The Kingdom of Heaven -- Not the Church

By John McPherson

The focus of this article will be a brief analysis of the Kingdom. Some mention will be made of the contrasts between the Kingdom and the Church, but the follow-up article to this one will deal with the Church itself in greater depth. As will be seen, the Kingdom of Heaven really did not exist in its fully established and glorified manifestation until the events of 70 AD, bringing to a conclusion the Old Covenant Nation, "world" and kingdom.

A casual sampling of the instances of the usage of the term “kingdom” in the New Testament is highly revealing concerning the priority placed upon the Kingdom of Heaven and God vs. introducing the unsaved to the Church itself.  The focus of the gospel throughout the New Testament was THE KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN – NOT the Church.

1 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matt. 3:1,2 KJV)

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17, NKJV)

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” (Matt. 4:23, NKJV)

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:20, NKJV)

There was a “present tense” aspect to the “kingdom” in terms of the existing Old Covenant “world” and its intended purpose as the physical, temporal manifestation of God’s ultimate, perfect, future (to them) SPIRITUAL Kingdom (established through the foundational generation of NT, pre-AD 70 saints).  The “future tense” is used in reference to Christ Jesus’ kingdom which lay ahead for the NT saints, and upon which their gospel was focused exclusively.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt.6:10, NKJV)

“And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 8:11, NKJV)

Here we have the focus placed upon the FUTURE revelation of the true, SPIRITUAL Kingdom of heaven. In the following text, the focus is shifted to the existing PHYSICAL KINGDOM of Old Covenant “kingdom”. The rebellious Jews who rejected their God eternally are in the subject of this text. 

“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." “ (Matt. 8:12, NKJV)

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matt. 9:35, NKJV)

The gospel was NOT the “gospel of the Church”. It was THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM!! All preaching and hopes for the future maintained among the NT saints involved their deliverance from their temporary, provisional situation within an imperfect “Church” (which was perfected by the end of their era, just before their resurrection with the rest of the OC saints to enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, at which time, roughly, the Kingdom was fully established and revealed).

"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matt. 11:11,12 NKJV)

John the Baptist, Christ and His apostles of the First Century were considered the REPRESENTATIVES of the Kingdom of Heaven, and when John was arrested and beheaded, the Kingdom of Heaven began to suffer the violent, escalating opposition of the leadership of the physical kingdom of ancient, Old Covenant Israel.

“The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.” (Matt. 13:38, NKJV)

The First Century “world” of the Jewish Diaspora was viewed as a “field”, and the “sons of the Kingdom” (the NT saints) were mingled among the “sons of the wicked one” (the rebel, Old Covenant Jews).

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 13:41, NKJV)

“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 13:43, NKJV)

Here we have a reference to the FUTURE “kingdom of the Father (of the NT saints)”.

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt. 12:28, NKJV)

Again, Christ Jesus, and John the Baptist before Him, were the original representatives of the kingdom of God, and, of course, Christ was (and is) its Sovereign.

“And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." “ (Matt. 20:21 NKJV)

Christ Jesus was recognized as the ultimate Sovereign ruler in His future Kingdom.

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” (Matt. 21:43 NKJV)

Christ Jesus’ statement, here, foretold the transferal of the Kingdom of God/Heaven from the Old Covenant Nation to the New Covenant Nation of Spiritual Israel.

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matt. 23:13 NKJV)

The scribes and Pharisees had been entrusted with the responsibility of communicating the means of access to true, Covenantal relationship with God, but had instead chosen to abuse their power and authority over the People of God, misusing their status and positions for their own ends and gain.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14 NKJV)

Again – the First Century gospel that was authorized by Christ Jesus Himself and proclaimed by His disciples/apostles was the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM – NOT “the gospel of the Church”.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34 NKJV)

From the foundation of the Old Covenant “world”, the Kingdom of God and Heaven was being prepared for the New Covenant saints. This Kingdom has both a heavenly, spiritual manifestation AND an earthly, spiritual manifestation within the hearts and minds of its  citizens and adherents.

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."” (Matt. 26:29 NKJV)

The NT saints had the Marriage Supper of the Lamb to anticipate with their Saviour. The inauguration of the Kingdom would be via a celebratory feast in Heaven.

“And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."” (Mark 9:1 NKJV)

The coming Kingdom of God would be present WITH POWER (as opposed to the weakening, decaying Old Covenant kingdom of the physical Jews/Israelites in the First Century). Many of the First Century followers of Christ Jesus who heard Him make this pronouncement lived to personally witness the Advent of the eternal Kingdom of God/Heaven (70 AD). They witnessed this coming of the Kingdom in their fleshly, physical bodies in THIS realm.

