Question: I would like some help as to the different Kingdoms mentioned in Scripture. Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 26:29); The Kingdom of God (Matt. 21:43): The Kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5); The Kingdom of His Dear Son (Col. 1:13); Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 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. 20:4).
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 5:10 should read, “And they shall reign over the earth.”
In 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. 25:21,23).
Answer: The Lord did say to His disciples amid all their failures, “Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations” (Luke 22:28), 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. 22:3). No mixture of self in it then. But notice how Matthew 25:21,23, 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. 4:5).