Entering Heaven on Earth
Printable VersionThe ultimate goal for most people is to make it into heaven. Many Christians believe they’ll enter heaven once they die, but the Bible says that if you do not enter into the kingdom of heaven here on earth, you won’t be entering heaven after you die either. Let’s explore the Bible further to see if we can understand that God’s kingdom is not somewhere far, far away. It’s a spiritual place where God lives and it’s very near. Both John the Baptist and Jesus confirmed this in the Scriptures. (Matthew 3:1) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”! Then there was Jesus who was the second witness to proclaim the kingdom of heaven was near. (Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The first thing we must understand is that whether the Bible talks about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven, they’re one in the same. It’s the dwelling place of God who lives in heaven and His kingdom of heaven is closer than you think. (Mark 1:14) Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel”. Do you fully understand what this kingdom of heaven is all about, and what takes place there? On earth and in our flesh we're limited by the laws of nature which God has set in place. Although God is in control of all things, Satan has ruler-ship over this physical world for now. (Matthew 4:8) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9) And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me”. Although Jesus was the Son of God, Satan had the authority to give Him the kingdoms of this world! (John 14:30)… the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me… (John 16:11) … the ruler of this world is judged. While Satan is ruling his kingdom on earth, God is ruling His kingdom in heaven. In the kingdom of God there are no limitations except what God’s will is. In the beginning God spoke and the world was created! (Hebrews 11:3) By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. God calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 4:17) God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. In God’s kingdom, He uses our faith to bring to pass what does not exist. (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The kingdom of heaven exists now and it’s where God lives and where His power is seen and exercised. Not just in a far-away place called heaven for some distant time in the future; it’s here now and it’s here on earth. Let’s look at the power God demonstrates in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 12:18) But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Casting out demons by the spirit of God is done in the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God has power. (Mark 9:1) And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power”. And they did see the kingdom of God, not up in heaven but on earth with power, with signs and wonders done by Jesus and later His disciples. (Luke 9:11) But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. The kingdom of heaven operates with the power of healing and Jesus walked in it.
It’s easy to see that Jesus had power from God to heal the sick and cast out demons; we can understand that Jesus walked in the spiritual kingdom of heaven but what about everyone else, is it for us too? (Matthew 10:1,7,8) And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. (7) And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (8) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Clearly Jesus gave this authority to His disciples and said that they should be proclaiming the kingdom of heaven as they healed the sick and cast out demons. It was in the kingdom of heaven where Jesus and His believers exercised authority over the devil's kingdom here on earth. (Luke 10:1) After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go…(11)… Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you…(17) Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (18) And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (20) Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” These seventy were not only written in heaven but they had entered the kingdom of heaven where God’s power was manifested in them. Where believers "call the things that are not as though they were" (Romans 4:17). Casting out demons, healing the sick; this is the supernatural kingdom where God dwells; where God speaks and His word manifests itself in the physical. Jesus and His disciples walked in this kingdom and the devil was defeated every time!
(Luke 9:1) Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. (2) He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Jesus told them to “heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you (Luke 10:9). The reason the kingdom was near them was because the disciples were walking in the kingdom of heaven and exercising God’s authority over those who were sick or possessed. You can’t get any closer than that unless you're in the kingdom itself. Jesus and His disciples were in the kingdom of heaven while everyone else were only near it.
(Luke 17:20) Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; (21) nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you". The kingdom of God or heaven, God’s dwelling place is within you, Jesus said. Other Scriptures also confirm this. (1 Cor 3:16) Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? Yes, God’s kingdom dwells in you.(1 Cor 6:19) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you… God’s dwelling place is your body and the Holy Spirit is sitting on the throne of your heart. Like the Lord said, “indeed, the kingdom of God is within you”.
