Difference between Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven

[james1523]

Here we will explore the difference between the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven, and feel free to disagree or go deeper.

The term "Kingdom of Heaven" is only used in the gospel of Matthew. In the other 3 gospels, the term "kingdom of God" is used.

The book of Matthew is the only gospel which is careful to distinguish between the term "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of Heaven". For example, the Kingdom of God was already on the Earth with the nation of Israel (Matt 21:43), however the Kingdom of Heaven only drew near in the time of John the Baptist (Matt 3:2, Matt 11:11-12).

This shows us that the" Kingdom of God" is a general term which refers to God's rule and reign throughout all eternity. It includes the period before the world was created, the nation of Israel, the New Testament Church, the future millennial kingdom, all the way through to the new heaven, earth and New Jerusalem.
The "Kingdom of Heaven" is a specific term, which refers exclusively to the period of the New Testament Church and the future millennial kingdom.

In other words, the term Kingdom of Heaven refers to only part of the Kingdom of God in time. The Book of Matthew uses the term "Kingdom of Heaven" to refer to the period of the church age and future millennial kingdom. The other 3 gospels use the term "Kingdom of God" but in most cases (depending upon the time period being referred to) they really mean the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now we look at the Kingdom of Heaven in more detail, and why it only refers to the church age and the millennial kingdom.
The Kingdom of Heaven is now with the Church (Matt 11:11), which includes all the regenerated or born again believers in Christ, both past, present and future.
In future, Christ will establish His Messianic Kingdom on the Earth and rule over it with a remnant of Israel for 1000 years, who will be priests that teach the nations to know God (Rev 20:1-6, Zech. 8:20-23). During this time, Christ's kingdom on the Earth is known as the "Kingdom of the Son" in Matt 13:41, and means the kingdom of David (Israel) restored (Acts 15:16). At the same time, in Heaven is the "Kingdom of the Father", which is where the righteous dwell (Matt 13:43).

Right now we are in the time period where the Kingdom of Heaven is with the church. At an individual level I like to think of this as God's heavenly rule on the throne of each believer's heart. But at the corporate level I think of this as Christ ruling from the heavens as the Head of His Body. In the future, the Kingdom of Heaven will continue with Christ's return in power and glory as Matthew 24-25 teaches, and continue with the 1000 year reign of Christ on the Earth. After the 1000 year reign of Christ on the Earth, the "Kingdom of Heaven" will cease to exist, since the earth is destroyed, and a new heaven and new earth comes (Rev 21:1). As Rev 21 teaches, God and mankind will live together, so there is the Kingdom of God continuing for all eternity, but not the Kingdom of Heaven because heaven (where God dwells) and earth (where man dwells) appears to be merged together.

In summary, Biblical use of the term "Kingdom of Heaven" refers to the specific time period of the new testament church age and millennial kingdom, whereas "Kingdom of God" can refer to the reign of God in any time period from eternity past to eternity future. The Book of Matthew is careful to use the different terminology to distinguish between the kingdom of God which existed in the nation of Israel, and the kingdom of Heaven which was yet to exist in the new testament church and 1000 year reign of Christ. The other 3 gospels are not so careful to make this distinction and simply use the term "Kingdom of God" throughout.

So the Old Testament Israelites belonged to the kingdom of God but not the Kingdom of Heaven. Whereas Christians belong to the kingdom of God or kingdom of Heaven, depending upon which terminology we prefer.

 

[Hekuran]

I find this unnecessarily complex. Surely there's one King and that is God. God's throne is in heaven, so they are one and the same.

There are quite a few places where the gospels use different words in reporting the same speech:

Matthew 13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

Luke 13:20-21; Again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

 

[james1523]

I find this unnecessarily complex. Surely there's one King and that is God. God's throne is in heaven, so they are one and the same.

There are quite a few places where the gospels use different words in reporting the same speech:

Matthew 13:33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

Luke 13:20-21; Again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

Exactly, they are the same thing. Only Matthew makes the distinction between Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven- Kingdom of God, referring to God's reign in Israel at the time, and Kingdom of Heaven, referring to the church age yet to come. For some reason, which is still unknown to me, Matthew uses the different terminology - perhaps to make clear that God's reign in the age of the New Testament church is something more glorious and special and heavenly than God's reign in the Old Testament.

