Pastor Zhang, who has served in East China for decades, highlighted that Christians should prioritize the Kingdom of God rather than Heaven, emphasizing that the gospel of heaven is incompatible with the gospel given by Jesus.
To explain the difference between the "kingdom of God" and "heaven," Pastor Zhang first stated that the bond between man and God is a father-son relationship, which is "the Way of Life," rather than a religious affiliation. Individuals are empowered and equipped with truth in a father-son relationship, which is also facilitated by the Holy Spirit.
Zhang held that religious life primarily manifests as an external organizational structure, which, when overemphasized, can lead to certain issues, including the poaching of believers between congregations. Furthermore, a focus on such external forms has led to the church's "distorted shape."
He claimed that the so-called message preached by religion—"Believe in Jesus and you will go to heaven; if you don't, you'll end up in hell"—is contrary to Jesus' teachings.
According to the Bible, Jesus' original words while preaching the gospel were: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 3:2)," indicating that only people who repent can enter the kingdom. Moreover, the Great Commission in the New Testament proclaims to spread the "gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14)."
The pastor considered that the kingdom of God should be the visible world, while heaven representing the spiritual realm. The kingdom of God that Christ is going to establish is here on earth rather than in the sky, aligning with the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)” However, religion refers to "heaven" as being in the spiritual world, which can also be considered another realm. But the kingdom of God is on this earth based on Revelation 11:15 (“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.").
Pastor Zhang critiqued, “In contemporary religious teachings, the gospel is about death. Believe in Jesus and you will go to heaven. [They claim] One can’t be saved until they die (then go to heaven). But what Jesus taught is resurrection for the dead and transformation for the living, leading them together into God's kingdom."
He explained that this secret of the kingdom of God is not easy to receive. If a Christian is not on the way of life or involved in the father-son relationship with God, they will not understand it, even if they see it. As Jesus describes the Pharisees and Jews, "They may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding (Mark 4:12)." "Religion" will lead people to a chaotic and ambiguous heaven, whereas the way of life is the transmission of life, the relationship between father and son, he added.
"In Heavenly Father’s house, we need to address the kingdom of God, not heaven," he stressed.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
近日，一位在华东服事数十年的的张牧师就天国”和“天堂”的不同做了分享。他认为，基督徒应当强调的是天国，而不是天堂。并指出，强调天堂的福音与耶稣传的福音是不一致的。
张牧师认为人和上帝建立的是父子关系，是生命之道，而不是宗教。在父子关系中，人们能得到能量，并有真理的装备，圣灵也会在这个关系中做工。
张牧师认为宗教生活只是外在的一种组织关系，而强调这种组织形式会导致一些问题，比如教会之间互相拉人。此外，强调外在的组织形式也导致了教会的“奇形怪状”。
他认为宗教传福音传的是：“信耶稣上天堂，不信耶稣下地狱”，这样的信息与耶稣讲的不一致。
圣经上记录耶稣传福音时说的原话是：“天国近了，你们应当悔改！” 悔改的人能进天国。新约中的大使命，要传的也是“天国的福音”。
张牧师认为，天国应当是我们肉眼可见的世界，而天堂是灵性的世界。
基督要在地上建立神的国，这不是在空中飘荡的。正如主祷文说的“愿你的国降临，愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。”
而宗教讲的“天堂”是在灵界，也可以说是另一个世界。但神的国是在这个大地上。启示录记载说，“世上的国，成了我主和主基督的国，他要做王直到永永远远。”
张牧师认为，“今天宗教传福音，是叫人死— —信耶稣上天堂，不死（去天堂）一个也救不了。但耶稣教的是，死人复活，活人改变，一同进神的天国。”
张牧师分享说，这个奥秘很深，基督徒如果不是在生命的道上，如果和神不是父子关系，那么即便看见也不明白。就像耶稣说法利赛人和犹太人“你们看是要看见，却不晓得；听是要听见，却不明白。” “宗教”会把人引到一种混沌、不清晰的天堂。而生命之道是一种生命的传递，是父亲和儿子的关系。
而在天父家中，我们要讲的是天国，而不是讲天堂。
牧者：福音要强调的是天国，而不是天堂
Pastor Zhang, who has served in East China for decades, highlighted that Christians should prioritize the Kingdom of God rather than Heaven, emphasizing that the gospel of heaven is incompatible with the gospel given by Jesus.
To explain the difference between the "kingdom of God" and "heaven," Pastor Zhang first stated that the bond between man and God is a father-son relationship, which is "the Way of Life," rather than a religious affiliation. Individuals are empowered and equipped with truth in a father-son relationship, which is also facilitated by the Holy Spirit.
Zhang held that religious life primarily manifests as an external organizational structure, which, when overemphasized, can lead to certain issues, including the poaching of believers between congregations. Furthermore, a focus on such external forms has led to the church's "distorted shape."
He claimed that the so-called message preached by religion—"Believe in Jesus and you will go to heaven; if you don't, you'll end up in hell"—is contrary to Jesus' teachings.
According to the Bible, Jesus' original words while preaching the gospel were: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 3:2)," indicating that only people who repent can enter the kingdom. Moreover, the Great Commission in the New Testament proclaims to spread the "gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14)."
The pastor considered that the kingdom of God should be the visible world, while heaven representing the spiritual realm. The kingdom of God that Christ is going to establish is here on earth rather than in the sky, aligning with the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)” However, religion refers to "heaven" as being in the spiritual world, which can also be considered another realm. But the kingdom of God is on this earth based on Revelation 11:15 (“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.").
Pastor Zhang critiqued, “In contemporary religious teachings, the gospel is about death. Believe in Jesus and you will go to heaven. [They claim] One can’t be saved until they die (then go to heaven). But what Jesus taught is resurrection for the dead and transformation for the living, leading them together into God's kingdom."
He explained that this secret of the kingdom of God is not easy to receive. If a Christian is not on the way of life or involved in the father-son relationship with God, they will not understand it, even if they see it. As Jesus describes the Pharisees and Jews, "They may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding (Mark 4:12)." "Religion" will lead people to a chaotic and ambiguous heaven, whereas the way of life is the transmission of life, the relationship between father and son, he added.
"In Heavenly Father’s house, we need to address the kingdom of God, not heaven," he stressed.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Pastor: The Gospel Talks About Kingdom of God, Not Heaven