Many of us have believed that once we die or when Christ comes back we’ll get a new body and a new spirit in heaven. Many believe that it's only in heaven that we'll attain holiness and live forever with the Lord. We can clearly see from the Scriptures that we will be getting a new body when we get to heaven but what about a new spirit? (Philippians 3:20) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body… So far we see that we're getting a new body but nothing is mentioned about a new spirit that will somehow make us holy once we get to heaven. (1 Cor 15:51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Yes, we are getting a new body and putting on immortality in heaven, but we cannot find anywhere in the Bible that tells us that we’re getting a new spirit which will finally make us holy and obedient once we finally do get to heaven. Instead we find that those who are already holy and righteous will take that righteousness with them and those who are not holy now will not be holy later. (Revelation 22:10) And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (11) He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” (12) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (14) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He did not receive a new spirit, soul or personality along with His new resurrected body. Jesus was resurrected with His same spirit/soul/personality that He walked with on this earth. Despite what you may have been taught about Jesus, the Bible states that He was made in the flesh just like you and I. (Hebrews 2:17) Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren. Scripture tells us that Jesus was not born perfect with all wisdom and knowledge. "And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him... And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:40,52). Jesus didn't start out with all knowledge, He had to advance in Godly wisdom. Jesus learned and asked questions just like we do. (Luke 2:46) And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: (47) and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Besides learning as we are supposed to do, Jesus was also tempted just like you and I are and He had to learn to overcome those temptations. (Hebrews 4:15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Jesus was not only tempted but suffered during that temptation! (Hebrews 2:18) "He himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Scripture says that Jesus became perfect by what He suffered in the flesh. (Hebrews 5:7) In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. (8) Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (9) And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Jesus was our perfect example in the flesh. Jesus learned and studied the Word of God just like we are to do. Jesus was continually turning the other cheek and not returning evil for evil. Jesus was continually dying to Himself because of what He suffered. Through obedience to His Father in heaven Jesus perfected His soul here on earth before He ever sat down with His Father in heaven. We too must overcome the trials in our lives just like Jesus did if we hope to enter the kingdom of heaven when we die. (Rev 2:7) "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God". Just like Jesus, we too are taking our same spirit/soul/personality which we have now into eternity with us.
We may have a new body in eternity, but we’ll still have our same spirit we had on earth and it must be the spirit of Christ. It's that promised Spirit we read about in Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 36:26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. So now the promised Spirit is here through Christ’s death and His resurrection. Jesus explains that we must enter into that kingdom of heaven by receiving His born again Spirit. (John 3:3) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (4) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (5) Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Being born again of the Spirit is really not as complicated as it seems. It simply means to believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross and to renew your mind by obeying the Word of God which the Bible says is spirit, “the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life”. When you do this, Jesus puts His spirit in you and you become born again; born into a new Spirit and a new way of thinking which is by the Word of God. Please don’t doubt this; simply accept this by faith, because without the spirit of Christ you, "Christ in you, the hope of glory", you cannot enter God’s kingdom and come before the Father now or after you die. (Romans 8:9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. You must have that born again spirit of Christ to even enter the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Once this happens you've only opened the door to the kingdom of heaven and now God is waiting for you to come in and exercise your new authority.
Our ways are not God’s ways and if it were up to us and our abilities, we would wait until heaven to be perfected. We would live for ourselves here on earth and for our selfish needs waiting for eternity in heaven to attain holiness. The person who does this, even though they may proclaim to be 'born again", has not entered into the kingdom of heaven on earth, they've only stood at the open door. This person because they didn't enter into the kingdom of heaven here on earth, will never enter into God's kingdom when they die. The Bible says that we should “die daily” and “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). We are to have “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col 3:10). Transforming your thoughts and renewing your mind according to what the Word of God says is how you begin to walk in the kingdom of God. To "die daily" to yourself is how Christ is formed in you.
