Kingdom of Heaven

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This article refers to the concept in Judaism and Christianity. For the 2005 film, see Kingdom of Heaven (film).

The Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God, Hebrew ????? ?????, malkhut hashamayim, Greek ???????? ??? ???? basileia tou theou) is a key concept in both Judaism and Christianity. It refers to the reign or sovereignty of God over all things, as opposed to the reign of earthly powers.

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The Kingdom in Jewish thought

The Kingdom of God is referred to frequently in the Tanakh (see 1 Chronicles 29:10-12 and Daniel 4:3 for example). It is tied to Jewish understanding that God will intervene to restore the nation of Israel, and return to rule over them. The Kingdom of God was expressly promised to the patriarch and prophet, King David, because he was a man "after God's own heart"; and God made the Davidic Covenant with King David, promising him that he would "never lack a man to sit upon His throne, forever". This has been interpreted by believing Jews and Christians to mean that "King David's descendants, or his Descendant, the Jewish Messiah of Israel, would sit upon the Throne of David and rule for eternity".

The Kingdom in Christian thought

The idea of God's Kingdom is found predominately in the New Testament, specifically the Synoptic Gospels.

The Kingdom of God is a term used interchangeably with Kingdom of Heaven in the Synoptic Gospels. Matthew usually uses the term "Kingdom of Heaven", while Luke and John Mark use "Kingdom of God". The standard explanation for this is that Matthew's Gospel was addressed to a Jewish audience who would avoid the direct use of the name of God. Mark and Luke addressed their gospels to a more general audience who would be unfamiliar with the term "Kingdom of Heaven".

Some premillennialist interpreters believe that "Kingdom of Heaven" refers to the millennial kingdom of God, while "Kingdom of God" refers to His universal reign. However, most interpreters, including many premillennialists, believe that there is no basis for such a distinction.

Historian H. G. Wells wrote: �This doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, and which plays so small a part in the Christian creeds, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought.�

Jesus Seminar scholars have translated the phrase "Kingdom of God" as "God's imperial rule", or sometimes "God's domain", to better grasp its sense in today's language.

The Christian understanding of the Kingdom of God encompasses several ideas.

Present aspect

The Gospels describe Jesus as proclaiming the Kingdom as something that was "at hand", and about to break out at present, and not merely a future reality (see Mark 1:15). The reported activity of Jesus in healing diseases, driving out demons, teaching a new ethic for living, and offering a new hope in God to the poor, is understood to be a demonstration of that Kingdom in action. Having the Messiah, the King of the Jews, with them, is of course one aspect of the Kingdom: the King had come to represent His Kingdom. By His sinless life, and through His miracles, He also demonstrated to the Jewish people what the Kingdom of Heaven would be like.

Jesus treated the subject with great importance, so that in the Lord's Prayer, he said it should be the second most important subject in prayer (Matthew 6:9-10). The Kingdom of God is referred to 36 times in the book of Matthew alone. Jesus maintained the importance of seeking The Kingdom throughout his ministry (Matthew 6:33; Mark 9:43-47).

The Kingdom of God also refers to the changed state of heart or mind (metanoia) within Christians (see Luke 17:20-21), emphasizing the spiritual nature of His Kingdom by saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you."

Jesus's use of "Kingdom of God" language can be contrasted with that of the first century CE Jewish revolutionaries who believed that the Kingdom was a political reality, that would come about by the violent overthrow of Roman rule and its replacement by a Jewish theocracy.

In Roman Catholic theology, the Kingdom of God can also refer to the Church. Protestants, however, believe that the Church is the instrument by which the Kingdom is manifested, but is not synonymous with the Kingdom itself.

Some modern fundamentalist religious denominations view the concept of the Kingdom of God as the heart of believers, where the commandments of God are proclaimed, heard and observed.

Future aspect

The present fulfillment of the Kingdom was treated by Jesus as a provisional foretaste of a greater, future reality.

The future aspect of the Kingdom is the belief of a future, post-apocalyptic implementation of God's theocratic rule, especially in a premillennialist interpretation of the prophetic genre of scriptural texts.

The tension between the present and future aspects of the Kingdom has been referred to as "the now and the not yet" of God's Kingdom. Traditionally, Catholicism, Liberal Christian and Pentecostal denominations have tended to emphasize its present aspect, while conservative Fundamentalists and evangelicals have emphasized its future aspect.

Occasionally, some groups, such as Sabbatarians or Adventists reject the idea of a present Kingdom of Heaven as interpreted by other groups, instead preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven existing only in heaven, but will later be extended over the Earth after the Second Coming of Jesus.

See also

External links

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References

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