01/17/2023
The Kingdom of God – vs – The Kingdom of Heaven
(Chapter #2)
We left chapter #1, with a question to ponder: “Aren’t the Kingdom of God & the Kingdom of Heaven the same”???
Truthfully, many things about the Kingdom of Heaven, can be said about the Kingdom of God. But just as true, is the statement that many things about the Kingdom of God CANNOT be said about the Kingdom of Heaven - for instance:
The Kingdom of God’ is “Universal”. It’s realm is the whole of the known &
unknown universe. Which of course, includes the earth… (1Cor 15:28)
The Kingdom of Heaven is “limited” to the earth alone… (Rev 5:10)
The Kingdom of God is “timeless”, has no known beginning – nor end. So
The Kingdom of God is ruled by God, (the Trinity), universally, even now…
(Ps 90:2)
The Kingdom of Heaven has a “beginning” but is also without end. At Jesus’ 2nd
physical coming, – (not the time of the Rapture where He merely “hovers
above the earth” calling us upward to meet Him there in the sky), - but when
He actually “touches down” onto the earth again, THIS will be the beginning,
the start of The Kingdom of Heaven here on the earth. At this time, Jesus will
physically set up His 1,000 year reign over the earth: known as the
“Millennial reign”. (Mt 6:10 - 2Tim 4:1) At the end of His 1,000 year reign
over the earth. Jesus will “hand over” the purged planet earth, back under
the rule of the Kingdom of God. That once again, as before the rebellion
toward God’s universal rule of Lucifer and Adam, Father God will be
“All in All,”. Being “absorbed back into” the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of
Heaven on earth, will continue on eternally. With Jesus being part of the
Trinity rule within the Kingdom of God, He will then continue to reign over
earth as well. But Scripture tells us, the original Disciples, and some of the
Redeemed Saints, will rule with Him…
The Kingdom of God is “eternal in purpose”. It has always had, always has now,
and always will have, but one purpose. ***Finnis Dakes footnote *C, on
(Eph 3:11} explains: “The eternal purpose of the Kingdom of God, is to have
creations of free moral agents, who have been thoroughly evaluated and
purged of all possibility of rebellion, so that God can show the exceeding
riches of His grace toward them in all the ages to come without fear of
eternal rebellions. ***
The Kingdom of Heaven is “dispensational in purpose”. Meaning that the
Kingdom of Heaven has a defined time span. We discussed it starts at Jesus’
physical return to earth and will last 1,000 years. This explains the timeframe
of the Kingdom of Heaven. But what of it’s “purpose”? One of the best
explanations of the purpose of the Kingdom of Heaven, is found in 1 Cor
15:24-28. Dakes footnote “g”, *** Christ must reign 1,000 years to put down
all rebellion and then deliver the Kingdom TO GOD that He, (Father God),
can be all in all again, as before rebellion on earth started. ***
So, we’ve looked at the difference in the Kingdom of God – vs – the Kingdom of Heaven regarding the scope of their individual realms – the difference in their Time Frames – and the differences in their “Purposes”. There are actually several more definable differences between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. But let’s move on in our study here.
Let’s talk about “Kingdoms”. It’s hard for many, that don’t live in a “Kingdom” p***e, to understand what living in a Kingdom involves. In our country, we live under a Democracy type of Government. But what is the difference between a “Kingdom” and a “Democracy”???
As we await for our Lord Jesus to “come” and set up His Millennial Reign – wouldn’t it be wise for us to study and try to understand just “What living in this 1,000 year reign of Christ might be like”???