God’s plan is that when we receive that born again spirit of Christ, then God starts to perfect us and train us to be like Christ. He doesn’t start once you die and go to heaven; God starts with you here on this earth. As we’ve mentioned, it’s not a onetime thing of accepting Jesus as your Savior and then you’re done. God takes us through a process of breaking down the flesh so that the spiritual born again man can grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ. (Acts 14:21) And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned… (22) strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God”. Notice that the disciples weren’t finished once they made other disciples; they encouraged them to CONTINUE in the faith and told them that it’s only through hardship and tribulation that you enter the kingdom of God. Part of that hardship is dying to yourself. (Mark 8:34,35) If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it. The more of you that lives in your body (that old fleshly man) the less of Christ can live in you. Only when you lose your life can Jesus live in you. (John 12:24,25) Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (25) Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. It’s that crucifixion of your old life, your old sinful body that Jesus said we must die to. We are supposed to die daily in our flesh. (1Cor 15:31) I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. This is how you're entering heaven here on earth, though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16). God’s plan is to use that death of your old self in order to bring forth Jesus in you, and transform you into the same spiritual image of His Son who dwells in heaven. (2 Cor 3:18) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. This is the true gospel of Christ! By you being obedient to the Word of God, He is transforming us into the same spiritual image of Jesus Christ. By doing this not only have we entered into the doorway of the kingdom of heaven, but we're now learning to walk in His kingdom.
(James 1:2) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. In God’s plan for us to be transformed into the very image of His son Jesus here on earth, God is working in us with trials and tribulations in order to perfect us into the likeness of Him. (Philippians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: Yes, it’s the Lord who's perfecting us and He wants us to be like Christ here on earth and not just in heaven. (Luke 6:40)The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher. Notice that Jesus doesn't say "if" he is perfected, He says when he is perfected! Entering the kingdom of heaven here on earth is not just being perfected and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ; it's not just holiness; it's also doing the works that Jesus did. (John 14:12) "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (13) Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. Yes, this is the promise from Jesus to believers; this is the kingdom of heaven being exercised here on earth just as it is in heaven, just like in the Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus had us pray that the Father's kingdom would come and for things to be done on earth just as it's done in heaven! The kingdom of heaven is a spiritual kingdom that overlaps the physical kingdom here on earth; they co-exist with each other but you just cannot see the kingdom of heaven with your natural eyes; it's only with your spiritual eyes that you can see this kingdom.
(Matthew 11:12) The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. We're taking the kingdom of heaven by force because the devil is fighting you "tooth and nail" so that you don't enter in. An example would be for us calling the things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17). We are using our prayers, our words and our faith which God has given us to create reality. (Mark 11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. This is an unmistakable promise from Jesus that calls things that don't exist into reality according to your belief. Your believing is the only condition to this promise. The problem is that the devil is going to come against you with all he has to make you doubt God's Word. What you see, what you hear, what you feel will all come against what you prayed for and are trying to believe for. That's why you must take the kingdom by force; you're battling your flesh which wars against the Word of God. We must fight the good fight of faith. (1Timothy 6:12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life... Faith is a constant battle and we are encouraged to fight, not in the physical but in the spiritual. Although we do walk in the flesh, we are not to fight according to the flesh. (2 Cor 10:4) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds, (5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is where our battle is; the Word of God says one thing while our mind and our thoughts say another. It is a constant battle that we must fight in order to walk in the kingdom of heaven. That's why "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force". You have to pick up your spiritual sword every day (the Word) and slice the devil's lies before they reach your mind. If not, you start to have faith in what you see and hear instead of what God says in His Word. An example is this; "by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). This is a past tense promise that you have already been healed by what Jesus suffered on the cross. Your eyes, what you feel, and what the doctor tells you will directly war against what the Bible clearly says... that you were already healed. Now starts the battle; do you believe what God says or do you believe what the devil is telling you and showing you by what you see and feel? The kingdom of heaven is where God and Jesus reign and Jesus has already paid the price for you to walk in it.
