What are the kingdom parables of Matthew? Section 3
HOW DO THE KINGDOM PARABLES OF MATTHEW RELATE TO JESUS KINGDOM ON EARTH?
A STUDY OF THE PARABLES OF MATTHEW
KINGDOM PARABLE 15: THE THIEF IN THE NIGHT, MATT 24:42-44
Matthew 24:42-44
Parable Concerning The Thief in the Night (distinguishes believers from unbelievers)
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (NIV)
| CHARACTER, OBJECT,PLACE, EVENT, ETC. | INTERPRETATION |
| House | A house is where man lives. Paul, Peter and Job called the place they live their tent. The real and everlasting part of us, our spirit lives within our tent or body. The heart is the mind of the spirit, the subconscious, and it is part of the spirit. |
| The thief | Satan and his evil angels are the thief in this parable. The heart is where Satan and his evil angels try to break in. Eph 6:12-17 discusses the fact that we are under attack at all times by Satan’s evil forces. In this parable, Jesus is telling us that we do not want Satan’s evil angels within our spirit when he comes for us at the rapture. We have to keep them away from our house at all times because we do not know when Jesus might come for us. |
| Be ready | Jesus says we must be ready at all times, because we do not know when he is coming for us. Many of the kingdom parables tell us what this means and how we can do this. We must be dressed in the proper clothes and ready to go to the wedding. As we will see later in the parable about the ten virgins, we must have the Holy Spirit within us. We must be believers in Jesus and attempting to do his will for us, be productive members of Jesus’ kingdom, be following sound doctrine, etc. |
Commentary Application: |
This parable is a short warning from Jesus that we must all remain alert at all times. We do not want to be caught surprised and be in compromising situations when he comes. We must have our wedding garments on and be waiting for the bridegroom to come for us. We must be believers in Jesus and be about his work. This parable is part of a description about the rapture of believers to heaven. The context of this parable is therefore about the rapture. We do not know when it will come. The previous parable about the fig tree tells us that we should be able to recognize the season of his return for us. This parable tells us that even though we may know the season, we will not know the day or hour. 1 Thess 5:2 tells us, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” This parable has application to both phases of the kingdom of heaven. |
KINGDOM PARABLE 16: CARING FOR THE FLOCK WHILE THE MASTER IS AWAY, MATT 24:45-51
Matthew 24:45-51
The Parable Concerning Caring for the Flock while the Master is Away (Separation of teachers of false and true doctrine)
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (NIV)
| CHARACTER, OBJECT,PLACE, EVENT, ETC. | INTERPRETATION |
| Servant in charge of the masters possessions;He may be faithful and wise or he may be wicked. | The servant whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household, to give them their food at the proper time. The master went on a trip and left a servant in charge of all of his possessions. In essence, this servant may represent all of the religious leaders in the world. |
| Master | Jesus Christ is the master of the servants. |
| Food | Heb 5:11-14 and 6:5 tell us that the Word is milk for the immature in the faith and it is solid food, good for those mature in the faith. 1 Pet 2:1-3 says that we are to crave “pure spiritual milk” so that we may grow up in our salvation. We are told to consume the Word. In this parable the servant was left in charge of teaching the Word (giving food) to the other servants and instructing them when necessary. |
| The masters possessions | The master’s possessions are those who belong to Jesus. It is those who believe in and follow Jesus. |
| The fellow servants | Servants of the master. Since Jesus is the master, these are servants of Jesus during the spiritual phase of the kingdom of heaven. In the master’s absence, the wicked servant in charge concluded that his master was staying away for a long time. He took advantage of this and began to physically abuse his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. He did not feed the Word to the fellow servants in a proper way and on a timely basis. He likely perverted it and fed them false doctrine; things such as the master is not coming back, he is not really our master, there are many masters, I am really the master, etc. |
| Drunkards | The wicked servant began eating and drinking with drunkards. He began associating and studying with those who teach and practice false doctrine. The drunkards are those who are intoxicated with false doctrine. They can no longer think clearly and they walk a crooked path. |
| The day the master returns | The master will come back! It will be on a day when the servant is not expecting him and at an hour that the servant is not aware of. |
| Disposition of the wicked servant (who was originally faithful and wise) | The master will cut the wicked servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. He gets sent to hell, the lake of fire. Remember this wicked servant is a Christian preacher or teacher who presents false doctrine to others. |
Commentary Application: |
