The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Coming back to Jesus' Proclaiming of the kingdom,

as the change of direction orchestrated by God through John the Baptist and His Son.

Matthew 4:12-17 When Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand*. (parallel passages Isaiah 9:1-2, 60:1-3, 19, Micah 7:8-9; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 1:78-79, 4:14-15; 1John 1:5-7)
*The phrase, “at hand” distinguishes man from all other created things which were spoken into being (Genesis 1:20-25, “the earth brought forth” in verse 24), man alone was created by God's own hands in Genesis 2:7. Where we find the word “formed” as a potter forms or fashions the clay, so God pressed man together from the earths elements after the mist of water moistened the earth and then breathers into this (clay vessel of) man his spirit causing Life and Light, union with the Father of Life, as one being. This is what was lost to mankind and is what both John the Baptist and Jesus as the Son of man brought about through the baptism of repentance in order to fulfill all righteousness. Righteousness being mans first place of occupancy in creation.

The next passages are spoken by Jesus while on the Mountain, in what is known as the Beatitudes. The introduction to the kingdom rule and New order of man in the promised New Covenant of Jeremiah 31; 32:40, 23:5 and Psalm 2. I will pick this up again after we have covered all kingdom of heaven and of God passages and before we look at the various passages of warning against Religions hindrances first found in Judaism and then the worlds Religious institutions. For both of these are what Revelation 17-18 portray and reveal as a harlot. If the chapters (books) written by Enoch were included in our Bible they would reveal much of what is here being said. There is another book called Jasher author unknown but is made reference to in Joshua and 2Sameul which speaks to the worlds being under the influence of Satan's Religious systems. This fact maybe why these two books are not allowed in our Bible. The word “Jasher” simile means, to draw a straight line of delineation*, to reveal the truth. There is another book written by John Bunyan titled “The Pilgrim's Progress” which portrays mans growth and walk forward in the knowledge of Christ as he passes through God's Salvation and entry into the kingdom.

*This is also called, the rightly dividing the word of Truth as spoken in 2Timothy 2:15. (parallel passage 1Corinthinas 2:6, 3:12, 2Corinthians 4:2; see the opposite in Hebrews 5:11-14)

Matthew 5:1-12, 17-20 Seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him: He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed (exceed, surpass) the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

How do we exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes, lawyers or the elders of the Jewish Religionists? When the Prophets of the OT clearly reveal that they were anything but righteous men for the most part, those who were upright were few in number. In the days of John the Baptist and Jesus most of the priest's were of the elite aristocrats who had bought their positions. So what Jesus says is obviously a play on words and we must ask the question, what is meant here Lord? I need to skip down to the next location where the kingdom is the subject, so I will pass over the rest of the Beatitudes. To where we find the narrow path of the ancients, that had been lost sight of. Because this part of the Beatitudes will answer the question (part of the warnings to us) in verses 21-23, when hear a right and understood. I will pick this up later.