Did God bring heaven here or are we going to heaven?

Did God bring heaven to earth or we are going to heaven?

Choosing one of these is becoming an extreme. Some say that God does not want us to go to heaven because he brought heaven here. Some say God will bring us to heaven, through the "rapture" or through "death".

If God brought heaven here and he doesnt bring us to heaven, then how about at the time of death? Is that the end of everything, our heavenlike life on earth? Wont the saint go to heaven and be with the Lord for ever?

Emphasis is given to the idea that we are in heaven now, that God brought heaven to earth, that the "kingdom of God" is within you. Yes, we are there! Yes the kingdom of God is within. Within what?

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

When the Lord Jesus was saying these words to the religious people the Pharisees, he didnt say to the Pharisees, "Hey, you religious Pharisees, God;s kingdom is within your hearts!". If that is the case, why would he speak woes to these religious leaders?

The kingdom of God is "within you" does not mean "within" the Pharisees, but that God's kingdom is IN them, AMONG them through the rejected Messias, Jesus.

Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The king was with them but they didnt recognize his presence. If them was with them and among them then the kingdom was with them. There was the kingdom.

Even Paul the apostle said that::

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

John the writer of the book of Revelation proclaimed this truth:

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The tabernacle of God was with men, and he will dwell with them. It happened through Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Earth became heaven when Christ came, the temple of God, the tabernacle of God was with them. Jesus is "Emmanuel" - God with Us.

So it is true, God brought heaven to earth through Jesus Christ and his presence remains for ever. Despite all the evils and pains in this world, God is here through Jesus Christ. He indwells those who believe in him.

But the fact that believers will go to heaven is also true. Paul the apostle speaks of a "heavenly kingdom", God's heavenly kingdom.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

And also believers are "raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). And this place where Christ ascended to is "far above all heavens" (Eph. 4:12). Is that figurative? No! It is a literal heaven. There are three heavens. The first heaven is the firmament where the birds fly, where the sun and the moon and the stars and planets are. The second heaven, above the firmament (metal glass covering) is the watery heaven (not outer space, no outer space). The third heaven is the place above the watery heaven, and thats the abode of the New Jerusalem. Above this heaven is the heaven of heavens where God is - the highest literally and figuratively. Far above all heavens.

Into this place, the third heaven God took his people, the church his bride. None left behind. Rapture? Probably. I dont like that word rapture. It was being caught up. Literally? yes. They were. Not us. Prophecy was fulfilled in the first century church.

When I say that we are going to heaven (the saints, the elect, not all men), I dont mean rapture. It is not that Christ will meet us in the air to be with him ever. That was a fulfilled prophecy for the chruch. But what I mean is that, Christ will appear with us in the heavenly places. And it is not a one time event. It is an individual believer's experience when he dies. The dust returns to where it was and the spirit returns to God. And in the case of the saint, it is "clothed". And it is IBN or immortal body now. As believers in Christ, we have this immortal body now. And this immortal body is what we wear the moment this "mortal corruptible body" dies and goes back to the dust.

So what is correct? Heaven came here or we are going to heaven? BOTH are correct.

Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

The believer who has Christ in him has God's heaven in him. Heaven is here with him because of Jesus Christ. And the moment his mortal body dies, he wears his immortal, heavenly, spiritual body and "departs" to be with Christ Jesus for ever.