The kingdom of God is now in heaven, because the King is in heaven.
Les teaches that after His resurrection and ascension, Christ took the kingdom with Him to heaven. The kingdom is where the King is, so it is presently located in heaven. Believers have already been translated into this kingdom, and when Christ returns, that same kingdom will be established on earth.
Colossians 1:13 — Paul states believers have already been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, showing the kingdom's present spiritual reality.
Philippians 3:20 — Paul describes the believer's citizenship as being in heaven, where the kingdom currently resides.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:13, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." This verse shows that God the Father has already brought every believer into the kingdom of Christ—the same kingdom that is now with Christ in heaven. The Scripture does not say the kingdom is presently visible on earth; it says believers have been translated into it spiritually. Philippians 3:20 adds, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." This places the believer's true citizenship with Christ in heaven, consistent with the kingdom being in heaven at this time. The Bible also presents the coming earthly kingdom as the fulfillment of Daniel's vision of the stone becoming a great mountain that fills the earth (Daniel 2:35).
Les teaches that the kingdom is where the King is. After Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, He went to heaven, so the kingdom is now in heaven. However, Les repeatedly emphasizes that there is only one kingdom throughout Scripture—the kingdom Christ will set up on earth when He returns to become King of kings and Lord of lords. Believers are already members and citizens of that kingdom. As Les points out from Colossians 1, God has translated us from darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, which is presently in heaven. Yet this does not mean the kingdom is only spiritual; when Christ returns, that same heavenly kingdom will become a visible, governmental, political kingdom on earth. Believers will be with Him and will rule and reign with Him.
Les teaches that in Christ's earthly ministry, John the Baptist and Jesus could say the kingdom of heaven was at hand because the King Himself was at hand. Now that Jesus has ascended to heaven, the kingdom is no longer at hand on earth—it is in heaven in the person of Christ. When the King returns, the kingdom will again be at hand on earth.
Les says the kingdom is presently spiritual in the sense that believers have been translated into it, but it is not yet the visible, political kingdom on earth. When Christ leaves heaven and brings the heavenly kingdom with Him, it will become a visible, viable, governmental, political kingdom on earth as He rules as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Yes. Les teaches that because believers have already been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son, they are part and parcel of that kingdom. When Christ returns to set up His earthly kingdom, believers will be with Him and will rule and reign with Him over the inhabitants of the earthly kingdom.
One Kingdom Throughout Scripture
Les teaches that the stone becoming a mountain in Nebuchadnezzar's dream represents the one kingdom—the kingdom Christ will set up on earth.
Kingdom in Heaven Now, Earthly Later
Les teaches believers are translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son, which is tonight in heaven, and when Christ returns it becomes a visible earthly kingdom.
The King Is in Heaven, So the Kingdom Is in Heaven
Les says the crucified, resurrected King went to heaven, so the kingdom is in heaven; Christ is Head of the Body, not King of the Church.
Believers Will Return With Christ
Les teaches believers are already translated into the kingdom, and when Christ returns with His kingdom they will be with Him in the earthly kingdom.
Citizenship in Heaven
Les explains that because Christ is the epitome of the kingdom, believers become members of the kingdom at salvation and their citizenship is in heaven.
Kingdom at Hand Only When King Was at Hand
Les contrasts John the Baptist's announcement with today: because the King is now in heaven, the kingdom is presently in heaven with Him.
One Kingdom, Already Citizens
Les teaches there is only one kingdom and believers are already citizens of it; it is presently in heaven but will be set up on earth.
The Earthly, Eternal Kingdom
Les teaches the promised kingdom will be on earth, with Christ ruling from Jerusalem, and it will continue into eternity.
Colossians 1:13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
This verse is the central biblical evidence that believers are already in the kingdom, which is now with Christ in heaven.
Philippians 3:20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
This verse places the believer's true home and citizenship in heaven, where Christ and His kingdom now are.
Daniel 2:35: Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
This verse pictures the coming earthly kingdom as a great mountain, which Les explains is the same one kingdom that will be set up on earth.
The kingdom of God is presently in heaven. Since Jesus, the King, is in heaven after His resurrection and ascension, the kingdom is where the King is. Believers have already been translated into this kingdom spiritually.
Yes. Colossians 1:13 says God has delivered us from darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. Les teaches that at the moment of salvation, believers become members and citizens of that kingdom, which is currently in heaven.
When Christ returns. Les teaches that the heavenly kingdom will come with Christ and will become a visible, governmental, political kingdom on earth when He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Yes. Because believers are already part of the kingdom, when Christ sets up His kingdom on earth, they will be with Him and will be part of that glorious kingdom.
Watch the Teaching: Why Is Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Still Relevant Today? Daniel 2