Have you ever been confused about the kingdom of heaven? I sure have. Some things Jesus said about the kingdom of heaven appear to contradict other things He said. 

For example, Jesus said, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 13:47-50 New American Standard Bible). 

In this case, Jesus seems to be talking about an earthly kingdom where the wicked are removed from first by angels, and the righteous are left behind. But, in another place, Jesus seems to talking about a place in heaven where His followers will first be taken, and the wicked are left behind. 

Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3). Later the Apostle Paul elaborated on this event by saying, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord" ( 1 Thes. 4:16-17). 

The question is, how do we make sense of these two contradictory descriptions of what will happen when Christ returns? The answer, of course, is that Jesus will first come for His followers to meet Him in the air. This event is known as the rapture. And, later He will return to earth with His followers to claim His physical kingdom on earth. 

But, what did Jesus mean by saying the kingdom of heaven was already on earth? I believe the kingdom of heaven Jesus was referring to can be understood as an extension of the power, authority and presence of Christ on earth (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 4:20, Revelation 3: 8). You see, the kingdom of heaven on earth actually had its beginning before the establishment of the church. It began with the preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11-14). Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven with Him. And when people believed in Jesus, they began establishing His earthly kingdom. After Jesus was crucified, His power, authority and presence continued on earth in His followers. In other words, today the earthly kingdom of heaven is an extension of His churches. 

The kingdom of heaven was first offered to Israel. So, when Israel rejected it, it was offered to the Gentile world. To Israel, Jesus said: "Did you never read in the Scriptures, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; this came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eye?' Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whom ever it falls, it will shatter him like dust" (Matthew 21:42-44). 

So the kingdom of heaven was offered to the Gentile nations. It took root in Asia Minor with the seven churches. This is why Jesus sent them a message in the book of Revelation. He wanted them to understand their mission and what would happen when they were gone. 

Paul even told us why God established the Gentile churches on earth - to demonstrate something. Paul said, "To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:8-10). 

I believe this demonstration of God's wisdom through the church has actually happened. Have you noticed? It seems the whole world is attempting to make itself into the American image -- free markets, democracy and the rule of law. And, I believe the true Christian church represented in the Bible by the seven independent churches is responsible for the freedoms and blessing we have achieved here in America. 

When the founding fathers of any nation see fit to make a place for these Bible-believing churches, they are actually providing a place for the kingdom of heaven to take root. And this kingdom of heaven has provided the world with a foretaste of the promised Messianic Kingdom that I believe is soon to come (Mark 4:26-32, Romans 10:19-21).