Jesus is telling us in this parable that many of the leaders in the kingdom down through the centuries after he left the earth were considered to be faithful and wise, but they were really wicked and hypocritical. They were not properly studying, interpreting and then teaching his word to the servants in the kingdom. They were perverting it and in doing so were abusing the servants. Jesus says that even though they were leaders of his people they will be assigned a place in hell at the future judgment. It is interesting to note that the leaders are assigned a place in hell but nothing is said here about what happens to the fellow servants. James 3:1 says that teachers are judged more strictly. Also see Matt 18:6. The previous parable about the thief in the night ended with the following words from Jesus, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” This parable continues that theme. Jesus made it very clear in this parable that he would not return for a long time but that his return was imminent, in that when it does happen it will take people by surprise. When it happens it will happen very quickly, 1 Cor 15:51-53 (soon is the word often used in the Bible to express this, Rev 22:20). This is another parable about who gets into the kingdom and who does not. |
KINGDOM PARABLE 17: THE TEN VIRGINS, MATT 25:1-13
Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (separates the wise from the foolish members of the wedding party)
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (NIV)
| CHARACTER, OBJECT,PLACE, EVENT, ETC. | INTERPRETATION |
| Ten virgins | Those who thought they would be members of the wedding party. |
| The Bridegroom | Jesus is the bridegroom throughout the Bible. |
| Lamps | That which illuminates the darkness. It allows one to avoid being in darkness. |
| Darkness | Darkness in this parable would be outer darkness, the place where unbelievers are sent after being thrown into the lake of fire, where the light of Jesus does not shine. It is the eternal abode for the spirits of those who are not believers in Jesus. |
| Oil | That which powers the lamp. Oil represents the Holy Spirit in this parable. Those who have the Holy Spirit within them are saved and will never be in darkness. Those who do not have the Holy Spirit will one day be sent to darkness forever. Jesus is the light. The Spirit allows the light of Jesus to shine in the world through believers. Oil is free. You cannot buy it, borrow it, or work to get it. The Holy Spirit is provided free to those who become believers in and followers of Jesus. |
| The delay in arrival of the bridegroom | After the betrothal, the engagement, the bridegroom was a long time in returning to the hometown of the bride to snatch her and take her to his Father’s house for the wedding. Those who thought they would be members of the wedding party grew drowsy and went to sleep. When the bridegroom arrived they were caught by surprise and many were not ready to go with him. The bridegroom will come back! It will be on a day when the bride and her bridesmaids are not expecting him and at an hour that they are not aware of. |
| The midnight cry | The shout at midnight that the bridegroom has arrived. This is at the rapture. |
| Five foolish virgins | Those who believe they will be invited to the wedding who have no oil for their lamps. They are therefore not believers because they do not have the Spirit within them. They may be members of the church but they are not saved. They are therefore very foolish. They may have been mislead by false doctrine or may just have been playing church. They were not ready when the bridegroom returned. |
| Five wise virgins | Those who have been invited to the wedding who have oil for their lamps. They are therefore believers. They will be the bride of Christ and will spend eternity married to Jesus. They were very wise in their decision regarding Jesus. They were ready when the bridegroom returned for them. |
| Purchase of oil | When the foolish virgins heard the midnight cry they realized that they were not ready. They did not have oil for their lamps. In other words, they did not have the Holy Spirit within them; they were not true followers of Jesus. The rapture takes place in the blink of an eye. Those who are not saved do not have time to get saved after Jesus arrives for his bride. Those who had no oil asked to borrow some from those who had oil. However, nobody can get saved for you; you have to do it yourself. Nobody can accept Jesus for you and do your work for the kingdom; you have to do it yourself. If you do not do it before Jesus returns, it is too late. You will be left behind. |
| Wedding Banquet | The wedding supper of the Lamb which takes place either just before or just after the Second Coming, Rev 19:6-9. |
| Door to the banquet hall | The entrance to heaven. Nobody gets in unless they are wearing wedding clothes; unless their name is written in the book of life. |
| Disposition of the five foolish virgins | They arrive at heaven’s door and asked to be let in. The bridegroom, Jesus, replied to them, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.” |
Commentary Application: Kingdom of heaven |
This parable is about the future wedding of Jesus to his bride (at that time, vs. 25). Only those who are true believers will be a part of the bride and the wedding. Many will foolishly think that they will be invited to the wedding, but they will not unless they have oil in their lamps, i.e. the Holy Spirit within them. This is the third parable in a row in which Jesus warns us that we must always be on watch and stay ready because we do not know the day or hour of his return, and the second which Jesus says that he will stay away for a long time. This is another parable about who gets into the kingdom and who does not. |
KINGDOM PARABLE 18: THE TALENTS, MATT 25:14-30
Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents (separation of those who use their talents for Jesus from those who do not)
