Kingdom of Heaven: Difference between revisions

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.”

: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.