No, they are not two separate kingdoms; the Kingdom of Heaven is the earthly kingdom promised to Israel, and it is contained within the larger Kingdom of God.
Les Feldick teaches that the Kingdom of God is the whole sphere under God's sovereign control—the complete realm of God's influence. The Kingdom of Heaven is the same kingdom as it will be set up on earth when Christ returns, and it is 'within' the Kingdom of God. As Les puts it, 'The Kingdom is the Kingdom is the Kingdom. There's only one Kingdom in Scripture.'
Colossians 1:13 — Shows believers are translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son—the same Kingdom Les says is now in heaven and will come to earth.
John 3:3 — Shows the necessity of spiritual birth to see the Kingdom, which Les applies to entering the coming earthly kingdom.
Daniel 2:44 — Shows God will set up an earthly kingdom that will never be destroyed—the coming kingdom on earth that Les identifies with the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Bible uses both terms without giving a formal definition of their relationship. John the Baptist announced, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). Paul writes that God "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Daniel, speaking of a future earthly kingdom, declared, "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44).
Les Feldick explains that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are not two different kingdoms. He says the Kingdom of God is "that whole sphere which is under God's sovereign control"—the entire realm of God's influence. The Kingdom of Heaven, he teaches, is the kingdom promised to Israel since the time of Abraham, the kingdom that will be set up on the earth when Christ returns. It is, as he puts it, "within the Kingdom of God." He insists, "The Kingdom is the Kingdom is the Kingdom. There's only one Kingdom in Scripture." That one Kingdom is presently in heaven—believers are already citizens and have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son—and it will come to earth when Christ returns to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. Les clarifies that the Kingdom is not merely spiritual and invisible; it is also physical and political. John the Baptist's cry that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" meant Jesus, the essence of the Kingdom, was about to begin His earthly ministry. Even Jesus' statement that "the kingdom is within you" is, for Les, a reference to the inner spiritual relationship a person must have to be part of that literal earthly kingdom—just as He told Nicodemus, one must be born again to see the kingdom.
Les Feldick defines the Kingdom of God as "that whole sphere which is under God's sovereign control." It is the entire realm of God's influence—the broad, all-encompassing kingdom. When Paul spoke of the Kingdom of God, Les says he was covering "the whole gamut" of God's sovereignty.
The Kingdom of Heaven, according to Les, is the kingdom that was promised to Israel and will one day be set up on the earth. It is the same kingdom that John the Baptist said was "at hand" when Jesus was about to begin His ministry. It is spiritual, physical, and political, and will come to fruition when Christ returns and establishes it on the earth. It is contained within the broader Kingdom of God.
No. Les says, "The Kingdom is the Kingdom is the Kingdom. There's only one Kingdom in Scripture." The Kingdom of Heaven is that one Kingdom as it will be manifest on earth; the Kingdom of God is the larger sphere that contains it. The difference is one of scope, not essence.
During this age, Les says believers have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, and their citizenship is in heaven. The Kingdom is currently located in heaven as a spiritual kingdom. When Christ returns, He will bring that heavenly Kingdom with Him and set it up on earth as a visible, governmental, political kingdom.
Les Feldick says theologians have twisted the phrase "the kingdom is within you," but it literally teaches that to become part of the literal, physical, political kingdom coming on the earth, there must be an inner spiritual relationship with God. He connects this to Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3:3: "except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom."
Why Israel Rejected the Gospel — Acts 8 Explained
with demon possession. Now, like I say, that's just something for you to think about. But Paul never gives us instructions. Now, the only way that I'm content about dealing with it is that that person probably needs salvation, and if we can present them with the Gospel and see them genuinely born again, then I think that'll take care of their demon possession.
The Whole Sphere of God's Influence
Les defines the Kingdom of God as the entire sphere under God's sovereign control and says the Kingdom of Heaven is the promised earthly kingdom within it.
Only One Kingdom
Les insists there is only one Kingdom in Scripture—the Kingdom Christ will set up on earth—and that believers are already citizens of it, though it is now in heaven.
The Kingdom of Heaven at Hand
Les explains that when John the Baptist said the kingdom of heaven was at hand, he meant Jesus was about to begin His earthly ministry; the kingdom is spiritual, physical, and political.
Daniel 2 Explained: The Stone Kingdom That Fills the Earth
Well, it's so true, but this kingdom of heaven is going to be the kingdom on earth. It's the same kingdom. Now tonight during the church age we've got to go look at Scripture. Keep your hand in Daniel. Go back with me to Colossians. You remember when John the Baptist began his ministry, what was the crux of his message? The kingdom of heaven is what? At hand.
Kingdom Comes from Heaven to Earth
Les says the Kingdom is currently in heaven as a spiritual kingdom, and when Christ returns He will bring it with Him to become a visible, governmental, political kingdom on earth.
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In the earth. Now, you see how plainly all this comes through? This is the promised kingdom that's also going to go right on into eternity, but where is it? On the earth, and so few people have any concept of that. They just think of heaven as someplace way out there. Well, yes, the throne room of God tonight, the very paradise that we think of as heaven, yes, it's up someplace.
One Kingdom and the New Birth
Les says there is only one kingdom, and the 'kingdom within you' refers to the inner spiritual relationship necessary to be part of the literal earthly kingdom.
Matthew 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John the Baptist's announcement that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand—the message Les cites as pointing to Jesus' imminent ministry.
Colossians 1:13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Paul's statement that believers are already translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son—the verse Les says makes it plain we are part of that Kingdom.
John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus' requirement of spiritual birth to see the Kingdom—the verse Les applies to the coming kingdom of heaven.
Daniel 2:44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Daniel's prophecy of the earthly kingdom God would set up—the foundation of Les's teaching that the Kingdom will come on the earth.
Not in the sense of two separate kingdoms. Les teaches the Kingdom of Heaven is the coming earthly kingdom and is within the Kingdom of God, which is the whole sphere of God's sovereign control.
No. The Kingdom is currently in heaven; believers are citizens of it. It will come to earth when Christ returns and establishes His visible, political kingdom.
He meant Jesus, the essence of the Kingdom, was about to begin His earthly ministry. Since the King was present, the kingdom was at hand.
Yes. Les points to Jesus' words to Nicodemus that one must be born again to see the kingdom. This inner spiritual relationship is required to be part of the future earthly kingdom.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected the Gospel — Acts 8 Explained