When John began his ministry his primary message was “repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Later the Lord Jesus declared the very same message. In fact this exhortation or information about the Kingdom of Heaven permeates the entire New Testament. We might expect to find “the Kingdom of Heaven” in the Old Testament, but some are surprised to find that it is a part of the Gospel message. Part of this confusion is one reason that so many people think of John the Baptist as an Old Testament prophet, when in fact his message was much the same as Peter’s or Paul’s. John was more like an Apostle than like Jeremiah or Daniel. But what did he mean in this exhortation, and more particularly, what should it mean to you and me?
Here in this chapter we have John the Baptist preaching the “Kingdom of Heaven,” But in Mark 1 and Luke 7 the Biblical record says that John was preaching the “Kingdom of God” and the words “Kingdom of Heaven” never come up. Curious. Then in Matthew 10:5-7 Jesus commissioned the disciples to preach the “Kingdom of Heaven,” but in Luke 9:1-2 the commission was about the “Kingdom of God.” Matthew 13 contains nothing but the “Kingdom of Heaven Parables,” but then in Luke 13:18-19 we find the same parables but they all refer to the “Kingdom of God.” Comparing Matthew to Luke in several places we find this same difference in terminology – “Kingdom of Heaven” verus the ” Kingdom of God.”
The phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” is found 32 times in the Bible. And the only place where you will ever find it is in the Book of Matthew. Isn’t that curious? Luke never once refers to the “Kingdom of Heaven,” neither does Mark or John. Doesn’t your logical mind say that this is very strange? And isn’t it interesting that Mark has the Lord Jesus and others referring to the “Kingdom of God” 15 times, but never to the “Kingdom of Heaven.” It even gets curiouser and curiouser when Luke has the Lord Jesus and others preaching about the “Kingdom of God” 32 times but never the “Kingdom of Heaven.” And the same can be said of the Kingdom in the Gospel of John, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, and II Thessalonians. I won’t pursue this any farther because I think that it’s silly to beat a dead horse – whenever you read “kingdom of Heaven,” and you wish to substitute “kingdom of God,” or even “the kingdom of Christ” feel free to do so.
I bring this up this morning, not just for the sake of the truth, which is important enough. I mention this, because if we want to understand what John was preaching, then we need to see it from every possible angle. If what Mark says about the “Kingdom of God,” illuminates what Matthew says about the “Kingdom of Heaven” then that is good. And when Paul talks about how he was preaching the “Kingdom of God,” then it helps us to understand what it was that John was preaching even before the Lord Jesus came on the scene.
We read a few minutes ago from Acts 28. It’s very likely that as you listened you didn’t catch the references to the “Kingdom of God.” Notice once again Acts 28:23 – “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.” Remember that Paul was in bonds and unable to get out of his house without a guard. He couldn’t go into the synagogue to preach or out into the market place. In other words, he had no guarantee that he’d ever be able to preach the gospel to these people again. Do you think that he failed to tell them about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus? Do you think that he only told them things about the second coming and the establishment of the future Millennial Kingdom? What do the verbs “expound, testify” and “persuade” all mean? “Expound” means to reveal and teach. To “persuade” is to teach with passion and enthusiasm, in order to convince others. Paul taught them what the Old Testament declared about the Messiah. Perhaps he preached from Isaiah 53 and other chapters in that great book. Perhaps he took some verses out of the Psalms which prophesied about the sacrifice of the Saviour. Maybe he referred to the Old testament sacrifices and types just as he did in the Book of Hebrews. I think that you can be sure that Paul preached rousing gospel messages. And what does the word “testify” mean? To testify is to assuredly affirm something with which he was personally familiar. He could talk about aspects of the Kingdom of God which he had already experienced.
Notice Acts 28:30-31, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” I have come to see that we are terribly mistaken if we sever the gospel of Christ from Kingdom of Christ. Turn to Acts 19 where we have a description of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. Acts 19:8 – “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” Are we to believe that Paul didn’t preach the gospel to those people? In Acts 20, when Paul was on his way to Jerusalem and passing by Ephesus, for what he believed was his last visit, he gave a summary of his ministry. “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”
What does Paul say was the ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus? It was to “testify of the gospel of the grace of God.” And in the next breath, how does he describe that gospel? He had gone everywhere “preaching the kingdom of God.” Either the message of the gospel is synonymous with the message of the Kingdom, Or at the very least one is a part of the other. Further examples of this abound throughout the New Testament. One of them is in Acts 8 where we learn of Philip’s ministry in Samaria. Verse 12 says, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Are people supposed to be baptized just because they believe in the second coming of Christ? Are people supposed to be baptized as some sort of sign of their special participation in the coming Kingdom of Christ?
Pastor Forrest Keener, a few years ago, preached a series of 32 messages on the Kingdom of God. These were later published in book form, and it is well worth the time and work to read and study. Brother Keener meticulously described about two dozen points which help to define that Kingdom. These are important so please listen carefully; I’m not trying to bore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have time to prove each of these facts right now. Here are some of the things which he proved in his book: The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are synonymous. And that Kingdom is a common New Testament theme. It is the message of virtually every one of the New Testament writers and preachers. It is past, present and future. It is both spiritual, physical and mysterious. And it is, at this time, a mixture of good and bad. In other words, there is a mixture of both citizens and mere servants in this kingdom. The true citizens become citizens by way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. And they are characterized by the principles of the Sermon on the Mount; In other words they love the Lord and the Word of the Lord. This kingdom is to be preached throughout the whole world. And it is an everlasting kingdom, BUT those who are not willing citizens, regenerated citizens, shall be cast out – into the Lake of Fire.
Why did the Lord Jesus instruct the Apostles about that Kingdom during His last few days upon the earth? Because this kingdom is what its all about. I’m not talking about the day when Jesus Christ returns to earth, overthrows Satan’s minions, and sits down on David’s throne in the New Jerusalem. I’m not talking about the re-gathering or the re-establishment of Israel. Although both of these things will one day be a part of this kingdom. The disciples asked the Saviour about these things in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, And the Lord gave them an abbreviated answer. Then in Acts 1:6 they asked if these aspects of the Kingdom were going to take place now. And the Lord answered by saying, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” In other words, don’t concern yourselves about this aspect of the Kingdom, There are other more important and pertinent parts of the promise than these right now.
What we need in order to prepare for this kingdom is to focus on OUR relationship to the King of the Kingdom. Yes, when everything is said and done there will be mansions in Heaven and streets of gold. Yes, there will some day be a time when the lamb shall lay down in peace with the lion, and the child shall play above the nest of the asp. Yes, Satan will be bound and locked away for a thousand years, and finally to be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. These and a hundred other things about the Kingdom are not only important – they are wonderful. But infinitely more important is your personal relationship to the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And this is the crux of the matter. There is a Kingdom, and Jesus Christ is the King. The rule in this kingdom is righteous; perfect and complete. There are moral laws which have been laid upon the subject of this Kingdom, and there will be judgment enacted upon the lawbreakers. To be more specific: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” “The wages of sin is death.”
Please turn to Psalm 2 and read along with me: “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
This, in essence, was what John was telling the people of Israel in his day. And obviously it was the message of an earlier day as well. It is still the message of today. “Repent before God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”