Kingdom of Heaven
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
An expression used in the New Testament to signify the reign, dispensation, or administration of Jesus Christ. The ancient prophets, when describing the character of the Messiah, Dan 2:44 7:13,14 Mic 4:1-7, and even when speaking of his humiliation and sufferings, were wont to intersperse hint of his power, his reign, and his divinity. The Jews, overlooking the spiritual import of this language, expected the Messiah to appear as a temporal king, exercising power over his enemies, restoring the throne of David to all its splendor, subduing the nations, and rewarding his friends and faithful servants in proportion to their fidelity and services. Hence the contests among his disciples, ere they had fully learned Christ, about precedency in his kingdom; and hence probably the sons of Zebedee desired the two chief places in it, or those nearest to their endeared Master and Lord. They afterwards learned that his kingdom was not of this world, Joh 18:36-37 ; that its origin, spirit, means, and ends were spiritual and heavenly. It has indeed its outward form, the visible church, Mat 13:47, and bestows on the world the richest of temporal blessings; but its true dominion is in the souls of men. It embraces all who by the Spirit of Christ are united to him as their divine Head and King, to love, serve, and enjoy him for ever. His work on earth was to establish it, Mat 3:2 . He introduced his disciples into it while on earth, and more fully after his resurrection and ascension, Joh 20:22 Mal 2:32-36 ; is “head over all things,” in order to make it triumphant and supreme even on earth, Dan 7:27 Zep 1:20-22 . It will be perfected in heaven, Mat 8:11, and will never cease, Luk 1:33, even when the mediatorial reign of the Savior is accomplished, 1Co 15:28 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Kingdom of Heaven
Not only a place or goal to be attained, but an influence under which our minds come when we are one with Christ and acting under His ideals; the sway of Grace, in our hearts; the rule of God in the world, Thy kingdom come; the place where God reigns; the goal at which we have to aim; the Church, which exercises this influence, administers the sacraments as a means of this grace, upholds even in persecution the laws of God, tabernacles the Body and Blood of His Divine. Soul, and keeps its members on the way of their pilgrimage to the heavenly country or kingdom. Inasmuch as the Church Militant on earth and the Church Suffering in Purgatory are of their very nature temporal, the complete and ultimate concept of the Kingdom of God finds its perfect realization in the attainment of the Spirit of Christ by the members of the Church Triumphant in Heaven. This consists in the complete union of minds and wills, with the Trinity, which God as Eternal King gives to the blessed in Heaven.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Kingdom of Heaven
(Greek “the heavens”) of God. The former is Matthew’s phrase, the latter Mark’s phrase and Luke’s phrase. Derived from Dan 2:44; Dan 4:26; Dan 7:13-14; Dan 7:27. Messiah’s kingdom, as a whole, both in its present spiritual invisible phase, the gospel dispensation of greet, and also in its future manifestation on earth in glory, when finally heaven and earth shall be joined (Joh 1:51; Revelation 21-22). Our Lord’s parables designate several aspects and phases of it by the one common phrase, “the kingdom of the heavens,” or “of God, is like,” etc.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Kingdom of Heaven
Likened to:
– A man who sowed good seed
Mat 13:24-30; Mat 13:38-43; Mar 4:26-29
– A grain of mustard seed
Mat 13:31-32; Mar 4:30-31; Luk 13:18-19
– Leaven
Mat 13:33; Luk 13:21
– A treasure
Mat 13:44
– A pearl
Mat 13:45
– A net
Mat 13:47-50
– A king who called his servants to a reckoning
Mat 18:23-35
– A householder
Mat 20:1-16
– A king who made a marriage feast for his son
Mat 22:2-14; Luk 14:16-24
– Ten virgins
Mat 25:1-13
– A man traveling into a far country, who called his servants, and delivered to them his goods
Mat 25:14-30; Luk 19:12-27
»My kingdom is not of this world«
Joh 18:36
Children of
Mat 18:3; Mat 19:14; Mar 10:14; Luk 18:16
Rich cannot enter
Mat 19:23-24; Mar 10:23-25; Luk 18:24-25; Luk 18:29-30
Keys of
Mat 16:19
Glad tidings of
Luk 8:1
Mysteries of
Luk 8:10
Is not meat and drink
Rom 14:17 Church (1); Jesus, The Christ, Kingdom of
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of God, of Christ, of Heaven. These terms describe: 1, a life of righteous allegiance to Christ, entered by faith, lived by love, and crowned with glory, Mat 6:33, etc.; 2, the condition of things Christ came to explain, Luk 1:33; Act 1:3, and to bring on earth, Mat 4:17; Mat 3:1-17, Christ’s rule over Israel, Mat 21:13; Mat 4:1-25, the rule that God offered or committed to Israel, Mat 21:43; 1Ch 17:14; 1Ch 5:1-26, the state of things in the history of the church during the conflict on earth of the so-called kingdom of grace, preparatory to the kingdom of glory, Mat 13:1-58; Mat 6:1-34, Christ’s rule in spiritual and eternal righteousness over the redeemed earth, Rev 12:10, in contrast with the world-powers, Dan 7:18; then the kingdom will destroy and take the place of the four monarchies, Dan 7:1-28, and have its glorious manifestation; 7, the visible glory of Christ, Mat 16:28; Mat 8:1-34, the rule of God the Father over earth and heaven, Mat 6:10; Mat 9:1-38, the heavenly state. Mat 8:11. The kingdom of God is perfectly established in the heavens. Mat 6:10. The power and glory of the divine kingdom are shown in a measure in creation and providence. From the moral kingdom the earth has revolted. God reestablished it in Israel, taking the kingship himself. Exo 19:6; Hos 13:10. He made the kingship visible in David, 1Sa 16:1-23, and permanent in bis family. Psa 89:20; Psa 89:28; Psa 89:36. The kingdom ceased as a visible power, with the loss of its inner spirit, when the nation lapsed and persisted in idolatry. The prophets foretold its restoration, Dan 12:7-13; Psa 2:1-12; Isa 2:1-22; Mic 4:1-13; Jer 23:5; Eze 34:23; John the Baptist came to announce it. Mat 3:2. Jesus Christ preached it, Mat 4:17; explained its character and demands, as, for instance, that its citizens must be holy, meek, Christlike, etc., that when established it will be a condition of peace, purity, and glory, Mat 25:34; Mar 9:47; Act 14:22; Christ came as the King to Jerusalem. Luk 19:38; comp. Luk 1:32, but was rejected, and took the kingdom from Israel. Mat 21:43. He taught its mysteries to the disciples, especially after his resurrection, Act 1:3; and sent them forth to preach it. He declared that the time of its manifestation was known only to the Father. Act 1:7. He laid the foundations of it on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and rules it from his throne in heaven. The disciples went everywhere preaching the word of grace, 1Th 2:12, and persuading men to enter the kingdom by faith and holiness. Act 8:12; Act 20:25; Act 28:23. The kingdom is to be fully manifested at the coming of Christ, the Son of man. 2Ti 4:1; Dan 7:13; Mat 13:43; Luk 22:29. At “the end” Christ is to deliver up to the Father the mediatorial kingdom that he received at his ascension, Eph 1:20, after having reigned and put down all rule, authority, and power, and all enemies under his feet, 1Co 15:24; and the kingdom of God, without distinction of persons, shall be complete and forever. Heb 1:8. The members of the “invisible church” are citizens of the kingdom of heaven.