Who are the earthly and heavenly people of God in Scripture?
Scripture presents two entities: the nation of Israel as the earthly people of God, and the church as the heavenly people of God. This distinction runs all through Scripture, with Israel connected to earth and the church connected to heaven, especially after Christ returned to heaven.
Les explains that all through Scripture there are two entities: the nation of Israel as the earthly people of God, and the church as the heavenly people of God. He notes that since Christ is no longer on earth, the kingdom of heaven went with Him into heaven. In Colossians 1, Paul writes to Gentiles and prays for the Colossi believers, a prayer valid for us today. Paul says the Father has delivered believers from the power of darkness and translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son. If you are a child of God, you are in the kingdom. When Christ comes at His second coming and sets up the kingdom on earth, believers will be with Him.