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 1. 24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (NIV)
| CHARACTER, OBJECT,PLACE, EVENT, ETC. | INTERPRETATION |
| The master going on a journey | Jesus. The master was gone for a long time. |
| Servant given five talents of money in accordance with his ability. | Servant put his money to work and gained five more talents. When the master returned to settle accounts he said to this servant, “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” |
| Servant given two talents of money in accordance with his ability. | Servant put his money to work and gained two more talents. When the master returned to settle accounts he said to this servant, “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” |
| Servant given one talent of money in accordance with his ability. | Servant dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. When the master returned to settle accounts the servant made excuses for what he had done and said he had been afraid. The master said to this servant, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you know that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” |
| Final settling of accounts | The master said, “Take the one talent from the wicked, lazy servant and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. |
Commentary Application: |
Jesus sowed and scattered seed in Israel. Generally that seed did not grow so he could not have much of a harvest there. However, a few seeds did grow. Those plants matured and went to seed. Those seeds were planted in places other than Israel. They grew and grew so that eventually there was a large harvest for the master. It was there that he harvested where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered seed. Notice that Jesus expects us to produce fruit in accordance with the amount of talent and ability that he has given us. The man with the most talent produced fruit in accordance with his ability. The man with the second most talent also produced fruit in accordance with his ability, but not nearly as much as the man with the most talent. However, since Jesus only expects us to produce in accordance with our ability, he rewarded each of these men in exactly the same way. Each was given the same commendation and then told to come and share his happiness in heaven. Likewise, the man given one talent had the least to do to receive the same commendation from the master. However he did not do anything for the kingdom. He did not produce any fruit at all, not even in the least. So although he was considered a servant and certainly knew the master, his faith without works was dead, James 2:20-24. He therefore received no reward at all and was sent to the lake of fire and outer darkness for ever. His punishment in hell will likely be minimal, since we receive according to what we do. His sin seemed to be mostly passive. This is another parable about who gets into the kingdom and who does not. |
HAT IS THE MESSAGE IN THE KINGDOM PARABLES?
THE UNIFIED MESSAGE IN THE KINGDOM PARABLES OF MATTHEW
There is a thread, a message that runs throughout the kingdom parables of Matthew. Jesus is presenting a unified, connected message in sequential order in these parables. This unified massage becomes very clear if we first summarize the message of each parable in one sentence and then combine them in the very order that Jesus presented them. We will attempt to do just that.
The gospel of Jesus is presented to many people, but only those who hear the word, understand it and produce a crop become members of Jesus’ kingdom of heaven. The enemy causes bad fruit to grow up among the good crop; there will be a harvest at the end of the age and only those who are part of the good crop will be allowed to enter the kingdom. The good crop, the church of true believers, will grow to be very large, but it will always have those within it who are doing the work of the evil one. The church will always include both those who follow sound doctrine and those who follow false doctrine. Jesus treasures his good crop, the church of true believers. In fact Jesus values it so much that he purchased it with his own blood. At the harvest at the end of the age, Jesus will separate the good crop from the bad crop; the bad will be thrown into a fiery furnace and will perish. Jesus will forgive the sins of those whom he purchased and reward them while he will punish those who belong to the evil one.
Jesus likens Israel to a fig tree that did not produce fruit, a crop of believers in him; he therefore cursed them and caused their nation to die, to cease to exist. Jesus also likens the Jews and gentiles to two sons that God placed in his vineyard; because the first son, represented by the Jews, did not produce a crop in that they rejected him and his message, the kingdom was taken from them and given to the second son, the gentiles, those who would produce a crop. While the vineyard was being rented to the Jews, God sent his messengers and finally his own Son to collect payment from them in the way of fruit for the kingdom; because they beat the messengers and killed the Son, God threw them out of the vineyard and rented it to another tenant, the gentiles. God has a large wedding planned in heaven one day; only those who successfully produce fruit for him will be invited while those who show up at the door not wearing wedding clothes will be sent to God’s prison to await their ultimate punishment. Jesus says that after a long time he would return the vineyard to the Jewish people; he likens this to a fig tree in spring and says when this happens it will be a sign that the rapture, tribulation and Second Coming are very near.
