OTHER NAMES FOR THE KINGDOM - PART # 3
# 1 > Although most often called the "Kingdom of God," other terms are sometimes used in describing the Kingdom. Three of the writers of the Gospels__Mark, Luke and John__use the term "Kingdom of God" to refer to it by name. "Kingdom of heaven" is a term used exclusively by Matthew, with 32 references in his account of Jesus Christ. However, he uses the terms "Kingdom of God" and "kingdom of heaven" interchangeably. In Matthew 19:23__24, he uses the terms in consecutive verses, clearly implying that they were synonymous. Often he calls it simply "the Kingdom."
# 2 > Why did Matthew call it "the kingdom of heaven"? Not because heaven is where God is, as Jesus Christ made plain ( MATTHEW 5:34, 45, 48 ). Mathew makes it clear that the Kingdom was not, at that time, an earthly monarchy like the kingdoms around them. However, he understood that it would eventually come as a literal kingdom on earth, for which Christ's followers are to pray ( MATTHEW 6:10 ). The apostle Paul usually refers to it as "the kingdom of God." However, acknowledge the role of Jesus Christ as the Ruler of the Kingdom, he also calls it "the kingdom of Christ and God" ( EPHESIANS 5:5 ).
# 3 > He also expresses the deep, loving relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ by calling it "the kingdom of the Son of His love" ( COLOSSIANS 1:13 ). The apostle Peter, also acknowledging the centrality of Christ's role in the Kingdom, refers to it as "the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( 2 PETER 1:11 ). Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master now, and He will reign supreme in the coming Kingdom ( REVELATION 17:14; 19:16 ). As Savior of mankind, He is "the door" and "the way" by which we have access to God the Father and salvation in God's kingdom ( JOHN 10:9; 14:6 ).
# 1 > WHAT MESSAGE DID CHRIST'S FOLLOWERS PEACH?
Jesus Christ was not the only one to proclaim this message. Before Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist commanded people to repent, announcing that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" ( MATTHEW 3:2 ). As we have seen, Jesus ministry centered on the Kingdom. In keeping with Christ's direction, His disciples continued to proclaim the Kingdom after His crucifixion. The importance of Jesus Christ's life, sacrifice and resurrection was a vital part of the message taught by the apostles. The apostle Peter made this clear in his first public preaching on the very day the church began with the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit ( ACTS 2:22__24, 36 ).
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