Being translated into the kingdom of His dear Son is God the Father's already-accomplished act of spiritual deliverance — transferring every believer from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His Son at the moment of salvation.
The past-tense language of Colossians 1:13 — 'hath delivered' and 'hath translated' — shows this is already done for believers (Clips 1, 2, 7). Les Feldick stresses it was not a physical sensation of taking a trip; it was one of the things God did instantaneously at belief, appropriated by faith (Clip 0). The kingdom is the same kingdom promised to David and Solomon and referenced throughout Scripture — presently in heaven, soon to be established on the earth, when believers will be part and parcel of it (Clips 1, 5, 6).
Colossians 1:12 — Paul begins his thanksgiving to the Father who has made believers meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light — the immediate context of the translation into the kingdom.
Colossians 1:13 — This is the verse that directly answers the question: God the Father has delivered believers from the power of darkness and has translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Paul's answer to this question is found in Colossians 1:12-13: 'Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.' The verbs are past tense — the Father has already made believers meet, has already delivered them from the power of darkness, and has already translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son. The very next verse connects this translation with redemption: 'In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins' (Colossians 1:14). Being in the kingdom of His dear Son is inseparable from redemption and forgiveness in Christ. Scripture also places the believer's present standing in heaven: 'For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ' (Philippians 3:20). And John the Baptist announced, 'Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matthew 3:2).
Les lists being translated as item number eight in the things God did instantaneously the moment we believe — none of which we could do in the flesh; all had to be an act of God, and we appropriate it by faith (Clip 0). He emphasizes that believers did not feel themselves suddenly taking a trip or sense they were in one place and then another, yet the Scripture says it has happened; it is past tense, it is done (Clip 0). Les repeatedly insists, 'The kingdom is the kingdom is the kingdom is the kingdom.' The kingdom promised to David and Solomon, later promised to the disciples in the Gospels, referenced in the book of Acts, and mentioned in Colossians is the same kingdom that is coming upon the earth (Clips 1, 6). God the Father has already delivered believers from the power of darkness and already translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son; if you are a child of God, you are in the kingdom (Clips 2, 7). The kingdom is presently in heaven, in the person of Christ (Clips 4, 7). For Grace Age believers, citizenship is in heaven because that is where the kingdom is (Clips 4, 5). Christ is the King, but He is not the King of the Church — He is the Head of the Body; believers are members of that kingdom (Clip 6). When Christ returns and sets up the kingdom on the earth, believers will be with Him and part and parcel of that kingdom, which will become a visible, viable, governmental, political kingdom when He becomes King of kings and Lord of lords (Clips 2, 5, 6).
Yes. The past-tense verbs 'hath delivered' and 'hath translated' in Colossians 1:13 show that God the Father has already accomplished this for believers (Clips 1, 2, 7). Les Feldick lists being translated among the things God did instantaneously the moment we believe — none of which we could do in the flesh, all of which we appropriate by faith (Clip 0). No one felt himself suddenly taking a trip; it was not a sensation of moving from one place to another, but a spiritual reality that is past tense and done (Clip 0).
Les Feldick teaches that the kingdom into which believers have been translated is tonight located in heaven, in the person of Christ (Clips 4, 7). For Grace Age believers, our citizenship is in heaven, because that is where the kingdom is (Clips 4, 5). Paul speaks of this in Philippians 3:20 when he says our conversation, or citizenship, is in heaven (Clip 4).
Les stresses that the kingdom is the kingdom is the kingdom — the same kingdom promised to David and Solomon and referenced throughout Scripture is the one that will be set upon this earth (Clips 1, 6). When Christ comes at His second coming and establishes the kingdom on the earth, believers will be with Him (Clip 2). The heavenly kingdom will become a visible, viable, governmental, political kingdom when He becomes King of kings and Lord of lords, and believers — already citizens of it — will be part and parcel of it (Clips 5, 6).
Les teaches that Christ is the very epitome of the kingdom; as believers become members of the Body of Christ, they also become members of the kingdom (Clip 4). Christ is the King, absolutely, but He is not the King of the Church — He is the Head of the Body. Believers are members of that kingdom (Clip 6).
Translation Is an Instantaneous Act of God
Les lists being translated among the things God did instantaneously at the moment of belief — none of which we could do in the flesh. He emphasizes that believers did not feel themselves suddenly taking a trip; the translation is past tense and done.
The Same Kingdom Promised Throughout Scripture
Les reads Colossians 1:12-13 and stresses the past-tense 'hath delivered' and 'hath translated.' He teaches that the kingdom mentioned here is the same kingdom promised to David and Solomon, to the disciples in the Gospels, and referenced in Acts — the one coming upon the earth.
Believers Are Already in the Kingdom
Les applies Colossians 1:13 directly: if you are a child of God, you are in the kingdom. He also promises that when Christ sets up the kingdom on the earth at His second coming, believers will be with Him.
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Now here it comes, who, speaking of the Father, the Father has, past tense, delivered us, and remember Paul always speaks to or on behalf of believers, never an unbeliever. And so the Father has already delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath already translated us into what? The kingdom of His dear Son.
The Kingdom Is in Heaven; Citizenship Is Heavenly
Les connects being translated into the kingdom with Paul's statement in Philippians that our citizenship is in heaven, teaching that Christ is the epitome of the kingdom and that the kingdom is presently in heaven.
From a Heavenly Kingdom to an Earthly Kingdom
Les explains that the kingdom of His dear Son is presently a spiritual kingdom located in heaven, but when God the Son leaves heaven He will bring the heavenly kingdom to establish the earthly kingdom — and believers will be with Him.
Christ Is King, and Head of the Body
Les reiterates that there is only one kingdom in Scripture — the one that will be set on the earth — and that believers are already citizens of it. Christ is the King, but He is the Head of the Body, not the King of the Church.
The Kingdom Is Presently in Glory in the Person of Christ
Les explains that believers are already members of the kingdom, which tonight is in glory in the person of Christ — and he points to John the Baptist's declaration that the kingdom of heaven was at hand because the King was at hand.
Colossians 1:12: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Paul's opening thanksgiving establishes that the Father has already qualified believers for the inheritance of the saints — the immediate setting for the translation into the kingdom.
Colossians 1:13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
The key verse of the question — past-tense deliverance and translation into the kingdom of God's dear Son.
Colossians 1:14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Shows that being in the kingdom of His dear Son comes with redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood.
Philippians 3:20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Les connects this verse to the translation into the kingdom, since the kingdom is presently in heaven and so is the believer's citizenship.
Matthew 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John the Baptist's announcement of the kingdom of heaven being at hand — which Les ties to the presence of the King.
No. Les Feldick explains that believers did not feel themselves suddenly taking a trip or sense they were in one place and then another. Translation into the kingdom of His dear Son is a past-tense spiritual reality accomplished by God at salvation, not a physical movement (Clip 0).
Les teaches that the kingdom is the same kingdom promised throughout Scripture and is presently in heaven. When Christ returns at His second coming and sets up the kingdom on the earth, believers — already translated into it — will be with Him and part of the kingdom when He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords (Clips 2, 5, 6).
Already now. Les Feldick stresses that if you are a child of God, you are in the kingdom (Clip 2). The past-tense verbs of Colossians 1:13 show the translation is already accomplished (Clips 1, 2, 7). The future aspect is the visible establishment of the same kingdom on the earth, when believers will be with Christ (Clips 5, 6).
Watch the Teaching: What Happens the Moment You're Saved? Colossians 1 Explained