Hopefully, my post clears up a mistaken view that Kingdom of Heaven refers only to God's rule in Heaven, whereas Kingdom of God refers only to God's rule on Earth. Kingdom of God is both on Earth and in Heaven, and Kingdom of Heaven is also both on Earth and in Heaven. The difference between the two terms is temporal, not spatial.

 

[NoHype]

Just as God's Garden of Eden was once upon this earth per Genesis 2, so likewise He and His Garden will return to this earth, upon a cleansed new earth. That is what Rev.21-22 is talking about in final with God coming to dwell with us on this earth in the future of His Kingdom with His Son ruling upon David's throne.

The heavenly is one dimension, and this earthly is another dimension. But in God's future Kingdom both are indeed going to be 'spatially' together manifested upon this earth. This is why it was possible for the angels in Genesis to appear on earth, eat man's food on earth, while having the image of men (Gen.18-19).

This is also how future man will not pollute the earth anymore, for we all will have the "image of the heavenly" in God's future Kingdom, for those who believe on Him and His Son. In 1 Cor.15 Paul links the idea of God's Kingdom with the time when Jesus will deliver up the Kingdom to God after Christ's Millennial reign.

 

[Davy]

Hi James1523, take a look at what some Encyclopedias have to say on this subject.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, states regarding the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God."

In these quotations, and in others which might easily be adduced, it will be observed that the phrases "the kingdom," "the kingdom of God," "the kingdom of heaven" are used interchangeably. The last of the three, "the kingdom of heaven," is confined to the First Gospel, which does not, however, always make use of it; and it is not certain what may have been the reason for the substitution.

The AMG's Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, and the Easton's Illustrated Dictionary, states the exact same thing, regarding the "kingdom of God."

The following all denote facets of the same thing, (Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of Christ" (Matt. 13:41; 20:21) = "kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5) = "kingdom of David" (Mark 11:10) = "the kingdom" (Matt. 8:12; 13:19) = "kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 13:41) These are all referring to the same thing.

The book "What The Bible Is All About." says regarding the kingdom of heaven.

The "kingdom of heaven" is also called the "kingdom of God." It means God's rule in the lives of His chosen people and His creation. In the Old Testament, the people in God's kingdom were the Israelites. In the New Testament and now, the people in God's kingdom are those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes again, then God's kingdom will become visible to all people.

It seams fairly conclusive that the "kingdom of God" and the "kingdom of heaven" are referring to the same think.

 

[james1523]

Hi James1523, take a look at what some Encyclopedias have to say on this subject.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, states regarding the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God."

In these quotations, and in others which might easily be adduced, it will be observed that the phrases "the kingdom," "the kingdom of God," "the kingdom of heaven" are used interchangeably. The last of the three, "the kingdom of heaven," is confined to the First Gospel, which does not, however, always make use of it; and it is not certain what may have been the reason for the substitution.

The AMG's Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, and the Easton's Illustrated Dictionary, states the exact same thing, regarding the "kingdom of God."

The following all denote facets of the same thing, (Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of Christ" (Matt. 13:41; 20:21) = "kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5) = "kingdom of David" (Mark 11:10) = "the kingdom" (Matt. 8:12; 13:19) = "kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 13:41) These are all referring to the same thing.

The book "What The Bible Is All About." says regarding the kingdom of heaven.

The "kingdom of heaven" is also called the "kingdom of God." It means God's rule in the lives of His chosen people and His creation. In the Old Testament, the people in God's kingdom were the Israelites. In the New Testament and now, the people in God's kingdom are those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes again, then God's kingdom will become visible to all people.

It seams fairly conclusive that the "kingdom of God" and the "kingdom of heaven" are referring to the same think.

Those resources do not shed any light on why Matthew uses Kingdom of God in one sense, and Kingdom of Heaven in another. It appears that Kingdom of God is used in relation to pre-New Testament church age, and Kingdom of Heaven refers to New Testament church age. Keeping in mind, that Kingdom of Heaven is also the Kingdom of God.

Kingdom of Christ, can refer to the Kingdom of God on Earth. Kingdom of the Father, can refer to the Kingdom of God in Heaven. Kingdom of David, can refer to the nation of Israel, specifically. Of course, all of these Kingdoms are "Kingdom of God" (generally), but the specific terms indicate whether it refers to God's rule on Earth, God's rule in Heaven, or God's rule in Israel. The difference is that God's Kingdom is administrated in different ways. In Heaven it is from God's throne, on Earth it is the Church, in Israel it is by God's appointed King.