Where/What Is Heaven

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Bob Estey

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In light of these two verses, what or where is heaven?

[20] Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
[21] nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." Luke 17:20-21
 

Raccoon1010

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In light of these two verses, what or where is heaven?

[20] Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
[21] nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." Luke 17:20-21
God is in a very far place from here.

John 14:2 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.
 

Bob Estey

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God is in a very far place from here.

John 14:2 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.
How can the verse you quoted, and the verses I quoted, both be true? (And they have to both be true.)
 

Raccoon1010

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How can the verse you quoted, and the verses I quoted, both be true? (And they have to both be true.)
The kingdom of God is the entire universe. It is an earthly kingdom too. But heaven is not earth.

I see that you're minimizing heaven like you do with hell. Saying that hell is here and heaven is here while neither is here. Hell is in the heart of the earth and heaven is a far off place with God. God does not revolve around the earth. The earth is one of so many places and heaven is not here.
 
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Bob Estey

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The kingdom of God is the entire universe. It is an earthly kingdom too. But heaven is not earth.

I see that you're minimizing heaven like you do with hell. Saying that hell is here and heaven is here while neither is here. Hell is in the heart of the earth and heaven is a far off place with God. God does not revolve around the earth. The earth is one of so many places and heaven is not here.
Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is in the midst of you." How can you say it's not here?
 

Raccoon1010

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Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is in the midst of you." How can you say it's not here?
The Kingdom of God is not the same as Heaven. Jesus was and is King of the earth when he came here, that is why they made him a crown of thorns and labeled his cross "King of the Jews".
 

Nancy

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Hi Bob,
Maybe Heaven and The Kingdom of God are totally two different existences/places?
 
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Raccoon1010

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Hi Bob,
Maybe Heaven and The Kingdom of God are totally two different existences/places?
Yes I agree and perhaps you said it better cause somehow my point was lost. I think heaven is part of the Kingdom of God, but I think earth and all the places of earths are also part of the Kingdom.
 
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Nancy

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Yes I agree and perhaps you said it better cause somehow my point was lost. I think heaven is part of the Kingdom of God, but I think earth and all the places of earths are also part of the Kingdom.
"On Earth, as it is in heaven"!! :)
 
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Bob Estey

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The Kingdom of God is not the same as Heaven. Jesus was and is King of the earth when he came here, that is why they made him a crown of thorns and labeled his cross "King of the Jews".

Hi Bob,
Maybe Heaven and The Kingdom of God are totally two different existences/places?
Then how would you two explain this:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 RSV
 
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Nancy

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Then how would you two explain this:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 RSV

Or...they could be synonymous :D Good question.

Perhaps it is that the Kingdom is inside of us already? The Kingdom/heaven is outside of time so, it has already arrived but...not in our sphere of "time".
 
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Raccoon1010

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Then how would you two explain this:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 RSV
I don't try to over analyze things. I know heaven and earth are two separate places in the Kingdom of God. But I think @Nancy already explained this with the Lord's prayer. "on earth as it is in heaven"
 
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Nancy

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I don't try to over analyze things. I know heaven and earth are two separate places in the Kingdom of God. But I think @Nancy already explained this with the Lord's prayer. "on earth as it is in heaven"
Thanks Devin, it was only an observation. That "cannot be seen with natural eyes..." :D
 

Bob Estey

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Or...they could be synonymous :D Good question.

Perhaps it is that the Kingdom is inside of us already? The Kingdom/heaven is outside of time so, it has already arrived but...not in our sphere of "time".
I think the clue is in Matthew 4:17: Repent. When we fully repent, we fully understand.
 
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Bob Estey

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I don't try to over analyze things. I know heaven and earth are two separate places in the Kingdom of God. But I think @Nancy already explained this with the Lord's prayer. "on earth as it is in heaven"
I would suggest an important clue rests in Matthew 4:17. What does Jesus tell us to do?
 

BARNEY BRIGHT

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How can the verse you quoted, and the verses I quoted, both be true? (And they have to both be true.)

Luke 17:20-21 isn't saying to the Pharisees that they would see the kingdom of God coming with observable signs, because Jesus Christ was there among the Pharisees and since Jesus Christ is the king of that kingdom, the kingdom of God was already among them.
 
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