Posted on 03/01/2014 10:42:07 AM PST by PhilipFreneau
Are the Kingdom of God and Heaven the same?
The teaching of the kingdom began in the days of John the Baptist, whose ministry was the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. These are the prophecies and their fulfillment:
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isa 40:3 KJV)
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts." (Mal 3:1 KJV)
"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (Mat 3:1-3 KJV)
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Mark 1:1-4 KJV)
John also fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi 4:5-6:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Mal 4:5-6 KJV)
"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mat 11:13-15 KJV)
Jesus made it clear that John the Baptist was the only Elijah that was to come:
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." (Mat 17:11-13 KJV)
Now, after his baptism, and anointing with the Holy Ghost, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee where he preached the kingdom:
"Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mat 4:12-17 KJV)
"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 KJV)
That should be enough to prove the kingdom of God and kingdom of Heaven are the same. But we will delve a little further. This is Jesus preaching to his disciples the Sermon on the Mount, as written in the books of Matthew and Luke:
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 5:1-3 KJV)
"And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God." (Luke 6:20 KJV)
Here, the "two" kingdoms are mentioned by Matthew and Mark in similar verses about little children:
"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 19:14 KJV)
"But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14 KJV)
In the following verses, Luke and Matthew interchange kingdom of God and kingdom of Heaven in writing virtually the same statement:
"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Mat 11:11 KJV)
"For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28 KJV)
And Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are in "both" kingdoms:
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 8:11 KJV)
"But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:27-28 KJV)
Here, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are used in the same passage about the rich man:
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mat 19:23-24 KJV)
Even in the parables, the "two kingdoms" are interchangeable:
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." (Mat 13:31-32 KJV)
"And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it." (Mark 4:30-32 KJV)
The evidence is overwhelming that the kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven are the same. But what are they, and when were they created? Here, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven existed during his ministry, at least since the days of John the Baptist:
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." (Mat 11:12 KJV)
That is crystal clear. In the following passages Jesus prophesied that he would eat meat in the Kingdom of God, and he fulfilled that prophecy shortly after this resurrection:
"And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16 KJV)
"And I appoint unto you [his disciples] a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:29-30 KJV)
"And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him [Jesus] a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them." (Luke 24:41-43 KJV)
Therefore, the kingdom of heaven has existed at least since the days of John the Baptist, and the Kingdom of God existed at least since shortly after the Lord's resurrection. But, if they are the same, and the evidence is overwhelming that they are, then the kingdom of God also existed since, at least, the days of John the Baptist. Check this out:
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [Israel,] and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Mat 21:43 KJV)
I don't know what nation Jesus was referring to, since the "kingdom" seems to have been given to anyone who believes in Christ, Jew or Gentile. It is clear that the kingdom of God existed at least before Matthew 21. We also know that the physical kingdom ended during the reign of Zedekiah about 600 BC. Let's get to the heart of the matter:
"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21 KJV)
So, the kingdom of God (or, heaven) is spiritual.
In any kingdom, there is the ruler (Christ,) and his servants, who rule and watch over the kingdom. We know of some servants, who were mentioned earlier: his disciples:
"And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Mat 19:28 KJV)
Other servants are mentioned as part of the first resurrection:
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Rev 20:4-6 KJV)
In summary, it appears the kingdom was taken from Israel, and given to everyone; and those of the first resurrection reign over the kingdom as servants of Christ.
Philip
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Why? Because it fits their pre-determined ideology. Consistenncy is not a part of their hermenautics
>>>It is clear you do not even know what Miller taught.<<<
I know exactly what he taught. He taught the same foolishness as the dispensationalist false prophets: that he knew the date of the coming of the Lord (I know there were minor doctrinal differences, but only minor.) I am aware of four “blatant” false prophets in the last two hundred years; and three were dispensationalists. Why do you diss Miller? Wasn’t he one of your kind?
LOL!
Philip
Sure makes it convenient...Just take an erasure and erase the scipture that you don't like...
And I agree...Bend it any which way you want to get it to line up with your theory...
Rev_19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
I believe there's enough proof that this hasn't happened yet...<<<
Show me the proof, as in show me the beef!
You can't, without spritualizing the scripture. Prove me wrong.
Philip
You can't, without spritualizing the scripture. Prove me wrong.
Ukraine...Israel...United States...Egypt...
LOL That goes way over the heads of Preterists.
Then you are aware that he also, like you, taught that the second coming of Christ has already occurred.
I, however, as a mainstream dispensationalist, am still looking forward to His return ... I don't know the day, I don't know the hour, I don't know the year. The Bible is clear that date-setting concerning the return of Christ is unbiblical.
See the following article that explains why date-setting by anyone is unbiblical:
http://pre-trib.org/articles/view/why-bible-still-prohibits-date-setting
The Pre-Trib Study Group is composed of seminary professors and theologians that represent mainstream dispensational thought. If you can find one among them that has given a date for the second coming then you would have my ear. Until then, I have to assume that you are willingly negligent of any current dispensational theology.
I have noticed one thing about every person I have ever met who believes in the 70 AD view; they all without exception believe that a dispensationalist is one who aligns himself with Harold Camping ... and they collectively or individually have no desire to thoughtfully reconsider that.
>>>Ukraine...Israel...United States...Egypt...<<<
How about Apples, Grapefruit, China and Bora Bora. That makes as much sense as what you wrote.
Philip
**John said it was only for 42 months. How do you interpret that?**
Simple. There are events yet to happen that preceed those 42 months. Others on this thread have shown you the proper understanding of those prophecies. If I tell you the same, I’m guessing that you still won’t believe.
