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Introduction
The word “Kingdom”, referring to the Kingdom of God occurs 129 times in the New Testament, 59 times in Matthew.
Questions:
- Is the church the Kingdom of God?
- Does the church create the Kingdom or does Kingdom create the church?
- Which is first?
- Is the Kingdom of God inside us or outside us?
- Is the Church perfect?
- Is the Kingdom perfect?
- Can there be a Kingdom without a King?
- How many kingdoms are there?
- Can they be reconciled? How?
Original Design
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.28. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:27-28
We see in Genesis that God created a man (Christ) the women (the Church) and the Garden (Kingdom). God also created the Heavens and the Earth but that is not a type and shadow of the Kingdom of God because there were enemies and there was war.
The Kingdom of God is where God rules and where his law is upheld. This is “in the Spirit” and a state of being, not so much a physical realty or a sphere.
Ultimately it will play out in the body, soul and Spirit
Before the man and the women and the dominion and provision through God first created space for them to live in, the heavens, the earth and the garden. When Adam and Eve had been created, they were given the blessing and the command to fil the earth and have dominion. This Dominion mandate corresponds with the Kingdom mandate in the New Covenant.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
” (Matthew 6:9–10, NKJV)
Creation Types
- Adam is a type and shadow of Christ,
- Eve is a type and shadow of the Church, and
- The Garden of Eden is a type and shadow of the Kingdom of God (the place where God’s law is upheld).
Key Scriptures
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
” (Psalm 103:19, NKJV)
True Worship and False
Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
2 For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.
” (Isaiah 66:1–2, NKJV)
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”
” (Matthew 3:1–3, NKJV)
Seventh Trumpet: The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
” (Revelation 11:15–19, NKJV)
Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of Heaven
There are many occasions where one or more of the other gospels will tell the same story as is told in Matthew, but where Matthew uses the term “kingdom of heaven,” the other gospel writer will use the term “kingdom of God” in the same statement. For example, when the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus while John was in prison and asked if Jesus was really the promised one, Jesus makes the statement:
“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” (Matthew 11:11).
Luke reports the same words during the exact same event as:
“I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he,” (Luke 7:28).
There are many examples like this, where very specific statements in very specific contexts are reported by more than one gospel writer, and they will use the words kingdom of heaven/kingdom of God interchangeably, showing us that these terms mean the same thing.
- Sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3 (heaven) verses Luke 6:20 (God).
- Reclining at the table: Matthew 8:11 (heaven) verses Luke 13:29 (God).
- No one greater than John the Baptist: Matthew 11:11 (heaven) verses Luke 7:28 (God).
- Parable of the Sower: Matthew 13:11 (heaven) verses Mark 4:11 (God).
- Parable of the seed: Matthew 13:24 (heaven) verses Mark 4:26 (God).
- Parable of the mustard seed: Matthew 13:31 (heaven) verses Mark 4:30 (God) and Luke 13:18 (God).
- Parable of the leaven: Matthew 13:33 (heaven) verses Luke 13:20-21 (God).
- Jesus blesses little children: Matthew 18:3 (heaven) verses Mark 10:14 (God) and Luke 18:16 (God).
- In this example, Jesus mentions both kingdoms interchangeably: Matthew 19:23-25 (heaven and God).
Confrontation and War
Why repent instead of rejoice?
There are many Kingdoms
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
” (John 12:30–33, NKJV)
Satan’s Kingdom
5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
” (Luke 4:5–7, NKJV)
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
” (John 12:30–33, NKJV)
More Scriptures re the Kingdom of God
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,2. and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”3. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”
Matthew 3:1-3
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35
Our Father
“In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!11. “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.12. “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”13. Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. Matthew 8:10-13
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.13. “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14. “And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.15. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!16. “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,17. “and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
Matthew 11:11-17
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