Jesus even gave us the keys to the kingdom of heaven! (Matthew 16:19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever we bind (don’t allow) on earth will not be allowed in heaven and whatever we loose (allow) on earth is allowed in heaven. That’s why Jesus said, (Mark 16:17,18) “And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”. Yes, these signs will be evident with real believers and these believers are walking in the kingdom of heaven at this time. They’re not waiting until they die; they’re in the kingdom right now, trusting in the Lord. They're what the Bible calls dwelling in heaven. (Philippians 3:20) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we were given that born again spirit from the Lord, our citizenship was transferred from earth to heaven. We now live "by faith" in that spiritual kingdom of heaven. God “raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). By faith we are raised with Christ, spiritually sitting in heavenly places. We were “delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son” (Col 1:13). Do you understand what it means to be translated into the kingdom? This Greek word means to be "transferred" or "carried away" to the kingdom of God. The Lord took us from our sinful flesh here on earth into the spiritual kingdom of heaven. By faith, and you receiving that born again spirit you’re now dwelling in the spiritual kingdom of heaven. If you don’t have that born again spirit and you haven’t renewed your mind according to what the Bible says then you’re not dwelling in heaven, you’re still dwelling on earth.
Let’s see what the Bible says about those who dwell on the earth versus those who are dwelling in heaven. (Luke 21:34,35) "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. If you are consumed with the things of this life instead of the things of God, then you are dwelling on earth and not in heaven. This next Scripture talks about all of those who will worship the Beast. (Rev 13:8) and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. All who dwell on the earth will worship the beast, yet those that are not spiritually on the earth, those who are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, those who have entered heaven on earth who's names are written in the book of life will resist and not worship the beast. (Rev 17:8) The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast. The dwellers on the earth have not been written in the book of life. Each and every person in this world either dwells on earth or dwells in heaven; if you’re caught up in the world and not in God, then you're dwelling on this earth.
God’s kingdom is spirit, and if you’ve received that born again spirit of Christ, then you’ve entered into the kingdom of heaven. When you enter into God’s kingdom you'll find holiness and when you’re walking in obedience to God’s Word, and listening to His still small voice, then you are continuing to walk in the kingdom of heaven. (Romans 14:17) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In God’s kingdom there is power! (1Corinthians 4:20) For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. If you have the faith to believe God’s Word, you know the authority you have in Christ and you are now casting out demons, healing the sick and are exercising the will of the Father; this is walking in the kingdom of heaven!
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the kingdom of heaven and I understand that this may be new to you and some of you may not even believe it. That’s OK, don’t take my word for it, search the Scriptures and believe exactly what is written and you’ll see that indeed we live in a spiritual kingdom that you cannot see with your fleshly eyes but only with your spiritual eyes. We are not part of this world, Peter called us sojourners and pilgrims that are just passing through this world, (1 Peter 2:11) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Our home is in heaven and we are just passing through this world to get to where Jesus and His Father dwell. James says that if we become a friend to this world while passing through, then we become enemies of God! (James 4:4) Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
To sum it all up, once you become "born again" you enter the kingdom of heaven and from that point on you’re either exiting the kingdom or entering it. As you enter God's kingdom you'll be in training and God will use whatever it takes to grow you up in the Lord. Entering the kingdom is a violent battle between your ears and if you choose to listen to the Word of God instead of the devil you'll start to walk in the blessings God has prepared for you. Holiness, Healings, casting out demons, miracles is where Jesus and His disciples walked and it's where we should be walking too.
If you love this world and much of this article doesn’t make sense, then you’re probably not in the kingdom of heaven right now. If you feel out of place in this world; if you’re not as comfortable in this world as you used to be, maybe you're seeing that organized “religion” just isn’t teaching what you read in the Bible, then rejoice because God is refining you and you're starting to walk in the kingdom of heaven.
Just remember, we must all enter heaven now before we die or we won’t enter at all. Entering is as simple as believing in what Jesus did for you on the cross and then following His Word in the Bible; it’s called obedience. Do this and you’ll live for eternity in your new home in heaven.
May the Lord bless you,
A servant in the Lord, Mark www.heavenshelpers.org
Questions/Feedback - email me: mark@heavenshelpers.org
