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Castle on a small island surrounded by blue water

What exactly is the kingdom of heaven? When will it come—or, when did it come? And what does the kingdom of heaven mean for Christians today?

The kingdom of heaven is the primary theme of the New Testament Scriptures.

John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance for the Jews, teaching that the kingdom of heaven was near.

Jesus picked up right where John left off and proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the kingdom to come. And yet, in other places, Jesus warned the Jewish religious leaders that GOD was going to weed out all the wicked from the kingdom, indicating that the kingdom was already present at that time.

So which is it?

Was the kingdom already present or not?

How are we to make sense of Jesus' teachings which seem, at first glance, to contradict one another?

After Jesus ascended to heaven, the evangelists and apostles went everywhere preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

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The kingdom of heaven is a subject that needs a lot of clarification. We've badly misunderstood it and I'm hoping to help.

It's time to take a fresh look. It's time to re-think the kingdom of heaven.

Let me show you:

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What is GOD's eternal purpose for Israel?

Who is Israel today?

Does Israel still matter to GOD today? Are Jews still GOD's special people? Why hasn't the Jerusalem temple been rebuilt?

What should be the Christian's attitude towards the modern country of Israel? Should Christians support Israel for religious reasons?

Are there yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies for physical Israel?

It's time for us to re-think what Scripture reveals about Israel. Will you join me? Let's do it!

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Video thumbnail: Rethinking the Spiritual Creation, Rebellion and Judgment

Did you know that the Bible:

  • Actually affirms the existence of other "gods" besides Jehovah?
  • Describes the creation of spiritual beings during the Genesis creation account?
  • Explains how the spiritual rebellion unfolded, and that it wasn't a single event?
  • Gives significant insight into how the spiritual realm was/is governed?
  • Prophesies a great deal regarding the judgment of spiritual beings who rebelled against GOD?

It's time for us to rethink the spiritual creation, rebellion and judgment.

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When we zoom out, what is the Bible story about?

What is the big picture of Scripture?

I suspect most believers would answer something like: 

  • In the beginning, GOD created all things and it was good.
  • In time, Satan tempted Eve and she and Adam sinned, corrupting GOD's creation.
  • Jesus died upon the cross so we could be forgiven of our sins.
  • Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life.
  • The end

While this answer isn't bad, it is shortsighted.

When we stop at "forgiveness," we fail to see a significant part of the beauty of what GOD has done, is doing and will do.

I want to share a different—a broader perspective with you.

But why should you care? Why does this really matter?

In short, understanding the macro level view of the Bible influences how we understand its parts.

You've probably heard the saying, "can't see the forest for the trees." This is true when it comes to understanding Scripture. So often, we make the mistake of zeroing in on a particular passage. When we examine the passage "standalone" (without adequate consideration of other Scripture), we reach one conclusion.

And this leads to incorrect understandings, inaccurate teachings, false doctrines, division, new denominations and a host of problems.

So ... can I share with you what I believe is the real big picture of Scripture? This is powerful.

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In early 2009, I began a personal Bible study regarding the practices of the early church.

At the time, I was inspired to begin this study by perceived differences between what I read in the New Testament and what I saw being practiced at the time—primarily in the church where I was meeting, but also on a broader scale.

I felt I wasn’t benefitting from our church assemblies at the time, so, from the pew, I began to use the sermon time for my private studies.

My initial focus was on what the Bible said about church meetings in the first century.

That topic didn’t take long to complete because the Bible says surprisingly little about the assemblies of the first Christians. (Download my findings here.)

At the time, I knew that there were extra-biblical Christian writings from the first few centuries. However, my focus was elsewhere, so I “filed away” a decision to return to this topic of early church practices when possible.

(The events of 2009 and Q1 2010—which I discussed in this e-book—led to our decision to begin hosting church meetings in our home.)

In 2011, I began reading the early Christian writings. I started by reading a copy of David Bercot’s fantastic book, Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up—the top book I recommend besides the Bible—which discusses differences between modern common beliefs with the views of the first Christians.

I observed that Bercot studied from Philip Schaff’s Ante-Nicene Fathers series as the source for the early Christian writings, so I got a copy. (Here’s a link to vol 1 on Kindle to vol 1 on Kindle, but you can also read the series online starting here.)

In that first volume, I read the following quote from an early Christian called Justin Martyr around 160 A.D. (while speaking with an unbelieving Jew named Trypho):

But I am far from putting reliance in your teachers, who refuse to admit that the interpretation made by the seventy elders who were with Ptolemy [king] of the Egyptians is a correct one; and they attempt to frame another. And I wish you to observe, that they have altogether taken away many Scriptures from the translations effected by those seventy elders… For you assent to those which I have brought before your attention, except that you contradict the statement, ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive,’ and say it ought to be read, ‘Behold, the young woman shall conceive.’ And I promised to prove that the prophecy referred, not, as you were taught, to Hezekiah, but to this Christ of mine: and now I shall go to the proof.

Say what?!?!