The Kingdoms

 •  10 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is introduced in connection with the Lord when upon the earth, in answer to the Pharisees' demand as to "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," or as the margin reads, "among you," Luke 17:20-2120And 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: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20‑21). One has well described it as "the exhibition, or the manifestation of the ruling power of God under any circumstances." In the person of His Son. God was manifesting His ruling power at this time; God was there in Him.
Also it is spoken of as existing at the present time, for in Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) we read, "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Again, 1 Cor. 4:2020For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20) states, "the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." In these cases, the ruling power of God is again exhibited, not in the Son, but by the Spirit, who, through His presence on earth, produces in those who believe practical righteousness, peace and joy, and in His servants power to correct evil where needed.
During His time on earth, the Kingdom of God was to be seen in Christ; now it is seen by the Spirit. The Kingdom of God was the circle of Christ's workings previous to His being received up into glory. Now, it is the circle of the Holy Ghost's workings.
Scripture would seem to teach that in Christ's day none but He could be in it, for though "among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist," yet, "he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Luke 7:2828For 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). The kingdom of God was confined to Christ Himself in His day, though every man was pressing into, or towards it (Luke 16:1616The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16)), waiting, as it were, till the Holy Spirit's descent should open the door for them. This took place at Pentecost, and then the new creation entitled every one to enter (John 3:3-53Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3‑5)). And thus the ruling power of God, exhibited only in Christ when on earth, is now manifested in those whose bodies have become the temples of the Holy Ghost.
Such was its divine or proper form. The name, however, is applied in Scripture to what the divine thing has become in men's hands, what we know by the name of Christendom. The "tree" and the "leaven" (Luke 13:18-2118Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Luke 13:18‑21)), give us its outward dimensions and its internal condition. Outwardly, what was but a grain, a small thing, at Pentecost, has become a huge overgrown mass that shelters even the devil's emissaries, while internal evil and corrupt doctrine have permeated that which was the people's food. What a description of Christendom, and yet how accurate! It has become a vast system, but rotten within. Thus Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) and 1 Cor. 4:2020For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20) describe the present inward or divine aspect of the kingdom of God while Luke 13:18-2118Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Luke 13:18‑21) gives its external or human condition.
Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven, or literally of the heavens, differs from the Kingdom of God, and yet, in some respects, resembles it. As we know, the name is only used in the Gospel of Matthew, and this is readily accounted for by the fact that to this evangelist belongs the task of commending the truth to Jewish consciences. Among other things, he proves that the kingdom foretold in Old Testament writings was that which the Messiah proposed to introduce. Therefore. He calls it the kingdom of the heavens, because that name coincides with the description given of it in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets.
Israel was taught to lay up the Lord's words in their heart, and in their soul, and bind them for a sign upon their hand, that they might be as frontlets between their-eyes that their days might be multiplied, and the days of their children, in the land which the Lord sware unto their fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon earth. (Deut. 11:18-2118Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 20And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: 21That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18‑21).) It was said of David, too, that his seed should "endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven." Psa. 89:2929His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (Psalm 89:29). Likewise, it is said of the power of the Gentiles that it should continue till the time that they should know that the heavens do rule... Dan. 4:2626And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. (Daniel 4:26). Hence we may trace throughout the Old Testament, allusions made to a time when, as the Lord taught His disciples to pray, God's will would be "done in earth as it is in heaven." Matt. 6:1010Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10). John the Baptist came to introduce the Messiah, and therefore announced (Matt. 3:22And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2)) that the kingdom of the heavens was at hand. Jesus Himself (Matt. 4:1717From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)) makes the same statement, but instead of His claims being submitted to, they held a council to destroy Him (Matt. 12:1414Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. (Matthew 12:14)).
Consequently, the kingdom of the heavens assumes a mysterious form (Matt. 3:1111I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)), the mystery being that it should be a kingdom with an absent king, a thing unknown in history-the king being rejected.
Matt. 11:11, 1211Verily 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. 12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:11‑12) coupled with Matt. 16:1919And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19), gives us light as to the time when the kingdom commenced. John the Baptist was not in it, although the position he occupied was blessed. The door was not thrown open, though Christ was on the throne, until Peter unlocked it on the day of Pentecost. Then "the violent" (those really in earnest) reached the goal that they had been seeking for since the days of John the Baptist. Thus, then, it could not have been said that the kingdom of the heavens is "among you," neither could it be said, "I give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of God." The kingdom of God and kingdom of the heavens are distinct and different. The one existed while the Lord was on earth-the other commenced on Christ's taking His seat on the Father's throne. The latter was opened by a human instrument-the former was inaugurated by Christ Himself.
