KINGDOM? MILENNIUM?

- The THREE Kingdoms

Distinguishing the KINGDOMS in the Scriptures

Introduction:

KINGDOM OF GOD = KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
This simply means that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are used interchangeably in the
Holy Scriptures. Notice the following passages.

Matthew 4:12, 17
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; From
that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the KI NGDOM OF HEAVEN is at
hand.

Mark 1:14
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the
kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the KI NGDOM OF GOD is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Matthew 19:23-24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into
the KI NGDOM OF HEAVEN. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the KI NGDOM OF GOD.

1. FIRST KINGDOM Regenerate Elect

Luke 17:20-21
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he
answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they
say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is WI THI N YOU.

Col 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of
his dear Son:

The Pharisees were expecting that when the Messiah came, He would establish a political
kingdom in which the Jews would overthrow all their enemies. Jesus is explaining that the
kingdom God would establish at His coming would be one you could not see physically, but
rather would be located in the hearts of His children. These are spiritual things only a child of
God could understand.

2. SECOND KINGDOM The Lords Church (also known as the visible church)

. The church consists of Gods born again children who, through their obedience to gospel
commands, are disciples of Christ.

Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the KINGDOM.

Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the KINGDOM OF GOD is
preached, and every man presseth into it.

Matthew 3:1-2
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent
ye: for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand.

Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force.

3. THIRD KINGDOM Heavenly Eternal and Spiritual Kingdom

John 18:36
Jesus answered, My KINGDOM is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then
would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:
but now is my kingdom not from hence.

I Corinthians 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD; neither
doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

SUMMARY:

These efforts aim to avoid confusions in understanding the kingdom of God or kingdom of
heaven as taught in the Bible and see the clear distinction.

Once the distinction has been established, since the kingdom of God talks about either the
regenerate elect, the visible church, or the heavenly eternal kingdom, it makes sense why we can
conclude that Jesus Christ now reigns in his kingdom and that a thousand years or millennium
only symbolizes a large infinite number.

I hope this helps.

(Derived from Tom Haglers Unlocking Bible Truth)