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Mark 11:10 NKJV)

The Kingdom of God/Heaven was the eternal, ultimate manifestation and continuation of the royal line and house of David, with Jesus Christ as its ultimate Sovereign and Potentate.

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43 NKJV)

The NT saints eagerly anticipated the Advent of the Kingdom of God (NOT the Church) in THEIR lifetimes, and enjoyed its coming and the fulfillment of their expectations in 70 AD.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:33 NKJV)

Note that there is no mention made of any “Church” being the eternal manifestation of the Kingdom of God/Heaven. Rather, it is the KINGDOM ALONE that is eternal.

but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." (Luke 4:43 NKJV)

Christ Jesus’ express purpose for His First Advent as a physical man was to PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD – NOT to introduce an eternally institutionalized Church. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.   (Luke 9:2 NKJV) The emphasis remained consistently upon the KINGDOM OF GOD – NOT the establishment of a “Church”.

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13:28 NKJV)

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21 NKJV)

The Kingdom of God/Heaven was AND IS a SPIRITUAL Kingdom. It is INTERNAL
within its citizenship. It has NO external, institutional manifestation.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36 NKJV)

Not only was Christ’s Kingdom not of the JEWISH “world” (it had its source in God’s authority alone), but it was also not of the physical REALM. It is not established by physical violence and domination over populations (as the RCC was historically noted for attempting, in the Crusades).

to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 NKJV)

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6 NKJV)

Even in His post-resurrection ministry to His disciples and followers, Christ’s focus was His Kingdom and so was theirs.

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8 NKJV)

And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. (Acts 20:25 NKJV)

The preaching of the apostolic era was focused on the Kingdom of God/Heaven – NOT the Church.

So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. (Acts 28:23 NKJV)

preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 28:31 NKJV)

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (1Cor. 15:24 NKJV)

ALL RULE, AUTHORITY AND POWER were terminated at the establishment of the eternal Kingdom. Christ alone reigns supreme in His eternal Kingdom. All of His subjects are subject to HIM ALONE and are peers and equal to each other in position and authority (i.e. they have NO authority over one another).

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." (Rev. 12:10, NKJV)

The establishment of the Kingdom coincided with Satan’s defeat and damnation. The Church was the sustaining entity spiritually maintaining the existence of the foundational generation of the Kingdom. That is ALL it was.  The Kingdom itself was the goal and hope of the New Testament saints and their entrance into the New Covenant. The New Heavens and Earth introduced at the close of THEIR “era” formed the structure of the New Covenant Kingdom of God/Heaven.

We see in Rev. 4 that the “elders” (representing the human authority provided to the New Covenant saints in the pre-AD 70 era) cast their crowns down before the Lord, acknowledging His authority as both Supreme AND exclusive within the Kingdom.

"8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Rev. 4:8-11, NKJV)

There is NO room for human authority to share the authority of Christ Jesus our King and Sovereign within our New Covenant Kingdom. Those of us who have gained membership within the Kingdom via circumcision in heart and spiritual rebirth have NO accountability to human authorities of any kind. Anyone who believes otherwise must demonstrate this to be the case from the texts focusing on THE KINGDOM – NOT the Church.

Admittedly, this is by no means an exhaustive treatment of each text, but this article is intended to provide a broad, contextual overview of the subject. My next article will focus on the NT Church as contrasted with the Kingdom.

Serving the Truth,

John McPherson

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"This Kingdom has both a heavenly, spiritual manifestation AND an earthly, spiritual manifestation within the hearts and minds of its  citizens and adherents. ..later..  Note that there is no mention made of any “Church” being the eternal manifestation of the Kingdom of God/Heaven. Rather, it is the KINGDOM ALONE that is eternal."

Date:

30 Oct 2003

Time:

14:26:02

Comments

NO accountability to human authorities of any kind" ??? You mean I don't have to obey the local speed laws?

Date:

31 Oct 2003

Time:

08:18:34

Comments

The author speaks of having been born again, i. e., spiritually regenerated. But spiritual regeneration - a second birth - is a miracle. Don't preterists believe that miracles ceased in AD 70?

