George Delmindo Supporter

God's kingdom and heaven are two different things. God's kingdom is in heaven. The kingdom of God is the same as the kingdom of heaven. It is a government ruled by God himself.

The prophet Daniel who lived 600 yrs before Christ, knew that the kingdom of God was a real kingdom - A government ruling over literal people on the earth. In Dan 2, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, dreamed of a huge metallic statue signifying four world-ruling gentile kingdoms which will come one after another. Nebuchadnezzar had viewed it until a supernatural stone came from heaven smashing the statue on it's feet, then the whole of the statue broke into pieces, and was actually blown away by the wind - it disappeared! Then this stone expanded miraculously and quickly became a great mountain - So great it filled the whole earth! 

The supernatural stone which came from heaven smashing the statue is actually the 'kingdom of God'.

Jesus Christ came as a messenger from God the Father (Mal 3:1), and his Gospel is all about the 'kingdom of God' which is to come (Mark 1:14-15). He was born to be a king - A ruler of that kingdom (Luke 1:31-33). It is necessary that he should die to save his people from sin, and give them eternal life because no flesh and blood mortal humans can enter into his kingdom when he returns - to establish this kingdom of God here on earth.

In John 3, Jesus made it plain to Nicodemus who is a Pharisee that one needs to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. Once we are born again, we will become like him, what is born of the Spirit IS Spirit. In other words, we will have a spirit body like his. And we will reign on the earth as kings and priests together with Christ (Rev 5:10). It's here on earth, it says. Not in heaven.

But, someone misunderstanding the scripture may ask, "Didn't Jesus himself say that the kingdom of God is within you?" Luke 17:21,KJV, is a mistranslation which has led some to suppose that the kingdom of God is some thought or feeling or sentiment within man. Bible with marginal references alternately renders the phrase, 'in the midst of you' or 'among you'. The bible also uses the terms 'king' and 'kingdom' interchangeably (Dan 7:17-18,23). This only mean that Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, is actually saying that 'the king of the future kingdom was, then and there, standing in the midst of them'. And in the language in which he spoke to them, that is precisely what he said - as the marginal rendering and other translations state.

Plainly, Jesus was not saying that the kingdom of God was within those Christ-hating, hypocritical Pharisees. Nor was he saying that the Church would be the kingdom of God

In Rev 21, the holy city - the new Jerusalem is coming down from heaven, and the earth has become new. God is actually going to dwell on this earth with men. The teaching that men will go to heaven is actually the very opposite of what the bible is saying. The saved will not go to heaven where God is right now. But, God is coming down to dwell with men here on this planet we call Earth.

November 28 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shawn Craddick Supporter

In response to your Rev 21:1 The First Heaven and the First Earth are passed away. So we are therefore not going to be living on the "same" earth. That Holy City, New Jerusalem is coming down from God out of Heaven. It will rest in the "New Earth" not the same one. When Jesus told them in Matt 5 The Meek (humble) Shall inherit the earth. He was talking about the Earth to Come. Even 1 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

I hope this helps someone. God Bless!

January 03 2014 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Patrick Malloy Supporter

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. NKJV

Heaven is where God resides, it is an actual place. God's throne is in heaven with Jesus seated at His right hand.

Luke 17:20 And 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: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. NKJV

God's kingdom refers to His realm of authority - His governance. As a believer and follower of Jesus we take God's kingdom everywhere we go for we are living in His kingdom and the Holy Spirit resides within us.

Earthly kings use to give loyal subjects their seal to prove they had the authority of the king to carry out his commandments. We have much better than that, we have been giving the name of Jesus which is our authority and also given the Holy Spirit who gives us the power of God to act on His behalf to carry out His commandments to us.

November 25 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report