“Kingdom of God” – what is its extent (coverage)?

Jesus said to Nicodemus “Except a man be born again, he can’t see the Kingdom of God”.

Clearly, He didn’t say “He can’t see heaven”, or “He can’t see Paradise”. And remember, when He was talking to the robber Jesus said “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”. There, He didn’t say “Heaven” “Kingdom of God” or “My Father’s house”.

Now, is the coverage of “Kingdom of God” includes paradise, heaven and the new earth?

Thanks.

I would say that the kingdom of God extends to wherever God is King.

Originally posted by Gold Dragon:
I would say that the kingdom of God extends to wherever God is King.

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Yes, that is the essence of it.

Jesus announced the Kingdom of God and is "the way" to enter into its life. The Kingdom of God is present and active now in those who are living the life of Christ.

The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are the same thing. Matthew is the only one who uses "Kingdom of Heaven" and he does this because he is writing to a Jewish audience.

Look up the parallel passages.

Here's a good example:

Matthew 13:1-11
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

...gives the parable of the sower...

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

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And now look at the same story in Mark.

Mark 4:1-11
1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

...gives the parable of the sower...

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

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Now there are two possibilities here.
1. He was at the same sea side two different times and told the exact same parables and the exact same thing happened, and his disciples came up to him afterward and asked him the exact same question, and one time he said "heaven" and the other time he said "God".

Or.........

2. The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are the same thing.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which of the two is more likely.

You can look up the other parallel passages with Kingdom of God/Heaven and see the exact same thing over and over again.

In the entire KJV Bible, the Kingdom of Heaven is ONLY used in Mathew.

Originally posted by StraightAndNarrow:
In the entire KJV Bible, the Kingdom of Heaven is ONLY used in Mathew.

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I've always defined them as the:

1. "kingdom of Heaven", a "literal place"
2. "Kingdom of God", a "Spiritual place", i.e Church/heart.

Lu 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Me4Him, I think Lk 17.21 is saying "the kingdom of God is in your midst." This is how the NASB renders it.

He's talking to the Pharisees, so he's hardly saying that the Kingdom of God is literally within them. He's pointing out how they are looking at the Messiah and not seeing Him for who He is.

Originally posted by Me4Him:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by StraightAndNarrow:
In the entire KJV Bible, the Kingdom of Heaven is ONLY used in Mathew.

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I've always defined them as the:

1. "kingdom of Heaven", a "literal place"
2. "Kingdom of God", a "Spiritual place", i.e Church/heart.

Lu 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. </font>[/QUOTE]I should have been a little clearer. Since the Kingdom of Heaven is only used in Mathew there are many instances in the other gospels in which The Kingdom of God is used for the same incident for which in Mathew The Kingdom of Heaven is used. In other words, the two terms are synonomous. For example:

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

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Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

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Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

How about paradise? Was it also once a part of the Kingdom of God?

Thanks.

Originally posted by StraightAndNarrow:

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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The above verse is "US" entering into the "Literal Heaven".

Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

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The above verse is "US" entering into the "born again" kingdom. i.e Spiritual Kingdom, Church.

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Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

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Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

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The same applies to the other verse.

Jesus, presently has a "Spiritual Kingdom" over which he rules today, in the heart of believers, the Church.

If you'll notice, In heaven Jesus sits on the "right hand", not on the "THRONE",

however here on the earth, he sit on "HIS THRONE",

the same applies to "kingdom of Heaven" God rules and "kingdom of God", Jesus rules.

This must be understood within the context of the "TRINITY".

How many Kingdoms are there? What does Scripture say?

The Apostle Matthew writes in his account of the mission of the Christ, the Messiah, as follows:

Matthew 3:1-3, KJV
1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

According to John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand as he announces the coming of the Lord. Matthew writes further:

Matthew 4:23, KJV
23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35, KJV
35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 24:14, KJV
14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

According to Matthew’s account Jesus Christ is preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Perhaps Matthew is somewhat ambiguous, but Mark is not. John Mark opens his account of the ministry of Jesus Christ as follows:

Mark 1:1, KJV
1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Mark in writing a parallel account of the life of Jesus Christ declares he is writing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mark further writes about the Gospel quoting Jesus Christ Himself:

Mark 1:14-15, KJV
14. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

From these two passages in the Gospel according to Mark it is obvious that the gospel of Jesus Christ and gospel of the kingdom of God are the same.

Luke’s account of the life of Jesus Christ quotes Him as follows:

Luke 4:43, KJV
43. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Jesus Christ taught that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Obviously the kingdoms are the same. The term Kingdom of Heaven appears only in the Gospel of Matthew; the term Kingdom of God is used on five occasions[Matthew 6:33; 12:28; 19:24, 21:31; 21:43]. Mark, Luke, and John use the term Kingdom of God only. Jesus Christ used both terms but generally referred to the Kingdom of God. Some have argued that there is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Walvoord [page 213, Major Bible Prophecies] states that when Matthew uses the term Kingdom of Heaven he is referring to the sphere of profession but that when he uses the term Kingdom of God he is referring to those who are truly saved. However, a comparison of parallel passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke shows that Matthew uses the Kingdom of Heaven in the same context that Mark and Luke use of the Kingdom of God. A comparison of the explanation of Jesus Christ as to why He spoke in parables [following the parable of the sower] demonstrates without doubt that there is no difference in Matthew’s use of the Kingdom of Heaven and Mark’s and Luke’s use of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:10,11, KJV
10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mark 4:10,11, KJV
10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:

Luke 8:9,10, KJV
9. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Any attempt to distinguish between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God is just more dispensational nonsense.

John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Jesus Christ taught that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Obviously the kingdoms are the same.

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Quite obviously, Jesus wasn't the God that sits on the throne in heaven, but is the God who sit on God's throne on earth.

"Different", but the "same".

Without the "TRINITY", you won't understand the Bible.