Correspondence: Different Kingdoms in Scripture?; Reign in 1000 yrs; Mat. 25:21,23

From: Young Christian: Volume 30, 1940

Correspondence: Different Kingdoms in Scripture?; Reign in 1000 yrs; MAT 25:21,23

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

Question: I would like some help as to the different Kingdoms mentioned in Scripture. Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 26:29²⁹But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)); The Kingdom of God (Matt. 21:43⁴³Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:43)): The Kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)); The Kingdom of His Dear Son (Col. 1:13¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)); Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:11¹¹For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11)).

Answer: The “kingdom of heaven: and the “kingdom of God” are “in many respects identical, but the ‘kingdom of heaven’ occurs in the gospel by Matthew only, and stands in contrast to Messiah on earth. It refers to the rule of that which God has set in heaven, and commenced when Christ went to heaven. The ‘kingdom of God’ is more connected with the moral state established in man.”

“My Father’s kingdom” refers to the upper or heavenly part of the Millennial kingdom.

“The kingdom of God and of Christ” expresses the moral realm in which is found the will and presence of God and of Christ.

The “kingdom of His dear Son,” or “The Son of His Love,” refers to that moral sphere presided over by Christ as the Son of the Father in counsel and love.

“Everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” refers to that eternity of blessing which shall be enjoyed in the presence of the glorified and victorious Christ.

Question: Will the Lord, with His saints, reign on the earth during the thousand years? (Rev. 20:4⁴And 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. (Revelation 20:4)).

Answer: All the Old Testament saints, with all believers of this present age, and all those who suffer martyrdom during the tribulation period, will reign with Christ, not on, but over the earth. Revelation 5:10¹⁰And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10) should read, “And they shall reign over the earth.”

In Zechariah 14:4⁴And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:4), we are told that in one act of judgment His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives.

Question: Will the Lord be able to say to any of His own, “Well done, good and faithful servants?” (Matt. 25:21,23²¹His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)
²³His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:23)).

Answer: The Lord did say to His disciples amid all their failures, “Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations” (Luke 22:28²⁸Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. (Luke 22:28)), where they could not impute faithfulness to themselves, He, knowing their hearts’ earnest desire to please Him, though hindered by weakness and all that belongs to the flesh, could say it of them.

We are His servants and His friends also. It is ours to serve in the intimacy of friends. And in glory “His servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3³And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3)). No mixture of self in it then. But notice how Matthew 25:21,23²¹His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)
²³His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:23), reads, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

It does not say that anyone was faithful in everything. What encouragement this is to seek to please Him in all that we can (1 Cor. 4:5⁵Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)).

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