CHURCH AND KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE,
KINGDOM OF HEAVENS AND KINGDOM OF GOD ARE NOT
(REALLY?)
Mat 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 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. (ASV)
"
Kingdom of the heavens is used here interchangeably for
church,which is used in the previous verse. This is a strong proof that the genuine church is the kingdom of the heavens in this age..."
Note 2 on Matthew 16:19 in the Recovery Version
http://online.recoveryversion.org/Fo...asp?FNtsID=643
Mat 19:23 And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (ASV)
"Verse 23 uses
kingdom of the heavens, but here
kingdom of God is used. At this point the kingdom of the heavens had not come, but the kingdom of God was there. Hence, the Lord used the term
kingdom of God."
Note 2 on Matthew 19:24 in the recovery Version
http://online.recoveryversion.org/Fo...asp?FNtsID=735
What do you think? It is only my opinion that W. Lee is playing fast and loose with these verses? Which term would be more interchangeable with another? Shouldn't be kingdom of the heavens and kingdom of God? instead of church and kingdom of the heavens?