-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
You'll notice that Matthew often uses the phrase kingdom of heaven while the other synoptic gospels will use the term kingdom of God. They are synonymous. There are different meanings to the term kingdom in the Bible, however.
I've been studying the sermon on the mount and reading Joseph Dillow's book Final Destiny. He has an interesting proposal that entering the kingdom of heaven means to enter into heavenly kingdom blessing now, to live to be great in the kingdom. There are many aspects to the kingdom, as Dillow points out there are 6 aspects: power, permeating influence, experience of kingdom life, messianic kingdom, new heavens and new earth and the sphere of personal salvation.
I've been studying the sermon on the mount and reading Joseph Dillow's book Final Destiny. He has an interesting proposal that entering the kingdom of heaven means to enter into heavenly kingdom blessing now, to live to be great in the kingdom. There are many aspects to the kingdom, as Dillow points out there are 6 aspects: power, permeating influence, experience of kingdom life, messianic kingdom, new heavens and new earth and the sphere of personal salvation.
In Matthew 13:41-44, there seems to be an equivalency among the Kingdom of the Son of Man, the Kingdom of the Father and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 13 contains multiple parables of the kingdom of heaven. Within that context in v.41-44, it also refers to the kingdom of the Son of man and the kingdom of the Father.
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; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 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.
No 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. Verse 44 continues the parables of Christ in his demonstrating what the kingdom of heaven is like.
In the well-known Lord's prayer, the object of prayer is a kingdom designated as the Father's kingdom and prayer is that it would exist on earth as it exists in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
In the kingdoms described in Matthew 13, the king rules and his subjects do His Will.
Matthew 13 contains multiple parables of the kingdom of heaven. Within that context in v.41-44, it also refers to the kingdom of the Son of man and the kingdom of the Father.
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; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 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.
No 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. Verse 44 continues the parables of Christ in his demonstrating what the kingdom of heaven is like.
In the well-known Lord's prayer, the object of prayer is a kingdom designated as the Father's kingdom and prayer is that it would exist on earth as it exists in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
In the kingdoms described in Matthew 13, the king rules and his subjects do His Will.
Last edited:
R
And you'd think that since the majority of the authors use the term "kingdom of God", that we would also.
But people's obsession with the idea of a place, has made them think that "heaven" and the "kingdom of heaven" are the same thing.
And they are not.
So when people read "enter the kingdom of heaven", they think it's the same as "go to heaven when you die", but Jesus was talking about entering the kingdom right now.
Be very careful when you read "kingdom of heaven" verses, they do not refer to going to a mysterious place when you die or "get raptured."
And the bible never says you can assume you'll "go to heaven" in the future because you are saved right now, just that you can "enter the kingdom" right now.
Huge misconceptions about what happens when we die, where we live after the resurrection, and so on.
Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven is a different experience of earthly living. And Jesus beat around the bush on it's description with parables, so that people would not simply decide for themselves that they are somehow in it without having a personal witness by experiencing it themselves. And anyone that wants to enter it, has very clear instructions on how to do so. But people are focused on the word heaven instead of the instructions.
Documented plainly in the scriptures -
1. The only way to "heaven" is to be caught up by God (Enoch, Elijah, Paul's acquaintance, for examples), or ascend on your own ability (Jesus, Two witnesses, for examples)
2. "The kingdom of heaven/kingdom of God" are "within you" or "press into you" and is "at hand" or "draws near"
Best to toss out all your teachings about both, grab the bible and a proper cross of bearing other people's burdens and iniquities and seek, ask, find out what the terms mean. Chances are your pastor and youtube, and me have it wrong.
But people's obsession with the idea of a place, has made them think that "heaven" and the "kingdom of heaven" are the same thing.
And they are not.
So when people read "enter the kingdom of heaven", they think it's the same as "go to heaven when you die", but Jesus was talking about entering the kingdom right now.
Be very careful when you read "kingdom of heaven" verses, they do not refer to going to a mysterious place when you die or "get raptured."
And the bible never says you can assume you'll "go to heaven" in the future because you are saved right now, just that you can "enter the kingdom" right now.
Huge misconceptions about what happens when we die, where we live after the resurrection, and so on.
Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven is a different experience of earthly living. And Jesus beat around the bush on it's description with parables, so that people would not simply decide for themselves that they are somehow in it without having a personal witness by experiencing it themselves. And anyone that wants to enter it, has very clear instructions on how to do so. But people are focused on the word heaven instead of the instructions.
Documented plainly in the scriptures -
1. The only way to "heaven" is to be caught up by God (Enoch, Elijah, Paul's acquaintance, for examples), or ascend on your own ability (Jesus, Two witnesses, for examples)
2. "The kingdom of heaven/kingdom of God" are "within you" or "press into you" and is "at hand" or "draws near"
Best to toss out all your teachings about both, grab the bible and a proper cross of bearing other people's burdens and iniquities and seek, ask, find out what the terms mean. Chances are your pastor and youtube, and me have it wrong.
L
The phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" is the exact same as "Kingdom of God". Jews never used the name for Yahweh because they held it too honorable for their lips: they would inject other words over it such as Adonai or Heaven. "And Heaven said..."
Matthew was relating to the Jews in his Gospel by using their terminology.
Matthew was relating to the Jews in his Gospel by using their terminology.