Date:

31 Oct 2003

Time:

09:11:18

Comments

Conjecture, conjecture, conjecture... What sums up this article is a false presupposition (and not exegesis, let alone a plain reading of the scriptures), that there exists in the NT this idea that the Kingdom of God/Heaven and the "church" are somehow set off in opposition to one another. As if one is the antithesis of the other. Nothing could be further from the truth. (1) In Mtt. 18:16, Jesus said that he would "build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it." The Greek for "build" is OIKODOMESO. It is in the Future, Active, Indicative form. The future tense of the verb (and the context of the statement) allows for no assumed stopping or ceasing of this "building" that Christ would do. The indicative mood makes it a statement of fact. (2)1 Tim. 3:15 states that the "church is the pillar and support of the truth." No church- no more truth. It's as simple as that. What? So the church was only the pillar and ground of the truth pre-AD 70 but not after? Please.... (3) Eph. 1 :22-23 (and Col. 1:18) says that Christ is the head over all things to the church, which is his body! No church- no headship of Christ over his body, unless of course you no longer believe in the perpetuity of the Body of Christ. Or that said "Body" is only limited to the Pre-AD 70 believers! This of course means that we today are not a part of Christ's body. Willing to wrap your thoughts around that? (4) Eph. 3:21 teaches that the church is a trans-generational body through which God receives glory as generations continue to be born and born-again in this world. No church- no more glory to God through future earthly generations. (5) Eph. 5:23 points out that Christ is the head of the church, the Savior of the body. If there is no church in earth since Ad 70, then he is simply not a Savior to anyone who has placed faith in him since the first century. No church- no Savior. (6) Eph. 5:25 states that Christ gave himself to save the church. According to this author's thesis, that would mean that Christ only saves those in the Pre-AD 70 church but no one since then. See how the saving work of Christ is case specific to only those who are in His church? Again, no church- no salvation, for Christ saves only his church. (7) The kingdom of God is demonstrated in his continuous and abiding church. The church/ Body of Christ is the living organism of the person of Christ in the earth and in Heaven (kingdom). The kingdom is the abiding principle of the organized spiritual government and the two are not mutally exclusive. No organization in a local assembly of believers results in confusion which scripture says God is not the author of. (1 Cor. 14:33) (8) Neither this author nor anyone else can substantiate from the scripture that there would come a time in the future where the offices that are specified within the NT would be done away with or abrogated. All this author has to do is show us one scripture that says they would. That would settle the matter. But this is why the author must go through a great deal of convuluted proof texting to try to substantiate his points.(The cults do that) If what he is teaching here was true, then it would be clearly stated in scripture, but it is not. Nor is there any kind of a time limit placed upon the performance of said offices within the church. The author of this article as well as those who would follow the suggestions therein are in a position of reading their paradigm into the texts of scripture and are simply rebelling against the authority of Christ himself. All they have to do is show scripture that teaches that the offices in the church would someday cease on the earth. But clearly this cannot be done. Dr. Kelly Nelson Birks birks10@hotmail.com

Date:

31 Oct 2003

Time:

18:56:57

Comments

Dr. Birks says (above) that "Christ saves only his church." One wonders then how he deals with the fact that those from the nations set on Christ's right hand (Mt. 25:31-40) seemed to have no idea that they were in the church and seemed surprised to learn that they were judged worthy to "inherit the kingdom" and "life eternal" (Mt. 25:34, 46) because of their WORKS. See also Ro. 2:14-16 and Rev. 20:12,13.

Date:

01 Nov 2003

Time:

09:45:08

Comments

First, please sign your name if you're going to disagree with me. (Thanks) Next, read Mtt. 25:31-46 a little more carefully as to "who" it is that is at Christ's right hand...V. 34- "Come ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Only Christ's church whom Paul said he died for on the cross (Eph. 5:25) inherits the kingdom. Notice that it is the CHURCH at Colossae whom Paul writes to saying: "Giving thanks unto the Father which has made us ready to be partakers of the INHERITANCE of the saints in light. Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the KINGDOM of his dear son." Col. 1:12-13. See also Eph. 1:11, 14, 18. Unless of course you don't believe that the saints at Colossae, Ephesus, etc, were a part of Christ's church. The identity of those at the right hand of Christ (The Sheep) in Mtt. 25 is the church. They too are said to "inherit the kingdom." Only the church has this inheritance. You cannot separate any "saved" individuals from Christ's church. If they are saved, then they are in the church. The church is made up of all elect/ saved individuals prior to the first century and thereafter. Acts 7:38- All beliving Israelites were called the "church" under the Old Covenant. Only the "church" has been purchased with Christ's own blood..."Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the CHURCH OF GOD, which he has purchased with his own blood." Acts. 20:28. Only the "church" has the members thererof written in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23) unless of course, you believe that your name is not written in heaven, in which case, you have just placed yourself out of the church, which in turn places you out of heaven/salvation. Dr. Birks

Date:

01 Nov 2003

Time:

