It’s a Heart Matter website will be posting the book “GOD’s Kingdom”, chapter by chapter. This is chapter one. Questions are welcomed. Please post any questions about the topic or book in the comment section.
Chapter 1
Has The Kingdom of GOD or Kingdom of Heaven Come?
“But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the
Kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Matthew 12:28
If The Kingdom of GOD has come, where is it?
The pat answer given by most people that call themselves “Christians” is that “The Kingdom of God is within you” from Luke 17:21 in the KJV.
While none of the modern version translations can be truly literal; we must remember that every version must be, for all purposes, a translation. While a few other versions are considered “literal”, from what I’ve read about Bible versions, the NASB is considered the most literal. Does it matter? For me it does. Sometimes those small differences make a huge impact on the meaning of what we read and come to base our beliefs on. And we conduct our lives from what we truly believe.
This book is not about Bible translations but I thought it important to establish up front that the version used in these pages is the NASB and why I choose that version as the one I read and study from. Do I read and compare other versions? Of course, along with looking up the Greek and Hebrew in lexicons, both the NASC concordance and Strong dictionary.
With all of that said; let’s back up to the question this chapter looks at: If the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven) has come; where is it? Actually, to answer to that question, we need to answer some others:
What is a kingdom?
A kingdom is a people; kindred or united in some way. They do not have to be in the same location or even within the same physical boundaries. They can be if that’s where the people are. This is similar to the way kingdom is used for biological classification. In taxonomic classifications, a kingdom is the second division, with the first being domain. The kingdom classification group is based on similar characteristics i.e. plant, animal, fungi, algae, and bacteria are all kingdoms. The divisions are based on similar characteristics and not on physical boundaries.
The Kingdom of GOD does not have physical land boundaries. It is a spiritual kingdom. It’s citizens are not all in the same location but will have similar spiritual characteristics or “fruit”.
Kingdom can be used as descriptive of an actual location. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland make up “The United Kingdom” or “UK” which is a definite location with a definite boundary. Kingdom also speaks to the office-holder over the people of the kingdom, similar to the way the word “presidency” is used. An example being to refer to Saul’s reign as king, we might say, “GOD rejected Saul’s Kingdom.” It is also a state or government having a king or queen as its head. When we speak of a kingdom, we know that it has a king or queen. So:
What is The Kingdom of GOD?
Or
Where is the Kingdom of GOD?
The Kingdom of GOD is where GOD’s will is being done, where GOD reigns, where GOD’s value system is the value system of the citizens of His Kingdom. Those values were perfectly demonstrated and taught by His Son, Yeshua. GOD’s Kingdom is where you see GOD at work; GOD in action; GOD’s will being done; GOD’s values demonstrated and taught.
To say that GOD’s Kingdom i.e. The Kingdom of GOD or The Kingdom of Heaven is a place we enter when we die is inaccurate. We are to enter now. Yeshua told Nicodemus in chapter three of John’s gospel,
- “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD”
- and then “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit” and then
- “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”.
The Kingdom of GOD has been here with us, on earth since creation; and present before that since GOD has no beginning but always has been. He is The Great “I AM”.
- We will not see it here on earth if we have not been born again. Only if we have been born of the Spirit. So to see The Kingdom of GOD, we have to come to the reality that there is a Holy, Loving, Omnipotent (has absolute power), Omniscient (has absolute, complete knowledge), Omnipresent (is present everywhere) GOD. That we are lost without Him. We must want to be one of His children; to cast aside who we think we are with our self-ruling life and ask Him to forgive us for choosing and living by the world’s value system instead of His. Repentance. Change our thinking 180 degrees from what the world thinks is important to what is important to GOD.
- Those not born again of the spirit do not know (understand) where those that are born again of the spirit, are coming from or going to (what causes them to behave the way they do). The unsaved do not have the understanding. Those that are living by this world’s value system do not have the spiritual eyes and hears to know.
- Even Nicodemus was asking if Yeshua had come from GOD. His statement “Rabbi, we know that You have come from GOD as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with him”, indicated that he was asking to be shown but Yeshua’s answer indicated that Nicodemus was not capable of understanding even if Yeshua tried to explain the Kingdom to him and where He came from because it is a spiritual kingdom. “If I told you earthy things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
Has The Kingdom of Heaven come?
GOD’s Kingdom has always existed. The Old Testament uses the term for the people of Israel. In most of the people’s understanding, a physical kingdom. But Old Testament scriptures also speak to GOD eternal kingdom represented on earth by those that seek him with their heart and live by His commandments, His value system not man’s value system. King David spoke to GOD’s eternal kingdom many times in the Psalms:
- For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations. ~Psa 22:28
- Your throne, God, is forever and ever; The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice. ~Psa 45:6
- All Your works will give thanks to You, LORD, And Your godly ones will bless You. They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your might to make known to the sons of mankind Your mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in His words, And holy in all His works. ~ Psa 145:10-13
GOD created the universe, it is His!
The whole body of scripture speak to The LORD’s dominion over His creation even if the word “kingdom” is not used. But often kingdom was used. You will find references to His Kingdom in the prophets.
- One from Daniel: “How great are His signs And how mighty are His miracles! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation. ~Dan 4:3
Thank you for reading chapter one of GOD’s Kingdom by It’s a Heart Matter contributor. We pray to be a blessing and pray that you were blessed by this chapter. Chapter 2 will be posted in a few days.