In certain points, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the heavens resemble each other, both having an outward and an inward, a human (as one may say) and a divine form. As to the outward form, the same similitudes are applied to each-the "mustard seed" and "leaven." As to the inward, we have in the one case the thing formed by the Holy Spirit and in the other what the thing formed comes to. Outwardly then, the kingdom of the heavens is like a tare field, a tree, and leaven. It is a mixture of the Lord's and Satan's people-that mixture grouped into a huge, wide-spreading system, powerful outwardly, internally corrupt; such is Christendom of the present day. But to faith there is an inner or divine form which the kingdom takes. This is seen in separate pieces composed of, first, "a treasure" precious to God, and whose oneness and purity remind us of the excellence of the Church of God as seen of Christ, and, second, a form of separation from evil that shows us that God delights not in the mixed company of the first three parables, but in companies gathered apart from the surrounding corruption. These latter are the kingdom of the heavens from God's side.
The kingdom of the heavens proper is the rule of the heavens upon earth-the days of heaven-the Lord hearing the heavens, and the heavens hearing the earth. (Hos. 2:2121And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; (Hosea 2:21).) This was refused by man, and consequently, now the days of heaven upon earth are seen to exist in a mysterious form until Messiah comes to bring in the times of restitution of all things with the trumpet of Jubilee.
The kingdom of the heavens thus was openly offered by the Messiah at His advent. It was refused, and therefore commenced in a mysterious way on His ascension and is running on during the present time and will exist after the church's removal, until the millennium commences. Then it will take its proper form, but it will be known partly as the kingdom of the Father, and partly as the kingdom of the Son of man.
Kingdom of the Father and Kingdom of the Son of Man
These both commence and end simultaneously.
The Kingdom of the Father relates to things above, the Kingdom of the Son of Man to things below. The Jewish remnant pray for the former when they say "Our Father... Thy kingdom come." They will be gathered as the wheat into the barn, and will, as the righteous, shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matt. 13:30-4330Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 31Another 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: 32Which 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. 33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:30‑43).) A heavenly people, their reward is in heaven in the scene of their Father's dwelling. The Kingdom of the Father is for the heavenly people. The Kingdom of the Son of Man is for the earthly. The 8th Psalm explains this; as Son of man He takes the Headship of all below, the place that Adam lost. As Son of man He executes judgment. (Matt. 13:4141The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (Matthew 13:41).) As Son of man He welcomes into His kingdom the blessed of His Father-the sheep who satisfied His hunger, quenched His thirst, clothed His nakedness, and cheered Him in sickness and imprisonment. (Matt. 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46).) An earthly people, they have been counted worthy to "stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:3636Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36).
Thus the millennial world kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev. 11:1515And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)) has a heavenly and an earthly aspect. The one embraces only glorified saints, the other includes the earthly ones, having eternal life, but not glorified as to their bodies. The one is the sphere of the Father's glory, the other the scene of the rule of the Son of man. Both will alike cease when He delivers "up the kingdom to God, even the Father." 1 Cor. 15:2424Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24).
The Kingdom of the Son of His Love and the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
'These are quite distinct in their characters from those we have already mentioned, and give us rather the thought of position than display. The one refers to our present place, the other to our future glory. They are more to be felt than described, and are only mentioned once in Scripture. Christ has a present kingdom which the Father's love bestowed on the Son of His affections, and into this, we who have believed have already been translated. It is the region of blessing of which Christ is the center, and in the most excellent way, the Son of His Father's love; we may enjoy it though we cannot describe it.
The everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is before us, and is a blessed contrast to the things that are "fading away" around us. It is everlasting, and we shall share it with Him, and His desire is that we should enter it, as one may say, full sail. Paul said, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my muse. I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge. shall give me." 2 Tim. 4:678. May we then add to our faith all these things that 2 Pet. 1:5-75And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:5‑7) contains so that not merely an entrance but "an abundant entrance be administered unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." D.T. Grimston