KINGDOM OF HEAVEN vs KINGDOM OF GOD

 

Hi Patti.  Interesting study...and I can see why some people perceive the two kingdoms separately.  However, I would like to suggest that the two kingdoms are actually one and the same.  Please consider the following quote by our Redeemer: 

 

• Then Jesus said to His disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."  (Matthew 19:23-24)

 

I reviewed 5 different Bible versions (KJV, NKJV, NASV, TLB, and Stern's Hebrew Bible) of Matthew 19.  They all are fairly identical with Jesus first referencing Kingdom of Heaven and then He immediately references Kingdom of God.  

 

To me, that could mean only one thing...that Jesus considered them to be identical.  And perhaps He knew that somewhere in the future, Christians would be having this discussion.

 

My research shows that the phrase, "Kingdom of Heaven," is used only in the Book of Matthew and nowhere else in the NT.   I find that interesting,  but the argument is that Matthew, who wrote specifically to the Jews, did not want to offend Jewish sensibilities.

 

Another thing that's interesting: "If you compare the synoptic gospels -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke, you will find that Matthew's King of Heaven exactly parallels Mark's and Luke's Kingdom of God.  So there is no doubt that they are different terms describing the same thing." http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/157.htm

 

Scripture examples as follows:

 

• Matthew 5:3/Beatitudes ("...for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven") vs Luke 6:20/Beatitudes ("...for yours is the Kingdom of God.")
  
  
• Matthew 8:11 ("...sit down with...in the Kingdom of Heaven") vs Luke 13:29 ("...and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God").
  
  
• Matthew 11:11-12 ("...he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven") vs Luke 7:28 ("...he that is least in the Kingdom of God"). 
  
  
• Matthew 18:3 ("...not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven") vs Mark 10-14 ("...the Kingdom of God...he shall not enter").

 

There are more examples, but hopefully, you will find the "one kingdom" argument compelling.  Blessings!