Post by Zac Loh on Feb 19, 2011 22:14:36 GMT -5
The Kingdom of Heaven is God's Kingdom i.e. the Kingdom of God. So they both mean the same thing. Except that, the emphasis is different.
The Kingdom of Heaven's emphasis is that it is NOT the kingdom of this world (the spiritual kingdom of darkness which Satan rules) NOR it is the natural earthly kingdoms of men (such as the Roman Empire or earthly governments today).
The Kingdom of Heaven has the quality of heaven i.e. the fruit of the Spirit and the power of heaven i.e. the gifts of the Spirit.
The Kingdom of Heaven is permanent. We are spiritually born-again making us the citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, the kingdom is within us. We have the permanent seal of the Holy Spirit within, so we have the seal of the King of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The presence of the Holy Spirit dwells all over in Heaven and the glory of God shines throughout Heaven. So we deserve the manifestation of Heaven on earth because we are citizens of Heaven even though we are still pilgrims on earth. And so we seek the presence of the Holy Spirit and the glory of God in our lives. We want to manifest the fullness of heaven on earth so that unbelievers will experience the Kingdom of Heaven and believe.
Most of all, the characteristic of the kingdom takes after the King. When one sees the kingdom, one sees the King, because the kingdom is the extension of the King, the kingdom reflects and exhibits the King. May we reflect and exhibit the King.
The Kingdom of Heaven's emphasis is that it is NOT the kingdom of this world (the spiritual kingdom of darkness which Satan rules) NOR it is the natural earthly kingdoms of men (such as the Roman Empire or earthly governments today).
The Kingdom of Heaven has the quality of heaven i.e. the fruit of the Spirit and the power of heaven i.e. the gifts of the Spirit.
The Kingdom of Heaven is permanent. We are spiritually born-again making us the citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, the kingdom is within us. We have the permanent seal of the Holy Spirit within, so we have the seal of the King of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The presence of the Holy Spirit dwells all over in Heaven and the glory of God shines throughout Heaven. So we deserve the manifestation of Heaven on earth because we are citizens of Heaven even though we are still pilgrims on earth. And so we seek the presence of the Holy Spirit and the glory of God in our lives. We want to manifest the fullness of heaven on earth so that unbelievers will experience the Kingdom of Heaven and believe.
Most of all, the characteristic of the kingdom takes after the King. When one sees the kingdom, one sees the King, because the kingdom is the extension of the King, the kingdom reflects and exhibits the King. May we reflect and exhibit the King.