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4:11, that is, it does not come within the range of the natural powers of observation, Luke
17:20, but is spiritually discerned, John 3:3 (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14). When, hereafter, God
asserts His rule universally, then the “kingdom” will be in glory, that is, it will be
manifest to all; cf. Matt. 25:31-34; Phil. 2:9-11; 2 Tim. 4:1, 18.
“Thus, speaking generally, references to the Kingdom fall into two classes, the first,
in which it is viewed as present and involving suffering for those who enter it, 2 Thess.
1:5; the second, in which it is viewed as future and is associated with reward, Matt.
25:34, and glory, 13:43. See also Acts 14:22.
“The fundamental principle of the Kingdom is declared in the words of the Lord
spoken in the midst of a company of Pharisees, “the Kingdom of God is in the midst of
you,” Luke 17:21, marg., that is, where the King is, there is the Kingdom. Thus at the
present time and so far as this earth is concerned, where the King is and where His rule is
acknowledged, is, first, in the heart of the individual believer, Acts 4:19; Eph. 3:17; 1 Pet.
3:15; and then in the churches of God, 1 Cor. 12:3, 5, 11; 14:37; cf. Col. 1:27, where for
“in” read “among.”
“Now, the King and His rule being refused, those who enter the Kingdom of God are
brought into conflict with all who disown its allegiance, as well as with the desire for
ease, and the dislike of suffering and unpopularity, natural to all. On the other hand,
subjects of the Kingdom are the objects of the care of God, Matt. 6:33, and of the rejected
King, Heb. 13:5.
“Entrance into the Kingdom of God is by the new birth, Matt. 18:3; John 3:5, for
nothing that a man may be by nature, or can attain to by any form of self-culture, avails in
the spiritual realm. And as the new nature, received in the new birth, is made evident by
obedience, it is further said that only such as do the will of God shall enter into His
Kingdom, Matt. 7:21, where, however, the context shows that the reference is to the
future, as in 2 Pet. 1:10, 11. Cf. also 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5.
“The expression ‘Kingdom of God’ occurs four times in Matthew, ‘Kingdom of the
Heavens’ usually taking its place. The latter (cf. Dan. 4:26) does not occur elsewhere in
NT, but see 2 Tim. 4:18, “His heavenly Kingdom.” … This Kingdom is identical with the
Kingdom of the Father (cf. Matt. 26:29 with Mark 14:25), and with the Kingdom of the
Son (cf. Luke 22:30). Thus there is but one Kingdom, variously described: of the Son of
Man, Matt. 13:41; of Jesus, Rev. 1:9; of Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 4:1; “of Christ and God,”
Eph. 5:5; “of our Lord, and of His Christ,” Rev. 11:15; “of our God, and the authority of
His Christ,” 12:10; “of the Son of His love,” Col. 1:13.
“Concerning the future, the Lord taught His disciples to pray, “Thy Kingdom come,”
Matt. 6:10, where the verb is in the point tense, precluding the notion of gradual progress
and development, and implying a sudden catastrophe as declared in 2 Thess. 2:8.
“Concerning the present, that a man is of the Kingdom of God is not shown in the
punctilious observance of ordinances, which are external and material, but in the deeper
matters of the heart, which are spiritual and essential, viz., “righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Spirit,” Rom. 14:17.”* * From
:
by Hogg and
Vine, pp. 68, 70.
“With regard to the expressions “the Kingdom of God” and the “Kingdom of the
Heavens,” while they are ohen used interchangeably, it does not follow that in every case
they mean exactly the same and are quite identical.