THE
(Is there a
difference?)
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There are several passages which show that the
Ward Fenley
HARMONY OF THE KINGDOMS
Some futurists believe there are as many as three
kingdoms of God and possibly even more. However, in examining the Scriptures we
will see there is one kingdom which is identified in several ways: two of which
are the
First let us present the harmony of
the
So we immediately see that the kingdom of heaven was said to be at hand. Jesus basically reiterated this identical statement when His ministry began: Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Here is the harmony of the
We certainly cannot view Mark as
having written an entire separate account. If this hermeneutic were
implemented, we would then have to completely change our designation of the
Gospels as synoptic. The
The kingdom harmony continues:
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Luke 6:20 And he
lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is
the
The result of being poor in spirit
is inheriting the
This same kingdom of heaven that
was said to be at hand is the resting place of all those who are the seed of
Abraham (believers in Jesus Christ): Matthew 8:11 I say to you that many will
come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 13:28-29 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and
you yourselves thrust out. {29} And they shall come
from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and
shall sit down in the
The message
Jesus preached at the beginning of His ministry was the same message with which
He commissioned the disciples, i.e., the
John the Baptist, though the
greatest of the prophets, was said to have an inferior position compared to the
status of those in the kingdom of heaven. Luke describes this as the
Just what mysteries were to be
revealed? Did Jesus reveal two separate sets of mysteries? Or were the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and the
In these next passages we see that
the inhabitants of the
Once again, the "two" kingdoms are synonymous.
Luke and Mark speak of the difficulty
a rich man has in entering the
Luke 18:24-25 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! {25} For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye,
than for a rich man to enter into the
In these next passages we find
something interesting: Matthew 11:12 And from the
days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force. Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time
the
If the
From these passages, it is
explicitly clear that the kingdom of heaven and the
THE KINGDOM OF THE SON IS THE
From here we turn to another
analysis: the kingdom of the Son and its synonymity
with the
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of
them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the
kingdom of God come with power. Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a
truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they
see the kingdom of God.
Both Luke and Mark record that some
of the disciples would not die until they saw the
A less direct example of the
kingdom of the Son being synonymous with the kingdom of God is seen in comparing
the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke concerning Christ's disciples giving up
all for the sake of the kingdom of God:
Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall
receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Mark 10:29
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath
left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children,
or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, Luke 18:29 And he said unto
them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents,
or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
The account in Matthew speaks of
Christ's disciples giving up all for His name's sake. The account in Mark says
the same and interestingly adds, "and the
gospel's." However, the account in Luke is very clear when it says,
"the
Concerning the precursory events to
take place before the Parousia, Jesus informs the disciples that when they saw
these events come to pass, they could know with certainty the kingdom of Christ
was at the doors: Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all
these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to
pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know
ye that the
The whole context of Matthew 24 is the coming of Jesus Christ. We see this in the first three verses in Matthew 24: Matthew 24:1-3 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. {2} And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. {3} And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The disciples were inquiring of the coming of Jesus Christ. They asked what would be the sign of "Thy" coming. Jesus spoke clearly that He was addressing His coming: Matthew 24:30-31 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. {31} And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Not only is the coming mentioned,
Christ also brings the holy angels into the picture; which harmonizes with the
passage in Matthew 16:27-29, where Christ teaches He would come in His kingdom
with His holy angels before some of the disciples would taste death. Therefore,
when Matthew records Jesus as saying, "when ye shall see all these things,
know that it (His coming) is near, even at the doors," he is saying
exactly what Mark and Luke are saying in their accounts of the same
discourse:
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,
know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Luke 21:31 So
likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the
Here it is very evident that the
THE KINGDOM OF THE FATHER IS THE
Just as the kingdom of the Son is
the
Luke 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be
fulfilled in the
Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until
the
Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
THE KINGDOM OF THE SON IS THE KINGDOM OF THE FATHER
In the accounts mentioned in Matthew we saw that Christ would come in His kingdom with His holy angels. This same angelic accompanying is addressed in Matthew 13: Matthew 13:41-44 The 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; {42} And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. {43} Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. {44} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Notice verse 44 continues the parables of Christ in his demonstrating what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus is merely continuing the context of the details concerning His coming. But what is fascinating is that neither Matthew nor Jesus makes any distinction between the kingdom of the Son and the kingdom of the Father. Verse 41 speaks of the kingdom of the Son of man. Verse 43 speaks of the kingdom of the Father. They are identical kingdoms.
