The kingdom of God is now in heaven with Christ, and it will come to earth when He returns to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Les Feldick teaches that since the King is in heaven, the kingdom is in heaven. Believers are already translated into that kingdom spiritually (Colossians 1:13), but its full physical and political expression will occur when Christ returns to set up the earthly kingdom.
Colossians 1:13 — This verse directly states that believers have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, which Les identifies as presently located in heaven.
Colossians 1:12-13 says, "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." Paul also writes in Philippians 3:20, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Scripture distinguishes between the present spiritual reality of citizenship in heaven and the future earthly rule of Christ described in Revelation 11:15, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."
Les teaches that "the kingdom is where the King is." Since Christ returned to heaven after His resurrection, the kingdom is now in heaven. The kingdom is one unified kingdom throughout Scripture — the kingdom Christ will set up on earth when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Believers today are already members of that kingdom spiritually, because Colossians 1 says God has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, which presently is in heaven. When Christ returns, He will bring that heavenly kingdom with Him and establish it on earth, and believers will be with Him, ruling and reigning with Him.
Les acknowledges it is a spiritual kingdom for believers now — our citizenship is in heaven and we have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. But he is emphatic that it is not only spiritual. He calls it a "visible, viable, governmental, political kingdom" that will be established on earth when Christ returns. Even now, the kingdom is in heaven in the person of Christ, and it is already political in its future certainty, for Christ will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Les points to Colossians 1:12-13, where Paul says God has "translated us from the power of darkness" into the kingdom of His dear Son. This is a present-tense reality for the believer — we are already members of that kingdom. Yet the kingdom itself is presently located in heaven, because that is where the King is. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and from there we look for the Savior.
When God the Son leaves heaven, Les says He will bring the heavenly kingdom with Him and set up the earthly kingdom. Believers will be with Him and become part and parcel of that kingdom when it becomes a visible, viable, governmental, political kingdom on earth. Christ will rule and reign upon the earth from the city of Jerusalem as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Les carefully distinguishes the Body of Christ from the kingdom. He says Paul never alludes to Christ as the King of the Church. As members of the Body, we are joint heirs with Him — He is the Head and we are the Body, a far more intimate relationship than king and subject. However, Christ is still the King of the kingdom, and believers are members of that kingdom, already translated into it.
The Kingdom Is the Kingdom
Les explains from Daniel 2 that the 'stone kingdom' is the one kingdom Christ will set up on earth, and even when Jesus said 'the kingdom is within you,' He meant it points to that literal, physical kingdom.
Kingdom Now in Heaven
Les teaches that believers are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, which is now located in heaven, and will become a visible, governmental, political kingdom when Christ returns.
The King Is in Heaven
Les states plainly: 'Always remember the Kingdom is where the King is. The King is in Heaven,' so the kingdom is now in heaven. He also clarifies that Christ is not the King of the Church.
Translated Into the Heavenly Kingdom
Les shows from Colossians 1 that believers are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, which is in heaven, and we will return with Christ when He establishes the earthly kingdom.
Citizenship in Heaven
Les connects the kingdom's location in heaven with the believer's citizenship — because the kingdom is in heaven, our citizenship is also in heaven, and from there we look for the Savior.
Kingdom of Heaven at Hand
Les explains that the kingdom is presently in glory in the person of Christ; when Christ was on earth, John the Baptist could say the kingdom was at hand because the King was at hand.
One Kingdom, Already Citizens
Les repeats that there is only one kingdom in Scripture and it will be set on earth; believers are already citizens of that kingdom, which is in heaven tonight, and we will be part of it when Christ returns.
The Earthly Kingdom in Jerusalem
Les points to the future earthly kingdom where Christ will rule on earth from Jerusalem, showing that the present heavenly location is not the final expression of 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:
This is the key New Testament verse Les uses to show believers are presently in the kingdom.
Colossians 1:12: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
This precedes verse 13 and shows the inheritance that comes with being translated into the kingdom.
Philippians 3:20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Les cites this to show that the believer's citizenship is in heaven because that is where the kingdom is.
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.
This is the Old Testament promise of the earthly kingdom that Christ will set up.
Revelation 11:15: And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
This is the New Testament fulfillment of the earthly kingdom becoming Christ's.
The kingdom is in heaven because the King, Christ, is in heaven. Les Feldick says, "The Kingdom is where the King is." Believers are already members of that kingdom spiritually, translated into it by God according to Colossians 1:13, even though the earthly kingdom has not yet been set up.
Yes. According to Colossians 1:13, God has translated believers from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. That kingdom is presently located in heaven. Les says we are already members and citizens of that kingdom, which will become a visible, earthly kingdom when Christ returns.
Yes. Les teaches that the one kingdom throughout Scripture is the kingdom Christ will set up on earth when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ will bring the heavenly kingdom with Him, and believers will be with Him, ruling and reigning over it on earth.
Watch the Teaching: Daniel 2 Explained: The Stone Kingdom That Fills the Earth