Living in the Kingdom of Heaven

By Angie Lewis

Do you live in the Kingdom of Heaven Now? Many people believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is not here yet because they cannot see it. They have been taught to believe that the Kingdom of Heaven will come exploding down out of the clouds with Jesus sitting upon an earthly thrown. They are waiting for this much talked about rapture event to take them up into the heavens so they can finally be with Jesus.

Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines rapture like this.

1. A seizing by violence. Does this sound like something a loving God would do to those who were faithful believers? Did you know the bible does not even mention ‘a rapture’ event? Where did this rapture story come from?

Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is here right now! Jesus will return one day to reign over a perfect kingdom where all evil and sin will be destroyed! But believers do not have to wait for sin and evil to be destroyed to begin living for God now! Many people are anticipating a physical king to appear, but what they don’t realize is He is already here through the Power of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of believers today.

Jesus Christ is the believer’s King!

They will make war against the lamb, but the Lord will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
Revelations 17:14

God’s Kingdom is here now! The bible is a history book. Everything recorded in the bible has already been played out. That means God’s children have already been given the Kingdom of Heaven and should be living for Christ now! What is everyone waiting for? History plays itself out in cycles – that means the same kind of events happen over and over again, but just a different decade, century, or millennium.

Lots of devastating and catastrophic events happen today, such as wars, rumors of wars, floods, deadly tsunami’s, and pandemic’s, and people like to point back to the bible and call it the plagues before the “coming of the rapture”. But these kinds of things have been going on for centuries and they will continue to do so.

The best way to be prepared, before you fall asleep in mortal death, is to repent and face God your Creator now because when you awake you will be standing before Jesus in your spirit filled body thankful to be blessed with eternity. Frankly folks, Jesus Christ is already here in Spirit, waiting for you to turn your life around. Anyone who is not following Christ faithfully may not be looking at any spiritual mansions in the sky. If you are not a faithful follower now, become a faithful follower and you will have nothing to worry about.

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near”. This is he (John the Baptist) who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah.
Matthew 3:2,3 NIV

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He said, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” He was a prophet who urged the people to confess their sins and live for God. John the Baptist was talking to the people of Jesus’ days and has already happened!

Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? Then you are considered to be an alien or stranger in this world, because a Christian’s real home is with God. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ resides in every believer today, and that is the workings of the Kingdom of Heaven. Are you one of His called, chosen and faithful followers?

What does it entail to be a Christ follower? How can I enter into the Kingdom of Heaven now? Life in God’s heaven here on earth operates according to God’s principles and values; it is eternal and unshakeable. You cannot see it but Jesus left us His Kingdom to live His Kingdom principles now.

His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for there is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for there is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:1-10

The Kingdom of Heaven began when God came to earth as a man in Jesus. Today, Jesus Christ should be the reigning force in the hearts and minds of believers everywhere because the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.