In the well-known Lord’s Prayer, it is the coming of the Father’s kingdom for which the apostles were to pray: Matthew 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. {10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
As we have seen, this kingdom is the kingdom of the Son. Even the Son declared His unity with the Father: John 10:30 I and my Father are one. John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
We first established the
Besides the fact that the word
kingdom is used well over a hundred times in the Gospels alone, here are some
passages which reveal the immense significance of the message of this kingdom:
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and
all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the
Acts 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many
infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake
boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things
concerning the
Since we have already decisively concluded there are not many different kingdoms, but rather different names for one eternal kingdom; it is imperative we acknowledge the Scriptures which teach the presence of true believers in this eternal kingdom.
First, in Romans Paul teaches that
some of the characteristics of the kingdom are exactly contrary to the fleshly
ordinances of national
From the passages we have already
studied, we should have implied the kingdom of which Jesus and the apostles
spoke was none other than the eternal kingdom predicted in the law and the
prophets. Paul brings to the attention of the Romans the fact that three
characteristics in particular are present in the
Righteousness: Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 24:5-6 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. {6} This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
This last reference should be
interesting to us in that Jesus Christ said “blessed are those who hunger and
thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Christ also said,
"Seek ye first the
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every
tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt
condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their
righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Here are several passages that
speak of righteousness being made known or revealed from heaven:
Psalm 50:6 And the heavens shall declare his
righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah. Psalm 85:9-13 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory
may dwell in our land. {10} Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and
peace have kissed each other. {11} Truth shall spring out of the earth; and
righteousness shall look down from heaven. {12} Yea, the LORD shall give that
which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. {13} Righteousness shall
go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. Psalm 98:2 The LORD
hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the
sight of the heathen.
Micah 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned
against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will
bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Romans tells us this revealed
righteousness is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek. {17} For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.
Here are a few other passages which
speak of righteousness applied to the people of God, or God as their
righteousness:
Isaiah 1:27
Jeremiah 23:6 In his days
Psalm 89:15-16 Blessed is the people that know the
joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. {16} In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy
righteousness shall they be exalted.
Psalm 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with
righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. Isaiah 32:16-17 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and
righteousness remain in the fruitful field. {17} And
the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance for ever.
Paul understood that in Jesus
Christ, righteousness, peace, and joy are fulfilled: 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,
unto the glory of God by us.
Ephesians 2:13-17 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ. {14} For he is our peace, who hath made both
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; {15} Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he
might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to
them that were nigh.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4 And these things write we
unto you, that your joy may be full. Romans 5:11 And
not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we
have now received the atonement.
As we have noted previously, the
Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son: {14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of
sins:
The real difficulty comes with
trying to reconcile what futurists describe as the "already but not
yet" with the Scripture. There are two primary reasons they have done
this: First, they approach the study of the kingdom with the presupposition
that there is at least a spiritual kingdom and a physical kingdom. All of the
millennial schemes do this, whether pre, post, or amillennial.
Second, they do not see the clear Scriptural teaching concerning what we must
identify as the transformation period. It is a recognition of this
transformation period that will solve the "already but not yet"
problem. First, it is necessary to see several passages that speak of the New
Covenant being brought to consummation through process:
Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he
hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Here the Old
Covenant (O.C.) is said to have been in the process of waxing old and decaying.
It tells us that it was ready to vanish away. 2 Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that
which remaineth is glorious.