Jesus says that his eventual return will be like that of a thief in the night; it will take place when it is least expected, so everyone should be watching very carefully for that day. While Jesus is gone he will leave preachers, teachers, etc. who are to feed his flock from his word; they must be very careful to teach only the truth as presented in the word because Jesus will return at a time when they are not expecting him, and if they are diluting and perverting the truth presented in the word they will be sent to hell. Only true believers in Jesus, those who have the Holy Spirit within them, will be invited to the great wedding in heaven and become a part of the bride of Christ; since we do not know the day nor hour of Jesus’ return we must keep close watch and make certain that we are spirit filled believers when he returns. At the final settling of accounts at our judgments we will all be judged fairly, based upon our success in producing fruit in accordance with our individual abilities and opportunities; however everyone, even those with the least amount of ability and opportunity, must produce at least a minimum level of fruit in order to get into heaven.
The above summary of the message of the kingdom parables of Matthew is repeated in the section titled God's Plan for Mankind as "The Past, Present and Future of the Church as presented by Jesus in the 18 Kingdom Parable of Matthew."
RECURRING THEMES IN THE KINGDOM PARABLES OF MATTHEW
(Number of parables in which they are presented is in parenthesis)
- (18) The 18 kingdom parables in Matthew all present some characteristic of the kingdom of heaven and/or kingdom of God.
- The kingdom has both spiritual (16) and physical (8) phases. Sixteen parables deal with phase 1 of the kingdom of heaven, eight with phase 2 and three with the kingdom of God.
- (18) All of the parables in some way or another address who will be in heaven and who will not. All deal with actual or implied separation or division of some sort. They generally present separation of believers from unbelievers, with believers being rewarded in heaven and unbelievers being sent to the lake of fire or outer darkness. This is figuratively or symbolically expressed in various ways in the parables, including separation of the wheat from the chaff, the good fish from the bad fish, false doctrine from the church, those who forgive from those who do not, the humble from the exalted, the Jews from their land, the invited from the uninvited, those who bear fruit from those who do not, teachers of false doctrine from teachers of true doctrine, the wise from the foolish, those who use their talents for God from those who do not, etc. Jesus said in Luke 12:51, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” He went on to say that even families would divide over belief in him, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, etc.
- (7) Many are called but few are chosen. Only those who hear the Word, understand it, and produce fruit for the kingdom will be a part of the kingdom.
- (7) The wicked, the enemies of God, face severe punishment for eternity. They will be cast into the lake of fire (hell) and sent to outer darkness forever. Nobody who rejects Jesus and refuses to follow him will enter heaven.
- (6) The kingdom will be taken from the Jews and given to another people, the gentiles.
- (5) The Jewish leaders and the Jewish people will be severely punished by God for rejecting Jesus. The leaders will be punished for leading the flock astray. The punishment will last for a long time. This has been fulfilled for the last 2000 years and is still being fulfilled.
- (5) It is very important for believers to produce fruit for the kingdom. Salvation is dependent on belief in Jesus and becoming a follower of his. Being a follower involves producing fruit for the kingdom.
- (5) Many in the church will be caught by surprise at the harvest. Many of those in the church will not go to heaven.
- (3) There will be a harvest at the end of the age. Those in the harvest will be divided into those who are believers and those who are unbelievers. Believers in Jesus will all go to heaven for eternity while unbelievers all face an eternity in the lake of fire and outer darkness.
- (3) The last will be first and the first last in heaven. Leaders will be judged more harshly; more is expected of them. We usually think of the servant as being the least, or last so to speak. However in the kingdom those who are servants of Jesus, those who do everything he asks as best they can, will be first. Who will be last? It is those who lead God’s servants astray. The leaders of all of the false religions, whose who promote notions such as “there are many paths to heaven, not just one through Jesus,” God is not the creator, Jesus is not God, etc. will be last. It would be better for them if they had a millstone placed around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
- (3) Sin and false doctrine will permeate the church until the time of the end.
- (3) Jesus will be away a long time before he returns.
- (3) Believers must stay ready for Jesus’ return and not be caught by surprise. Nobody knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return.
- (2) Jesus loves and greatly values his bride, the church. He was willing to pay a great price for her.