>>>Others on this thread have shown you the proper understanding of those prophecies.<<<
Who?
The consequences are many.
1) When the AntiChrist arrives, those who believe in preterism are likely to promote the acceptance of his appearance as the second coming of Christ.
2) For believers, a worldly preoccupation arises, believing human good works are a panacea for faith alone in Christ alone.
3) Regarding eternal rewards, many a predestined award will never be handed out at the bema seat judgment to preterists who fail to advance in His Word, but fall out of fellowship by a scarred soul falling for preterist eschatology and subsequent flawed doctrine.
4) Misinterpreting and promoting flawed doctrine simply grieves the Holy Spirit and places the believer out of fellowship with Him. Many preterists are walking grenades, by pulling the pin of arrogance and fragmenting their lives into either lasciviousness or legalism in their desire for approbation or a frantic search for happiness. This blocs positive volition to receive further growth in doctrine through faith in Christ. Instead, many preterists focus on worldly systems of power and control advancing a couterfeit agenda to His Plan.
He has a Plan for each and every believer, but in order to receive it we must remain in fellowship with Him.
>>>When the AntiChrist arrives, those who believe in preterism are likely to promote the acceptance of his appearance as the second coming of Christ.<<<
From what I have read about Preterists, they believe that Christ came in 70 AD and will not come again. I certainly don’t believe that. Where did you get your belief? Also, where is the “antichrist” mentioned in God’s Word, except collectively in 1st and 2nd John.
Philip
>>>I have noticed one thing about every person I have ever met who believes in the 70 AD view; they all without exception believe that a dispensationalist is one who aligns himself with Harold Camping ... and they collectively or individually have no desire to thoughtfully reconsider that.<<<
It is not just Harold Camping. All the modern day false prophecies come from dispensationalists, from Hal Lindsey to Jerry Falwell to Pat Robertson, and many, many more. Even some of the more “scholarly,” who are careful not to make exact predictions, come out with nonsense like this by Mark Hitchcock: “The Late Great United States, What Bible Prophecy Reveals about America’s Last Days.”
All one needs to know is, the bible says absolutely nothing about the United States. Why write a book, when a single sentence will do? Could it be scaremongering to enhance book sales?
Philip
Dispensationalists are cessationists ...
and you demonstrated my point nicely.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
>>>Why? Because it fits their pre-determined ideology. Consistenncy is not a part of their hermenautics<<<
Cynical Bear, I do not spiritualize that scripture, nor do I try to read too much into it. This is that verse in context:
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11 KJV)
It plainly says the Lord will come from heaven in like manner as he ascended. In other words, there is no way "every eye" will see him as dispensationalists claim. Only those nearby, in plain visual sight, will see him, as did the men of Galilee. In fact, Jesus himself states that he sends his angels to gather his elect, rather than do it himself:
"And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." (Mark 13:27 KJV)
Note also that Acts 1:9-11 does not say the Lord returns to earth, which is what Paul stated in this passage:
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Th 4:16-18 KJV)
It never says any of them (including the Lord) will every return to earth; but rather it is fairly clear they will be forever in the clouds with the Lord. I personally believe they will forever be on mount Sion in heavenly New Jerusalem serving the Lord and his Church:
"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant… " (Heb 12:22-24 KJV)
Philip
Really??? What, you think we just made it up??? What do you do with these scriptures???
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Everyone on earth will see Jesus when he comes at the 2nd coming...
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
No one goes into the clouds of the air to meet Jesus at the 2nd coming...
>>>Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. <<<
I have no problem with those scriptures, only your interpretation of them. I believe Christ's intended meaning of his Words and dispensationalist's interpretation of them are miles apart.
>>>Everyone on earth will see Jesus when he comes at the 2nd coming..<<<
First, how does that happen? On the internet? Second, how does your interpretation jive with Acts 1:9-11? Do you think that was made up? Who are the kindreds and tribes of the earth? Certainly not the Gentiles.
>>>Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.<<<
Who are "they?" What did the Lord's coming in a "cloud" mean in the Old Testament? There was no New Testament at the time he spoke it? What about that verse and next verse in the parallel passages of Mark and Matthew? Do you think Jesus made those up?
"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Mat 24:30-31 KJV)
"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." (Mark 13:26-27 KJV)
Do you think these verses were made up?
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Mat 16:27-28 KJV)
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Mat 24:34 KJV)
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (Mat 10:22-23 KJV)
You should be outraged over anyone who interprets those verses in any other manner than Jesus' coming was during the generation of his disciples. Your selective outrage is puzzling.
>>>No one goes into the clouds of the air to meet Jesus at the 2nd coming...<<<
So, do you think Paul was lying in this passage?
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Th 4:16-17 KJV)
Philip
>>>Dispensationalists are cessationists ...<<<
That statement by you was in response to my statement: “All the modern day false prophecies come from dispensationalists.”
I am a cessationist. How could any dispensationalist be a cessationist? By false prophecy? Explain yourself.
Philip
We agree on terms ... though I don't know what your definition of cessationism is.
If you hold that BOTH office of NT prophet AND the gift of prophecy ceased with the passing of the apostolic age then yes, we agree.
If you believe that cessationism has anything to do with the fulfillment of prophecy, then no ... we don't agree on what cessationism actually is.
How could any dispensationalist be a cessationist?
Philip, what in your understanding of dispensationalism leads you to believe that I could not be a cessationist?
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