The phrase, "done away" is translated "is passing away" in the New King James Version clearly implying that the fading glory of the O.C. was approaching its end as the New Covenant (N.C.) was progressing. Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Once again, the present tense is
extremely important to our understanding of the gradual progression of the N.C.
and the gradual digression of the O.C. From here we turn to chapter 12 of
Hebrews to observe the use of the present tense to describe the unfolding of
the New Covenant kingdom:
Hebrews 12:18-28 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and
that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, {19} And
the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard
entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: {20} (For they
could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the
mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: {21} And so
terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) {22}
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of
the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of
angels, {23} To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect, {24} And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than
that of Abel. {25} See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn
away from him that speaketh from heaven: {26} Whose
voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I
shake not the earth only, but also heaven. {27} And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as
of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
{28} Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be
moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence
and godly fear:
The context is definitively
speaking of the contrast between the two covenants. Verses
18-21 deal with the mountain and kingdom of the O.C., a covenant which only produced
the wrath of God. Verses 22-28 deal with the mountain
and kingdom of the N.C., a covenant that produced righteousness and
forgiveness. The O.C. is metaphorically described here as the heavens
and earth. These were in the process of "being shaken" (vs.27). The
verb is in the present tense, showing the gradual removal of the curse upon the
people of God. However, this gradual removal was not without a replacement far
better:
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better
hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 7:22 By
so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Hebrews 8:6-7 But
now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. {7} For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should
no place have been sought for the second.
The better replacement is very evident in Hebrews 12: Hebrews 12:27-28 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. {28} Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Notice the phrase, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom." The verb receiving is likewise in the present tense, and shows how the N.C. kingdom was being brought to its fullness by progression. This progression or transformation involved the reforming work of the Holy Spirit to bring the church into the image of Christ-an image into which Paul says they were already being changed: 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The kingdom of which Paul speaks in
Hebrews 12:28 is none other than the
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Romans 14:17 For
the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost. Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother,
and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called
And yet in other passages the kingdom seems to be a future event for the first-century church: Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
However, there is no contradiction or "already but not yet" when the passages dealing with the transformation are observed: Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 1 Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
This last verse uses the present tense for the verb exceed. The passage actually reads, "For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more is the ministration of righteousness exceeding in glory." This is because the New Covenant was growing into fullness as it was exceeding the glory of the Old Covenant.
The ministration of righteousness, the N.C. kingdom, was exceeding in glory while the ministration of death, the O.C. kingdom, was diminishing in glory. In fact, though the literal veil was torn in two at the crucifixion of Christ, the actual veil of spiritual death was still upon the elect unsaved Jews, but was in the process of being done away as the remnant according to the election of grace were believing in Christ. Not only this, but for those who were believers, the veil was in the process of being removed as they had not yet entered into the holiest of holies.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away
in the reading of the old testament; which veil is being done away in
Christ.
It is also important to realize that the first-century Christians honestly believed they were serving a King: Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus Christ the King was ruling over the kingdom which was being transformed into the fullness of the New Covenant. This one kingdom was in the process of being received by the first-century believers.
From what we have studied, it is evident that the kingdom which was said to be at hand began to unfold at Pentecost and was brought to its fullness at the Parousia. This occurred at the destruction of the Jewish Temple. This was the outward sign that the inward kingdom was in its full form and Christ the King was, at last, in His people who had previously had the Spirit as the guarantee of their inheritance. This inheritance was that prepared for those who would be made kings and priests: Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; {10} And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Peter called them a royal priesthood: 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
This light of the kingdom was prophesied in the O.T.: Isaiah 60:19-21 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. {20} Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. {21} Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
The Psalmist predicted the presence
of the Bride with Christ her King: Psalm 45:10-15 Hearken, O daughter, and
consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; {11} So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy
Lord; and worship thou him. {12} And the daughter of
The Psalmist relates the city of
the great King to
As does the writer of Hebrews: Hebrews 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, {23} To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
The Psalmist predicts the
relationship of the creation of the spiritual Israel of God as the children of
This creation is none other than
that which is created in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:10 For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Notice the passage in Psalms speaks
of
There was one kingdom predicted in
the prophets. There was one kingdom of which our Lord spoke. And there was one
kingdom which began at Pentecost and was brought to its fullness at the
Parousia. This is the heavenly