Kingdom of Heaven

  There is a prevailing thought in the religious world that the kingdom of heaven has yet to be established. Instead, Jesus established the church because He was rejected by the Jews  in His first advent. What does the Bible teach  about the kingdom of heaven?  

     As we examine this important issue, let us have an open mind and heart to what the Bible does say about the kingdom. Our desire is to believe and  submit to what God has revealed in His word for He is Lord and King. We must have this attitude if we are going to be saved and apart of this kingdom.

     In the Old Testament, we find prophecies concerning a kingdom to be established by a descendant of David.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

 In several other passages such as Isaiah 2:1-4; Daniel 2:44-45, the kingdom to be established was referred to as a mountain which was to be established in the last days and the days of the Roman Empire rule.

    A careful study of the life of Christ, we learn that He would be the one through whom God would accomplish this promised kingdom. In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus made four powerful statements to indicate the coming and certainty of the Kingdom of Heaven’s establishment.

First, after Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, He began His ministry by preaching  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'' (Matthew 4:17). This preaching was directed at those during His time on earth. Thus, indicating the possible establishment of the kingdom in the lifetime of the listeners.

     The phrase “at hand” simply means, “nearby or within hands reach”. Literally,   this statement can be translated “has drawn near”. Therefore, the kingdom was within hands reach of those to whom Jesus’ was preaching. Since it was within their grasp, certainly, it is within our grasp today.

     Second, in the 16th chapter of Matthew, Jesus asked His disciples, “whom do men say that I am?” After giving several answers, He then asked them, “whom do you say that I am?” Peter answered that He was “the Christ, the Son of living God”. Give careful notice of Jesus’ reply to Peter’s answer.

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."  (Matthew 16:13-19)

There are a couple points to consider from Jesus’ reply. 1) The gates of Hades (realm of the dead), is another way of saying that death would not stop Him from accomplishing the will of God. Thus, when the church was established, the rule of the kingdom of heaven was established. 2) The keys of the kingdom that were to be given to  Peter and the rest of the apostles (Matthew 16:19; 18:18) would further indicate the establishment of the rule of the kingdom of heaven. The apostles would be receiving instructions from heaven itself of what God’s will for those who desire be of His kingdom.   

     Now, was Jesus lieing about what He said He would do? Of course not. We are for certain that Jesus fulfilled the promise of God in establishing the kingdom of heaven. In Acts 2, Peter and the rest of the apostles preached that Christ fulfilled the promise of God in His death and resurrection.

"Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;  "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (Acts 2:23-24)

It was the purpose of God for Him to be crucified and be raised from the dead.

Now take note of what the resurrection indicated. Peter further said,

"Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (Acts 2:30-33)

The resurrection meant Jesus built His church as He said He would, He overcame death. The rule of the kingdom of heaven was established and that He (Jesus) had given the keys of the kingdom to the apostles.  In turn, the apostles are now preaching the laws and the entry to this kingdom.  

     Third, later in the 16th chapter of Matthew, Jesus said in verse 28,   "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.'' (cf. Mark 9:1)

There is no doubt that this statment was clearly meant for those of that day. They were not to “taste death” until they see its establishment. It would then reason that if the kingdom is yet to be  

established, then these people should be still alive. If we find these people, they would be the evidence to prove that Jesus was a fake. This would also make the Bible a book of myths. According to 1st Corinthians 15:12-19, if Jesus is a fake, there is no resurrection, our faith is worthless, there is no life after death and we are to be pitied for believing a lie. However, Jesus is not a fake and our hope is in Him.

    The fourth powerful & irrefutable statement made by Jesus was during His conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus said one could not see nor enter the kingdom unless they are born again.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

(John 3:3,5). This new birth Jesus’ refers to takes place in baptism for the remission of sin and unity with Christ (Acts 2:38; Romans. 6:3,4). In 1 Peter 3:21, Peter said baptism saves because it is the answering of God from a good conscience and because of the resurrection of Christ.

     Throughout the book of Acts, this message was preached because it was the key that Jesus gave the apostles and prophets. Therefore, to enter the kingdom of heaven and maintain a relationship to God, we must obey the instructions given by the apostles received from Jesus who now reigns in heaven (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:2.

     When a person obeys and is baptized into Christ, he enters the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-5). He or she is now under the RULERSHIP of King Jesus, David’s descendant (Acts 2:30-31). Paul , under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, indicated that he and all those who have obeyed the gospel were “translated from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love”. (Colossians. 1:13)

     Friend, the kingdom of heaven is established. Heaven rules. All those who have obeyed the gospel have willing submitted to its rule. However, if you are waiting for it to be established, your wait has long been over. Take advantage of the opportunity to be translated into kingdom of heaven where you will be victorious over death. 

     God’s plan of redemption has given access to this mighty kingdom. The keys were given to the apostles they in turn preached its laws and how one may enter. So, if you have not obeyed the gospel, you stand in opposition to the kingdom of God. Do not oppose Him but submit  to Him for  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom that cannot be shaken and the God who established it is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25-29)