RD 101 - Kingdom of Heaven

By Jack Eberle

For a subject this important and grand, we can only expect our toe in the door. But patiently, we will try to get us off to a good start. We are not concerned with men’s opinions or philosophies here – only with The Word. The Scriptures’ word in the Greek is BASILEIA which basically indicates “sovereignty”. In old English suffix “dom” denotes “power”, “rule”, “judgment”. In short, “kingdom” then is “rule of the king”. “That they shall be with beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, til thou know that The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.  And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule” (Dan. 4:25-26). As you can see, “God is sovereign! This is the message to Nebuchadnezzar. Note Dan. 2:44. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand to the ages.” Read Dan. 7:13-14. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days…and there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom which shall not be destroyed.” In verse 27, we see that this kingdom”…shall be given to the saints of the Most High…” In Rev. 11:15, we read, “…the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord…” The simple truth shown here is that God’s kingdom will prevail. This kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven. Only the book of Matthew contains the words, “Kingdom of Heaven”. The other gospels use the term “Kingdom of God”. However, it is not always synonymous with The Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes it has a broader application than God’s earthly kingdom. Check Romans 14:17 for example. The Kingdom of Heaven set up on this earth is found in Rev. 20. Psalm 2 refers to this period and the revolt of the world against Christ’s rule. The messages of the “Gospels” often have to do with the good news of “the kingdom” and Christ reigning on this earth. The Scriptures have much to say about this, especially the prophets. You might say that Christ and His kingdom is the soul of the prophetic message.