This is how C I Scofield defines the kingdom of heaven:
(1) The phrase, kingdom of heaven (literally, of the heavens), is peculiar to Matthew and signifies the Messianic earth rule of Jesus Christ, the Son of David. It is called the kingdom of the heavens because it is the rule of the heavens over the earth. The phrase is derived from Daniel, where it is defined; as the kingdom which the God of heaven will set up after the destruction by "the stone cut out without hands," of the Gentile world-system. It is the kingdom covenanted to David's seed described in the prophets; and confirmed to Jesus the Christ, the Son of Mary, through the angel Gabriel.
(2) The kingdom of heaven has three aspects in Matthew:
a) "at hand" from the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist (Mat_3:2) to the virtual rejection of the King, and the announcement of the new brotherhood (Mat_12:46-50).
b) in seven "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven," to be fulfilled during the present age to which are to be added the parables of the kingdom of heaven which were spoken after those of Mt. 13, and which have to do with the sphere of Christian profession during this age;
c) the prophetic aspect -- the kingdom to be set up after the return of the King in glory.
How do the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven differ?
Moderator: Moderators
How do the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven differ?
Post #2The kingdom of God is to be distinguished from the kingdom of heaven in five respects:
(1) The kingdom of God is universal, including all moral intelligences willingly subject to the will of God, whether angels, the Church, or saints of past or future dispensations while the kingdom of heaven is Messianic, mediatorial, and Davidic, and has for its object the establishment of the kingdom of God in the earth
(2) The kingdom of God is entered only by the new birth the kingdom of heaven, during this age, is the sphere of a profession which may be real or false.
(3) Since the kingdom of heaven is the earthly sphere of the universal kingdom of God, the two have almost all things in common. For this reason many parables and other teachings are spoken of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, and of the kingdom of God in Mark and Luke. It is the omissions which are significant. The parables of the wheat and tares, and of the net are not spoken of the kingdom of God. In that kingdom there are neither tares nor bad fish. But the parable of the leaven is spoken of the kingdom of God also, for, alas, even the true doctrines of the kingdom are leavened with the errors of which the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians were the representatives.
(4) The kingdom of God "comes not with outward show" but is chiefly that which is inward and spiritual while the kingdom of heaven is organic, and is to be manifested in glory on the earth.
(5) The kingdom of heaven merges into the kingdom of God when Christ, having put all enemies under his feet, "shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father"
(1) The kingdom of God is universal, including all moral intelligences willingly subject to the will of God, whether angels, the Church, or saints of past or future dispensations while the kingdom of heaven is Messianic, mediatorial, and Davidic, and has for its object the establishment of the kingdom of God in the earth
(2) The kingdom of God is entered only by the new birth the kingdom of heaven, during this age, is the sphere of a profession which may be real or false.
(3) Since the kingdom of heaven is the earthly sphere of the universal kingdom of God, the two have almost all things in common. For this reason many parables and other teachings are spoken of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, and of the kingdom of God in Mark and Luke. It is the omissions which are significant. The parables of the wheat and tares, and of the net are not spoken of the kingdom of God. In that kingdom there are neither tares nor bad fish. But the parable of the leaven is spoken of the kingdom of God also, for, alas, even the true doctrines of the kingdom are leavened with the errors of which the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians were the representatives.
(4) The kingdom of God "comes not with outward show" but is chiefly that which is inward and spiritual while the kingdom of heaven is organic, and is to be manifested in glory on the earth.
(5) The kingdom of heaven merges into the kingdom of God when Christ, having put all enemies under his feet, "shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father"