09:46:23

Comments

First, please sign your name if you're going to disagree with me. (Thanks) Next, read Mtt. 25:31-46 a little more carefully as to "who" it is that is at Christ's right hand...V. 34- "Come ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Only Christ's church whom Paul said he died for on the cross (Eph. 5:25) inherits the kingdom. Notice that it is the CHURCH at Colossae whom Paul writes to saying: "Giving thanks unto the Father which has made us ready to be partakers of the INHERITANCE of the saints in light. Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the KINGDOM of his dear son." Col. 1:12-13. See also Eph. 1:11, 14, 18. Unless of course you don't believe that the saints at Colossae, Ephesus, etc, were a part of Christ's church. The identity of those at the right hand of Christ (The Sheep) in Mtt. 25 is the church. They too are said to "inherit the kingdom." Only the church has this inheritance. You cannot separate any "saved" individuals from Christ's church. If they are saved, then they are in the church. The church is made up of all elect/ saved individuals prior to the first century and thereafter. Acts 7:38- All beliving Israelites were called the "church" under the Old Covenant. Only the "church" has been purchased with Christ's own blood..."Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the CHURCH OF GOD, which he has purchased with his own blood." Acts. 20:28. Only the "church" has the members thererof written in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23) unless of course, you believe that your name is not written in heaven, in which case, you have just placed yourself out of the church, which in turn places you out of heaven/salvation. Dr. Birks

Date:

01 Nov 2003

Time:

11:02:09

Comments

Those in the church were/are saved through faith in Christ by having the gospel preached to them at some point in their lives. In the centuries BC the religious leaders of Israel gave Gentiles no incentive to "flow into" Israel (Is. 2:2) and therefore those Gentiles did not have the law of Moses to guide them. But Paul said (Ro. 2:13-15) that "not the HEARERS of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the law shall be justified." Thus, when those generations of Gentiles, who never heard the law of Moses, "did by nature the things contained in the law" - when they thus became DOERS of the law - they "showed the works of the law written in their hearts" and were among the justified - i. e., among the sheep on Christ's right hand (Mt. 25:33,34). But they were NOT in the church during their lifetimes - they never heard the gospel - they were never able to look forward through faith, as the OT Israelites could, to the coming of the One who would provide righteousness for them. That's why they expressed surprise when they were told that they had inherited the kingdom and life eternal. Preterists don't understand these facts because they have always failed to recognize the significance of God's covenantal relationship with the world (Adam and Noah) that preceded and was separate from his subsequent covenantal relationship with Israel.

Date:

04 Nov 2003

Time:

12:46:13

Comments

Dr. Birks apparently has declined further comment. But here is what Dr. Birks and other preterists believe: At Christ's first advent he saw his countrymen suffering under a terrible spiritual yoke of bondage (the law of Moses) but he figured they could easily put up with another 40 years of that bondage. The law was weak and unprofitable and made nothing perfect (Heb. 7:18,19) but if the satanic religious leaders of Jerusalem (Jn.8:44) insisted on continuing to enforce that spiritual bondage on the people of Israel there was nothing the Son of God could do about it and the people would just have to wait until Titus, the son of the Roman emperor, finally put a stop to it.

Date:

05 Nov 2003

Time:

07:46:32

Comments

And here's the preterist view of the efficacy of Moses' liberation mission compared with that of Christ's. Through the natural fulfillment of the first three feasts of Lev. 23 - the slaying of the natural lambs, the hasty departure from Egypt, and the safe emergence from the Red Sea - Moses SUCCEEDED in freeing the OT Israelites from the terrible natural bondage of Pharaoh's natural taskmasters. But, in preterists' minds, the first century spiritual fulfillment of the first three feasts - the slaying of Christ, the true Lamb of God, his hasty burial and his safe emergence from the tomb - FAILED to free the first-century Israelites from the terrible spiritual bondage of Satan's spiritual taskmasters (since the temple built by Herod remained standing at that time). The question then is, do preterists believe that Titus, rather than Christ, redeemed Israel (since Titus destroyed the temple)?

Date:

04 Jan 2005

Time:

08:49:50

Comments

When are you going to present your second article. I am looking forward to it very much. Was the church temporary? Pete Dingeman

Date: 02 Feb 2007
Time: 18:19:27

Comments:

My first thought is that you need to get a King James 1611 bible and get rid of the alternative translation.
Secondly, would it not be wise to consider that the words God and Heaven are not the same word and should not be treated as the if they were one and the same. If God wrote the bible and decided to use two different words, don't you suppose it's for a good reason. To conclude that because one refers to a spiritual kingdom that the other also refers to a spiritual kingdom is like driving up to a red light and thinking you should keep going because after all a green light means keep going.
Mark Evans