The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are the Local Church

1. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are the same thing.

            Mat 19:23 – Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

            Mat 19:24 – And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

            See video called “The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are the Same Thing.”

1. The kingdom of God/heaven was established at the first coming of Jesus Christ.

            The kingdom of God/heaven was prophesied to come in the days of the Roman Empire which was the fourth kingdom in Daniel’s interpretation of king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

            Dan 2:37 – Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

            Dan 2:38 – And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

            Dan 2:39 – And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

            Dan 2:40 – And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

            Dan 2:44 – And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

            The kingdom of God/heaven came in the first century AD in the days of the Roman Empire, just as was prophesied.

            Mat 3:1-2 – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

            Mat 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

            Mar 1:14-15 – Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

            At hand – Within easy reach; near; close by. (Oxford English Dictionary)

III.   The kingdom of God is the church on earth which Jesus built.

            Jesus built his church when the kingdom of God/heaven was said to be at hand.

            Mat 16:18 – And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

            Mat 16:19 – And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

            The church is the kingdom of God/heaven that will never be destroyed, but will last until the end of the world.

            The kingdom of God/heaven would never be destroyed.

            Dan 2:44 – And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

            Heb 12:28 – Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

            The church of Jesus Christ will never be destroyed and will last until the end of the world.

            Mat 16:18 – And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

            Eph 3:21 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

            Therefore, the local church is the kingdom of God/heaven.

            The local church is the kingdom of God/heaven which is entered by baptism.

            The kingdom of God/heaven is entered by baptism.

            Luk 16:16 – The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

            Luk 7:29 – And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

            Luk 7:30 – But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

            Mat 21:31 – Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

            Mat 21:32 – For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

            The local church is entered by baptism.

            Act 2:41 – Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

            Act 2:42 – And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

            Act 2:47 – Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

            Therefore, the local church is the kingdom of God/heaven.

            We eat and drink with Christ at His table in His kingdom when we eat the Lord’s Supper in the local church.

            Jesus said that the apostles would eat at His table in His kingdom.

            Luk 22:29 – And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

            Luk 22:30 – That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

            The local church is where the saints eat and drink at the Lord’s table.

            1Co 10:16 – The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

            1Co 10:21 – Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

            1Co 11:20 – When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

            1Co 11:23 – For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

            1Co 11:24 – And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

            1Co 11:25 – After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

            Therefore, the local church is the kingdom of God/heaven.