JESUS’ MESSAGE IN THE KINGDOM PARABLES WAS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT
One of the reasons that Jesus taught in parables was to keep his message, which was not politically correct with the first century leaders, from getting him and his disciples killed before the proper time. The chief priests and Pharisees eventually understood enough of the parables to know that Jesus was referring to them in ways that made them very uncomfortable. Matt 21:45-46 tells us that because of this they looked for a way to arrest him.
This may also explain Jesus’ instructions to the twelve in Matt 10:5-16 when he sent them out to preach the message, “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus said he was sending them out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, when they preached the message of the kingdom they were told to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. They were told to be on their guard against men, who would hand them over to the local councils and flog them in their synagogues.
JESUS’ MESSAGE IN THE KINGDOM PARABLES IS STILL NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT
Jesus message in these parables is also not politically correct in our society today and it is becoming less politically correct year after year. Look again at the themes in the parables listed above. It is not politically correct today to say that anyone is going to hell. It is not politically correct to say that orthodox or reformed Jews are going to hell, as Jesus made very clear. It is not politically correct to say that only those who believe in and follow Jesus are going to heaven. We are told that saying such things offends many people and we must be sensitive to their feelings. Many in both the Protestant and Catholic churches today espouse such doctrines and believe them. As Jesus said in three of the kingdom parables in Matthew, sin and false doctrine will permeate the church until the time of the end. We must all pray for the church.
CONCLUSION
Before Jesus came to earth it was impossible for anyone to be able to go to heaven. Nobody can enter heaven unless they are perfect in God’s eyes. Jesus blood sacrifice for man made it possible for man to be seen as perfect by God if he would allow his sins to be covered by the blood of Jesus. While Jesus was on earth his mission was to make it possible for man to get to heaven. It is not surprising then that much of what he taught had to do with what man had to do to be able to get to heaven. It is not surprising that every single one of the 18 kingdom parables in Matthew had to do in some way or another with who would and who would not go to heaven. Again, these kingdom parables are the last 18 parables recorded in Matthew.
The fact that nearly every one of the kingdom parables deals with division, with separation of believers from unbelievers, with believers being rewarded in heaven and unbelievers being punished in hell, should put an end to any thought among Christians that everyone is going to heaven. It simply is not going to happen. Based upon a study of Jesus parables, the majority of Jesus’ teaching obviously focused on the separation of believers and unbelievers. Matt 13:34 says that Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. If he always used parables when he spoke to the crowds that followed him, then obviously he was always speaking to them about the division of believers from unbelievers, since nearly every one of his parables dealt with this topic. The Bible teaches very clearly, over and over, that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
SUMMARY OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
- When we began this study we hypothesized definitions for the terms “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” based upon our prior study. We said that we would then test them by analyzing every situation in which these terms are used in the New Testament, with heavy concentration on the book of Matthew. We said we would look for any contradictions to these definitions. We further said that if we did not find any contradictions that would give us confidence that our definitions were valid, as far as they went. We agreed that this would certainly not prove that they were complete, for they certainly must not be. We have completed the study and have not found any obvious contradictions. I certainly believe that I now understand much better what Jesus had to say about the kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God. I hope that the same applies to the reader. Let us restate our proposed definition as we wrap up this study.
- The kingdom of God seems to be a term used to express the all encompassing reign of God over all things in the megaverse through all of eternity past, present and future. The kingdom of heaven seems to be the way in which we experience the kingdom of God while we live upon the earth. Another way of saying that is the kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God as experienced on earth. We experience it or enter it in a spiritual sense as humans as soon as we are reborn in Christ and receive his Spirit within us. We will experience it in an entirely different way, in a physical sense, in the millennium when we are on earth with Jesus while in our resurrected bodies. Thus, we might say that the kingdom of heaven has two phases, a spiritual phase and a physical phase. The ultimate kingdom that we will inherit will be the kingdom of God in the unified heaven and earth of the new order from Rev 21-22. According to Heb 12:25-29 that kingdom cannot be shaken.. The author of Hebrews then tells us that because of that we should be thankful, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. What a glorious place that will be!!
- Finally, we will repeat the simplified definitions for the kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God:
Kingdom of God: heaven, the place where God lives. The all encompassing reign of God over all things in all places. In this context it includes the kingdom of heaven.
Kingdom of heaven: Phase 1 - the kingdom of God as experienced on earth by believers through Jesus living within them through the Holy Spirit. Phase 2 - the kingdom of Jesus on earth in the millennium. Both phases – the place where Jesus dwells and reigns as God. Also, in Matt 19:16-26 Jesus equates eternal life with the kingdom of heaven.