt 6:33; Lk 12:31 (World English Bible)
Pray that God's kingdom come. Mt 6:10; Lk 11:2
References and Viewpoints
The New International Dictionary of the Bible p.568-569 -does not pick a view
Elwell, Walter A. The Concise Evangelical Dictionary of Theology p.267-268 -synonym
The New Unger's Bible Dictionary p.740 -subset
Wycliffe Bible Dictionary p.991-992 -synonym
Wycliffe Dictionary of Theology p.309-314 -synonym
The Anchor Bible Dictionary vol.4 p.49-69