Where did the kingdom of heaven go after Jesus ascended?
When Jesus ascended, the kingdom of heaven went with Him into heaven. Since He is no longer on earth, the kingdom is not presently at hand on earth. Believers have been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son, and at His second coming they will be with Him when He sets up the earthly kingdom.
Les explains that after Jesus went back to heaven, the kingdom of heaven went with Him into heaven; because He is no longer on earth, the kingdom of heaven is no longer “at hand” on earth. Scripture presents two entities: Israel as the earthly people of God and the church as the heavenly people of God. In Colossians 1, Paul prays for believers and says the Father has already delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Therefore, if you are a child of God, you are in the kingdom now. When Christ comes at His second coming and sets up the kingdom on the earth, believers will be with Him.