My friends Bible mentions ” The Kingdom of God” and ” The Kingdom of Heaven”.
Psalm 47: 7-8
“For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.”
Yes God is the King of all the earth. HE is the King of Heaven and Earth and all its inhabitants.
1 Samuel 12:12 says,
“When you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, “No, but a king shall reign over us,” although the LORD your God was your king.
The people started searching for a king but GOD is the True King. It was initially not the intention of GOD but of people to set a King above them. GOD is the supreme Ruler of the Universe. HE always intended HIS people to have direct relationship with HIM THE FATHER, THE MASTER, THE POTTER, THE KING.
GOD is a GOD of Covenant. HE made Covenant with HIS people, the Israelite’s, they never wanted GOD as their King but preferred political King to rule, reign and guide them in their affairs. This we can clearly see when they rejected Prophet Samuel as their King chosen by GOD (who spoke face to face with GOD) but asked for Saul as the King. (1 Samuel 8). This was a carnal expectation from GOD. Even when JESUS was born , people and especially the disciples expected a worldly Kingdom and JESUS to be the ruler of the world. They expected HIM to be on a white horse but HE entered Jerusalem on a donkey. But JESUS came to manifest the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Before Lord JESUS started preaching the Gospel, John the Baptist came first to the seen and started preaching the ‘Kingdom’.
Matthew 3: 1-2
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Prophet John the Baptist came preaching the kingdom of Heaven in order to prepare the way of the first coming of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. HE directly preached the Heavenly Kingdom i.e. the Spiritual Kingdom which is far more real and true than the worldly kingdom.
When Lord JESUS started preaching, what did HE preach about?
Matthew 4: 17 says,
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mark 1: 14-15 says,
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Luke 8:1 says,
“Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him…”
When Lord JESUS CHRIST sent the disciples to preach what was HIS command? Let us read Matthew 10:7, which says
“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
When we read the teachings of Lord JESUS CHRIST, in Matthew 13 HE specifically mentions seven parables of the Kingdom.
What are the features of the Kingdom of God and how is it different from the Kingdom of Heaven? We will meditate on a few points in this teaching and in other articles God willing.
1) Exodus 15:18
“The LORD shall reign forever and ever.”
Psalm 93:1 says,
“The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.”
