173 – Biblical Names of the Kingdom

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY V LESSON # 73

ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – BIBLICAL NAMES OF THE KINGDOM

INTRODUCTION:

1. These two texts are to call your attention to speculations made about the kingdom names.
2. Let me read Scofield’s note # 1, Page 1003 – a well-structured theses, but I think error.
3. I want to consider the various Bible names for this divine kingdom.
4. Then, I hope to show the singular nature of this kingdom.

I. THE VARIOUS NAMES OF THE DIVINE KINGDOM

1. The Kingdom of Heaven appears at least 32 times and only in Matthew.
2. The Kingdom of God appears 7 times in Matthew, 15 times in Mark, 33 times in Luke., 2 times in John, 7 times in Acts, 10 times in the Pauline Epistles.
3. The Kingdom of the Lord appears in 1 Chronicles. 28:5

and II Peter 1:11

.
4. It is referred to as the Kingdom of Christ (Eph. 5:5

), of His dear Son (Col 1:13

), and His Heavenly Kingdom (II Tim. 4:18

). At least 110 New Testament references.

II. THESE KINGDOMS ARE ONE AND THE SAME

1. The essence of the claims of technical difference lies between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.
2. I have heard a lot of cute little explanations (more little than cute).
3. The problems which must be faced by those who claim this technicality are as follow:

i. The “Kingdom of Heaven” would be a prominent doctrine with Matthew. Neglected by every other New Testament writer.
ii. The Kingdom of God, so popular with all the rest, is comparatively neglected by Matthew.
iii. John the Baptist, according to Matthew, preached the Kingdom of Heaven, (Mat. 3:2

) but according to Luke and Mark, the Kingdom of God.
iv. In Matthew 10:6-7

, Jesus charged His disciples to preach the Kingdom of Heaven, but in Lk. 9:2

, it was the Kingdom of God.
v. Matthew has Jesus preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, but Mar, Luk and John, have Him preaching the Kingdom of God.
vi. Jesus has Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets sitting down in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mat. 8:11

), but they sit in the Kingdom of God in Luk 13:29

.
vii. Jesus uses the terms interchangeably in the kingdom parables: Compare (1) Mat. 13:11

to Mk. 4:11

, (2) Mat. 13:33

to Lk. 13:20-21

, (3) Mat. 13:31

to Lk. 13:18-19

.
viii. These are only a few of the parables or principles where the terms are used interchangeably. Note: Mat. 22:1-13

compared to Lk. 14:15-24

4. Thus, I conclude that all these titles refer to precisely the same kingdom, and, therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are exactly the same kingdom.

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITING THESE KINGDOM TITLES

1. Because we identify the kingdom as what it is wherever we find it in Scripture.
2. It will cause us to apply these truths to spiritual life and to church work as we should.
3. It will keep us from cutting our Bibles up in little slices, thus cutting out application.
4. It will press upon us, as we study, that holy pressure to bow down in subjection to the eternal King of kings.

Berean Baptist Church