Which Kingdom?

“…the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” — Matthew 11:12

“…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” —1 Corinthians 15:50

These two texts mention two kingdoms.  They are NOT the same.

The primary message of John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the  twelve Apostles was The kingdom of heaven (Mt. 3:1-2; 4:17; 10:7). This is a literal, visible, physical kingdom on earth.  People confuse this kingdom as a spiritual kingdom.  The word that throws them off is the word “heaven.”  But you must remember that the earth is in the heavens. The earth is part of the heavens.  You can see the heavens with it’s stars, planets, and moons.

This sets ”the kingdom of heaven” apart from “the kingdom of God.”  These are two different kingdoms.  God is a spirit and you cannot see God—Heaven is physical and visible.

Don’t confuse “the kingdom of heaven” with “the New Jerusalem.”  “The New Jerusalem” is paradise coming down to earth from God out of heaven (Rev. 21:2). But, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). Romans 14:17 clearly says, “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink (which are physical); but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (spiritual)” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:50).

John the Baptist preached, “The kingdom of heaven IS AT HAND,” because “the King” was at hand.  If the Jews would have received Jesus as King, “the kingdom of heaven” would have been established on earth at that time. But, Jesus “came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:12). The Jews rejected Christ saying, “We have no king but Cæsar” (John 19:17). “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14).

Therefore, “the kingdom of heaven” is now held in abeyance, but not abandoned.  The kingdom will come when the King of kings comes in Revelation 19-20.

The only kingdom that is here today is the spiritual “kingdom of God.” The only way to get into it is by being BORN AGAIN. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Have you been born again?  If not, you’ll never see “the kingdom of God.”