The Kingdom of Heaven is the Church of God, which is the name God gave His true church.  The title is proclaimed by His writers 8 times in the New Testament.  His church system is also referred to a the “churches of Christ” so as to show that Christ is the Head of His Father’s church system, all of which preach the same message–the Gospel (“good news”) of the coming Kingdom of God on earth.  The ministry of Jesus Christ is introduced in Matthew 4:23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  Read The Kingdom of God.  Key word–Gospel.

The Church of God is the present day precursor of the coming Kingdom of God.  Jesus calls God’s present day church the “Kingdom of Heaven” because, in order to enter the future Kingdom of God one must walk in the holiness and righteousness which will characterize those who live in that future kingdom.  Those who so walk comprise His church today.  In order to receive salvation/rebirth in the next life upon Christ’s return one must walk as He walked (1 Jn. 2:6), be pure as He is pure (1 Jn. 3:3) and overcome Satan as He overcame him” (Rev. 3:21) in this life, thereby qualifying for membership in His current church and in God’s future kingdom.  Again, the “Kingdom of Heaven” Jesus and the apostles spoke about is the Church of God that He established on the Day of Pentecost 31 A.D. in Jerusalem.  Today only a remnant of believers believe His Gospel and obey it.  Jesus prophesied that this would be the case in Matthew 7:13,14 and 20:16.

In order to be part of God’s true church one must be faithfully judging oneself relative to God’s Holy Scriptures and must be found to be found to be obeying them (1 Cor. 11:31/ 1 Pet. 4:17,18).  The parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (the church) will reveal that most people who call themselves by God’s name do not believe His Gospel, do not obey it and are therefore not His children.  Recall that Jesus told those who call Him their Lord (only church people do so) but do not obey Him (sinners saved by grace) are not His spiritual brethren (Mat. 7:23; 12:46-50; 15:8,9,13,14; 19:17/ Jn. 14:15,23; 15:10/ Pet. 1:16) and will not be joining Him in the Kingdom of God unless they repent and embrace His Law either now or later.  Read The Three Resurrections.  Key word–Resurrections.  Let us now be introduced to Christ’s parables of the Kingdom of Heaven–God’s church now on earth.  It is my fondest hope that some who read this website will become members of that called-out minority who hunger and thirst for righteousness and have been filled, or are striving to be filled with the righteousness than comes only from obedience to Him by the power of His Holy Spirit living within them (Mat. 5:6).  Only these will rise in the first resurrection, meet Christ in the air, go with Him to the Mt. of Olives, enter Jerusalem and, with Him, establish the Kingdom of God on earth exactly as it is now in heaven (Mat. 6:10).  Note in this verse that Jesus prayed that God’s kingdom would (later) be established “… ON EARTH AS IT IS (then and now) IN HEAVEN.”  As Jesus said, God’s will would (THEN) be done on earth as it was in heaven.  Following the kingdom being established on earth, “heaven on earth” will be a reality for those who walked in righteousness (Rom. 5:21) and holiness (Rom. 6:22) until the end of their lives (Mat. 10:22).  I dare say that not one reader has ever heard these Truths taught or preached in church.  PROFESSING CHRISTENDOM HAS NEVER HEARD GOD’S TRUTH.  Satan, through his false prophets, has convinced her parishioners to close their eyes, stop up their ears and harden their hearts (minds) to His Truth.  On the rare occasion that a Catholic or Protestant hears or reads God’s Truth, he/she automatically rejects it, even though it is plainly written in the Book he/she claims to believe.  Never underestimate the power that Satan holds over those who call themselves by God’s name.

Beginning with Matthew 13:3 Jesus describes four types of people (ground) found in “the church.”  Each type describes a level of obedience to and acceptance of God’s Word.  In verse 12 Jesus tells us that with each ascending level of acceptance of and obedience to His Word (seed) more Scriptural information is provided.  When the new information is embraced and obeyed, one is elevated to the next level of spirituality.  The key to growing in the Lord and ascending to level 4 is to use and manifest the Truth one has received on one’s present level.  The goal is to “come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13) and remain there until death.  However, as He also states in verse 12, those who do not embrace what they have been taught, even the Truth they have received will be taken from them.

Judas Iscariot is a perfect example of this Truth-losing tragedy.  As Peter said, Judas had been given the same ministry, same power, etc. as the other 11 disciples (Acts 1:16,17).  He knew all of the Truths that the other disciples knew.  He had preached the Gospel, healed the sick and cast out devils.  Yet, in the end, he lost it all because he did not grow in righteousness and holiness as did the others.  Like the five foolish virgins, his gains were lost because he failed to grow in faith, righteousness and holiness, the end result of which is eternal life (Rom. 5:21; 6:22).  L.J.