Kingdom of Heaven: Difference between revisions

[[file:Aaron Burden 2016-04-22 (Unsplash).jpg|thumb|The kingdom of heaven testified in the Bible is a beautiful world where angels live, and it is our spiritual home.]]

The '''kingdom of heaven''' is a spiritual realm where the heavenly hosts, angels, and the sons of God dwell with [[God]]. It is the true [[The Spiritual Home and Heavenly Mother|home of soul]]<nowiki/>s, where all humans once lived before coming to earth in the flesh, and a glorious place where the redeemed will reign with God forever and ever.

In the original Greek, the term for the kingdom of heaven is βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (basileia ton uranon), which translates to “kingdom of heaven’ or the “kingdom in heaven.” [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]], who is God in nature, came to make this kingdom of heaven known through the [[gospel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A17&version=NIV |title=Matthew 4:17 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The term “kingdom of heaven” is mentioned 32 times in the [[Gospel of Matthew|book of Matthew]] and one time in the [[book of 2 Timothy]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A18&version=NIV |title=2 Timothy 4:18 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> in the NIV 1984 version. It is also mentioned in various other ways throughout the rest of the Scripture, such as “heaven,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1%3A8&version=NIV |title=Galatians 1:8 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A20&version=NIV |title=Philippians 3:20 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “heavenly realms,” “kingdom of God,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A14&version=NIV |title=Mark 10:14 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A1&version=NIV |title=Luke 8:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “kingdom of Father,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A43&version=NIV |title=Matthew 13:43 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “Father’s house,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A2&version=NIV |title=John 14:2 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “Paradise,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A43&version=NIV |title=Luke 23:43 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+2%3A7&version=NIV |title=Revelation 2:7 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “kingdom of the Son he loves,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A13&version=NIV |title=Colossians 1:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “eternal kingdom”,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1%3A11&version=NIV |title=2 Peter 1:11 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “kingdom of our Lord,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20%3A21&version=NIV |title=Matthew 20:21 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “Abraham’s side,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A22&version=NIV |title=Luke 16:22 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “heavenly Jerusalem,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A22&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 12:22 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “a new heaven and a new earth,”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A13&version=NIV |title=2 Peter 3:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A1&version=NIV |title=Revelation 21:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> “[https://ahnsahnghong.com/en/teaching/visitors-from-the-angelic-world/ angelic world],” “heavenly Canaan,” etc. Despite these varied expressions, they all point to the same kingdom of heaven. Even those unfamiliar with God are also often aware of the concept of heaven. People frequently use the term to convey their highest sense of joy or peace, as in expressions like “This is the kingdom of heaven on earth” or “It feels like we are in heaven.”

The Bible teaches that body and [[soul]] are united to form a living being.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A7&version=NIV |title=Genesis 2:7 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> While the body comes into existence through physical birth, the soul existed prior to earthly life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+8%3A22-23&version=NIV |title=Proverbs 8:22–23 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+38%3A4-21&version=NIV |title=Job 38:4–21 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The forefathers of faith in the Bible described their physical lives on earth as those of aliens and strangers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+47%3A8-9&version=NIV |title=Genesis 47:8–9 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ko.wikisource.org/wiki/개역한글판/Psalms#119편 |title=Psalms 119:54 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A13&version=NIV |title=Hebrews 11:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> If our souls are strangers in this world, it means that our true home lies elsewhere.  

Jesus came to this earth in the flesh, just like ordinary people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9%3A6&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 9:6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A31-33&version=NIV |title=Luke 1:31–33 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A55&version=NIV |title=Matthew 13:55 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> After dying on the [[cross]], His soul was separated from His body,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A46&version=NIV |title=Luke 23:46 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> but He was resurrected in divine form.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A5-6&version=NIV |title=Matthew 28:5–6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The life of Jesus—both before and after His time on earth—reveals humanity’s existence both before and after earthly life. [[Resurrection of Jesus|His resurrection]] assures us that, even though we die physically, we, too, can live again.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+24%3A15&version=NIV |title=Acts 24:15 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A3&version=NIV |title=1 Peter 1:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

The way to the kingdom of heaven is revealed in the Bible. God’s promise is eternal life,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202%3A25&version=NIV |title=1 John 2:25 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> and the ultimate goal of our faith is the salvation of our souls.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A9&version=NIV |title=1 Peter 1:9 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Both eternal life and the salvation of our souls refer to entering the kingdom of heaven. To guide us to this end, God gave the Bible to humanity. It is no exaggeration to say that the entire Bible—containing God’s words and the works of Jesus—serves as a signpost pointing to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, who grants us salvation, taught the conditions for entering heaven as follows.

The greatest condition to enter the kingdom of heaven is ''to'' do the “will of Father.” Since verse 23 says, “Away from me, you evildoers [you who practice lawlessness, NASB],” it is clear that God’s will is to keep '''[[Commandments of God|His law]]'''.  

{{quote5 |내용= “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the '''kingdom of God''' has come to you.” |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2011%3A20&version=NIV Luke 11:20]}}{{quote5 |내용= [God] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the '''heavenly realms''' in Christ Jesus. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202%3A5%E2%80%936&version=NIV Ephesians 2:5–6]}}{{quote5 |내용= But you have come to Mount Zion, to the '''heavenly Jerusalem''', the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012%3A22%E2%80%9323&version=NIV Hebrews 12:22–23]}}

The “kingdom of the Son He loves,” which saints in the flesh have already entered, is God’s kingdom established on this earth when He came as our Savior—namely, the “kingdom of grace.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A5-6&version=NIV |title=Ephesians 2:5–6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Even in this world, any realm where God reigns over and bestows grace is the kingdom of grace.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A9&version=NIV |title=1 Peter 2:9 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+1%3A6&version=NIV |title=Revelation 1:6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+5%3A10&version=NIV |title=Revelation 5:10 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The Bible says that God chose [[Zion]] as His dwelling place,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+132%3A13-14&version=NIV |title=Psalms 132:13–14 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> and He is with us in [[Zion and Feasts|Zion, the city of our feasts]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+33%3A20-21&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 33:20–21 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> granting the blessings of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+33%3A24&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 33:24 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+133%3A3&version=NIV |title=Psalms 133:3 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Therefore, the kingdom of grace, where God rules according to His laws, is '''Zion'''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+4%3A5-6&version=NIV |title=Jeremiah 4:5–6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+50%3A4-5&version=NIV |title=Jeremiah 50:4–5 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+4%3A1-2&version=NIV |title=Micah 4:1–2 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+14%3A1&version=NIV |title=Revelation 14:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The kingdom of grace is the place where, through the grace of Jesus, we prepare on earth to enter the kingdom of heaven.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+3%3A16-17&version=NIV |title=1 Corinthians 3:16–17 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Those who dwell in Zion, the kingdom of grace, will ultimately enter the eternal kingdom of heaven.

:Some people insist that the saints will be divided into those who will enter the “kingdom of heaven” and those who will live in an earthly “paradise,” each living forever. They suggest that the term “kingdom of God” refers to both the kingdom of heaven and the earthly paradise. However, the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are, in fact, the same. The term “kingdom of heaven” literally refers to a kingdom in heaven, emphasizing its location, while the “kingdom of God” refers to a kingdom ruled by God, emphasizing its ruler. We can easily confirm this by comparing parallel accounts in the [[Gospel of Matthew|Gospels of Matthew]] and [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] in the same situation.

::*Matthew 19:23–24 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'''.”