Kingdom of God---Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are one and the same Kingdom.
Many teachers are confused and try to make a distinction between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God, just to suit their version of the End-Time rule of Jesus on earth.
Their position is not supported by the word of God.
The phrase "Kingdom of God" is used 68 times in various books in the New Testament, while "Kingdom of Heaven" is used only 32 times, and is found only in the Gospel of Matthew.
These two phrases refer to the same thing.
1. Jesus mentions both the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God after His talk with the rich young ruler, treating both as one and the same Kingdom.
Matthew 19:23-24
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
2. In many parables and teachings of Jesus, Mark and Luke used "KIngdom of God" while Matthew used "Kingdom of Heaven" when describing the same parable or teaching.
Two examples are given here:
(a) All believers are greater than John the Baptist:
Matthew 11:11-12 NKJ
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Luke 7:28
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”
(b) Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven given to God's children only.
Matthew 13:11 NKJ
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries [=secrets, NIV] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mark 4:11 NKJ
11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery [= secret, NIV] of the Kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables."
Luke 8:10 NKJ
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries [=secrets, NIV] of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables.
From the two examples above (and there are many others in the Gospels), it can be seen that the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God" are terms that were used interchangeably.
The writers of the Gospels used these two phrases to describe the same thing in the ministry of Jesus.
Other examples can be found in the following parallel passages:
Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26.
Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18.
Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20.
3. The word "Heaven" is used as a substitute word for "God" in other contexts in the Gospels, besides the substitution of "Kingdom of Heaven for "Kingdom of God."
E.g. In the Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32), the son told the father in the story that he has sinned against the father and against "heaven."
In this context, "heaven" is used as a substitute word for "God."
Luke 15:21
21 The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
E.g. In His teaching on taking oaths, Jesus said that whoever swears by "heaven" is actually swearing by the One (God Himself) who sits on the throne in heaven."
Thus "Heaven" is a substitute for "God" in this context.
Matthew 23:22
22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.
Shalom.