Bible Question:
Is there a difference between: The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God? When Jesus asks in the Lord's prayer...Your kingdom come, Your will be done...What is he asking for? I have my own thoughts but I did not want to lead anyone's answer. This is the topic for discussion with My JW friend. I have a pretty good idea where she's going with this topic. I have been studying this topic for our next discussion and I am delighted to find so many ways to show her Christ and his GOOD NEWS. Blessings, Jen |
Bible Answer: Dear Jen, For usages of the "kingdom of heaven" and the "kingdom of God", read Matthew 3:2, 4:17, and 5:3; and also Luke 4:43, 6:20, and 7:28. There is no difference in the meaning. Matthew uses the words "kingdom of heaven," because he is writing to a Jewish audience, where the name of God (Yahweh) is sacred and not often spoken. Luke uses the phrase "kingdom of God" because he wrote to a Gentile audience that had no education of the God that the Jews knew. With that in mind, "You kingdom come" is a reference to the impending spiritual reign of God. It does NOT refer to Israel's freedom from Rome. The kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham (Matthew 8:11, Luke 13:28), is present in Christ's reign in believers' hearts (Luke 17:21), and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). "Your will be done" is the submissive prayer of a believer that the will of God might prevail in his/her own life (earth), just as the will of God prevails in the realm of God (heaven). Hopefully this helps. Sandman |
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Questions and/or Subjects for NT general Archive 1 | Author | ||
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Joren | ||
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Lionstrong | ||
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Louder | ||
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Jennvin | ||
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Sandman | ||
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Doris | ||
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Holly | ||
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Doris | ||
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golden_child | ||
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Beverly Camejo | ||
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yahweh1mc | ||
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yahweh1mc |