Heaven / The afterlife / The kingdom of God

What did Jesus mean

You are already in the kingdom.

Words behind the words: heaven

Greek: ouranos — sky, firmament, the heights.

Hebrew: shamayim — the heights, used to describe both the physical sky and God’s dwelling.

Neither translation of the word boils down to an afterlife. Let’s break down a timeline:

In the early Hebrew Bible, there was no “heaven for humans” or afterlife. God exists in the sky (heaven), but humans do not go there. Instead, they went to Sheol (a grave where all people went). The “reward” from God was a long life and prosperity — not an afterlife.

A movement into resurrection first surfaced in Isaiah and then came to fruition in Daniel. Faithful people were martyred, and people needed a way to reconcile this. “Justice happens in your next life when you’re raised from the dead.”

By Enoch, Hebrew resurrection and Greek ideas started to blend. Souls and cosmic judgment started to emerge.

Once the New Testament arrived, it was all about the kingdom of God, resurrection, and a “new heaven and new earth.”

When the churches took hold, then it developed into an afterlife. “Heaven is a club you go to when you die.”

Biblical context

In the gospel of Matthew, “kingdom of heaven” also means “kingdom of God.” Jews didn’t always use the word God (out of respect). So Matthew often replaced the word “God” with “heaven.” For example, in Matthew 4:17, when it says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he’s actually saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Helpful reminder: Repent translates to “change your mind.”

Where did Jesus say this

1. John 12:24–26 — Dying and entering into a new life NOW

Verily, verily I say unto you, except the wheat corn fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall destroy it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. And if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Translation: Unless a single grain falls into the ground and dies, it will remain alone (unopened and never planted). But if it falls into the ground and dies (opens up), it will grow and produce more fruit. In other words, if you are too attached to your life, it will only keep you from the life you were created to live. But when you loosen your grip on your life in this world, you will enter into a divine life. If you want to serve me, then follow the same path as me. And when you follow me, God will value you.

Words behind the words: Life eternal translates to zōē aiōnios in Greek. Zōē means life itself or the divine, real life. Aiōnios means age or eon.

2. Matthew 16:25–26 — Killing your old self to enter into a new life NOW

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it. And whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. What shall it profit a man, though he should win all the whole world, if he lose his own soul? Or else what shall a man give to redeem his soul again withal?

Translation: Whoever clings to this version of himself, loses their true self. But whoever abandons that version in order to follow me, they will find that true self. Because even if a man wins the entire world, what does he actually earn if he loses his true self in the process? What can a man use to buy back his true self?

3. John 11:23–26 — The invisible now matters more than the visible later

Jesus said unto her: Thy brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him: I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her: I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth on me, yea though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth on me, shall never die. Believest thou this?

In this passage, Jesus corrects Martha. He is about to raise Lazarus from the dead, and Martha says “…at the last day”, and Jesus says, “No. If you believe in me, then that ‘last day’ is now and your life is eternal. Dead or alive, if you follow me, your life is eternal.” Consider it an encoded message wrapped up in a lesson.

The message: He made the invisible (the death of your “ego” flows into the birth of your true self and into a divine life) visible (Lazarus literally dies and is raised from the dead).

The lesson: your current relationship with Jesus matters more than a resurrection event you’re waiting on in the future.

4. John 14:1–6 — Jesus is moving in NOW and you are ALREADY living in the kingdom of God/heaven

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you even unto myself, that where I am, there may ye be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas said unto him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how is it possible for us to know the way? Jesus said unto him: I am the way, the truth, and the life. And no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:23 — “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

We’ve covered this passage before. Many people assume this means there is a mansion waiting for you in heaven, and you get to live in it after you die (but of course, only if you’re devout enough). However, that’s not the case at all. Here’s how we translated it in earlier entries:

“In God’s kingdom, there are many rooms. I am going there to prepare one for you.”

“If you love me unconditionally and if you live by my ‘word’, then God will also love you unconditionally. And we will both move inside of you. I know you don’t truly know me if you see my word as a to-do list and not as a way of life. And remember, the message you hear comes from God (not me).”

Think of it this way:

In God’s kingdom, there’s a lot of space. In that space, there are many rooms. You are one room. Jesus wants to move inside. He can only do this if you hear his teachings as one complete message and one way of living (not as fragmented ethical statements).

In other words, you already live inside the kingdom of God. Whether or not you feel that, is up to you and the choices you make.

5. Luke 10:17–20 — Stop waiting for the afterlife. God already knows and loves you in this life

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying: Lord, even the very devils are subdued to us through thy name. And he said unto them: I saw Satan, as it had been lightning, fall down from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all manner power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, in this rejoice not that the spirits are subdued unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

We’ve previously covered the word behind the word for Satan. It means accuser, and it was an actual job in God’s court. It was like a prosecutor. The Satan stood up against you, and tested you.

The “devils” comes from daimonia, which Jesus ties to “spirits” later in the passage. He’s insinuating that “devils” are more like personal demons (compulsions, bad habits, and negative patterns).

If you hold those definitions true, then this passage reads a bit different.

Translation: The groups said to Jesus: Even our personal demons submit to your authority.

Jesus responded by saying: I saw the accuser fall from his podium. He cannot test you from afar; he’s at your level now. Through me, you have the power and the responsibility to stand up against your own “demons” (your compulsions, negative patterns, destructive habits). Even though these demons now submit to your authority, the real reason to be happy is that your names are already stamped in God’s heart.

What Jesus did not mean

Jesus never framed “heaven” as some fancy, perfect afterlife you float into once you die. But he often spoke about a present “resurrection”, entering into a divine life, and living inside the kingdom of God.

Let’s recap what Jesus actually said and meant:

1. John 12:24–26 — Dying and entering into a new life NOW.
2. Matthew 16:25–26 — Killing your old self to enter into a new life NOW.
3. John 11:23–26 — The invisible now matters more than the visible later.
4. John 14:1–6 — Jesus is moving in NOW and you are ALREADY living in the kingdom of God/heaven.
5. Luke 10:17–20 — Stop waiting for the afterlife. God already knows and loves you in this life.

What does this all mean?

Whatever you want to call it (the afterlife, a new world, heaven), it’s all the same thing. It’s the old you dying, resurrecting, and then entering into a new reality (the kingdom of God). It’s the same physical world, but you see it through a different pair of eyes. And now, Jesus is leading the way.

“O our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be fulfilled, as well in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Translation: Father (God), you exist in heaven, and you are sacred to me and you mean everything to me. So come to me, fully, here on earth, as you are in heaven.

Even here, the text requests God to come to earth (not the reverse). More importantly, this was a teaching moment. Jesus recited this within the “Lord’s Prayer” as an example of how to pray (which ultimately turned into another ritual). In other words, he’s telling people right then and there: ask God to come to you, not the other way around.

Where to start

Stop performing for God. If the only reason you love God and read the bible is because you think it means you get into heaven, then you’re doing it wrong.

God wants a real relationship, and this relationship can’t be real if you’re always waiting for God to give you something else (an afterlife).

Your life is now, and you are already in the kingdom of God. If you don’t feel that way, then it means you need to work on your personal relationship with God. You do that through Jesus. So start talking.

Benefits

Once you understand that God is just one conversation away, then the allure of an afterlife will melt away. This means you can stop performing for an eventual self and start living as your true self.