“Pastor, I’m confused, what’s the difference between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God?”
My dear, the confusion is mutualš, but in other to have my peace, I just stick to what the bible says. The Kingdom of Heaven was mostly used in Matthew’s gospel, while others used the Kingdom of God. I perceive that Matthew’s decision to use “heaven” instead of “God” must be because he wrote primarily for a Jewish audience. In the Jewish faith, any attempt to use the name of God in the way that is against their law is sin. Matthew clearly didn’t want a devout Jew to break the third commandment which says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain – Exo 20:7”.
Seeing that both words are used interchangeably in the four gospels, it’s safe to agree that they mean the same thing.
However, it’s important that we clarify that while the kingdom of heaven would always be the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God is not limited to the kingdom of heaven. In Nigeria, Edo kingdom is also called Kingdom of Benin, but we all know that Benin City is just the capital of Edo State. The state still has about 18 Local Government Areas. So addressing the king of Edo State as the king of the kingdom of Benin doesn’t mean his authority is limited to Benin City alone, the name is just to serve a purpose or promote an idea.
Speaking of purpose and idea, David must have time-travelled in Psalms 103:19 when he said, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all”. This clearly reveals that heaven isn’t the only kingdom God has, His throne is only established there. God has a kingdom that rules over all kingdoms, but His throne is established in the heavens. The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God, but the kingdom of God is not limited to the kingdom of heaven.
Now speaking of “ruling over all”, the kingdom of God has authority over all kingdoms, except one, the kingdom of earth. Recall that after He created man and put him on the earth, He gave man dominion over the earth. In other words, he put man in charge of the earth. While man became king of the earth, God remained King over the heavens.
Things went south and Satan took over man’s dominion. Seeing that God had willed dominion to man, the only way He could reclaim the earth was to plan an invasion from the kingdom of heaven into the kingdom of earth. In other words, if God’s plan works hundred percent, then the kingdom of earth would become the kingdom of heaven or an extention of the kingdom of heaven.
God began by sending prophets who prophesied about this kingdom. After many prophets, John the Baptist came. His message was simple, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near”. In other words, you don’t have to continue living in sin and evil, the kingdom of heaven is coming. You’d be able to live the life that they live in heaven here on earth.
When Jesus finally came, he continued John’s message, even though the kingdom was nearer with his presence on earth. After his death and resurrection, all power in heaven and in earth was given to him. It was at that moment that the invasion fully started. The ground work and foundation was set, the manifestation was next. Let’s see how scriptures put it:
Matthew 28:
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
So the moment you receive Jesus as Lord, you’ve been translated from the kingdom of earth to the kingdom of heaven. Satan no longer has authority over you, Jesus made sure of it by stripping him off his power when he descended into hell. Now the invasion of heaven’s systems or kingdom can continue without Satan’s hindrance. If he attempts to hinder us, we have been given power over him.
The challenge however would be that you can’t continue living with earthly principles and expect to flourish in this new kingdom. That’s why Jesus instructed them to teach all nations the things he taught them while he was yet with them. If you recall Jesus’s teachings to his followers, especially his disciples, most of them were fully about the kingdom of heaven. He wasn’t just talking about their earthly ways, he was teaching them the principles and systems of the kingdom of God. It was an invasion of the kingdom of heaven, not necessarily an agenda to dethrone Satan.
The reason why many Christians are struggling today is because they’re still applying the principles and systems of this earth to their life. You cannot pour new wine in an whole wine skin. Read your Bible, Matthew’s gospel especially, Jesus said a lot of things about the kingdom of heaven. These things will help you maximize your new citizenship.
I wish I can share a number of those things with you, but it would require a whole book. A simple example would be Matthew 10:7-8; Jesus said, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give”. Which means in the kingdom of heaven, we heal the sick, we cleanse the leper, we raise the dead, we cast out devils, and we do all these things freely. Back in those days, nobody deared to go close to a leper, but in the kingdom, we cleanse the leper. Even those who healed sick people took money for it. In the kingdom, we do it freely.
There’s so much you can learn about the kingdom that would enhance your Christian experience, but that’s if you’d read your Bible.
I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.
Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!
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