When we read Jesus saying many would not enter into the kingdom of heaven, we all panic a bit. No one wants to be left out of anything let alone heaven. We have just never really studied the subject and have never understood the different things that Jesus was saying. It also comes down to pastors not wanting to speak anything too controversial. So what do we do with this statement and many others Jesus spoke? We spread them out, like an accordion fan. When the fan is spread open, it makes a circle or a third of a circle which we can wave in our face to cool off. It also allows us to see a picture that is printed on the fan. We are interested in the picture. The accordion fan is only useful uncompressed. That should be our attitude here. Jesus is not trying to scare everyone into legalism or condemnation. However many will not enter the kingdom of heaven. This is a disturbing statement yet we should not shy away from it. Therefore, let’s search out the scriptures because there are people who intentionally lock the door of the kingdom of heaven on us and we want to know everything we can while we are on the earth. We want to see the picture on the fan.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/10/outer-darkness-farthest-are-foremost.html
Let’s start with a reminder. If someone is a Jesus rejecter then upon their death they go to hades and Jesus explained what that was like. He also said that if someone is a child abuser then upon their death they will go to gehenna. If we are believers and we die before Jesus calls from the clouds then we will go to Paradise. We will see our saved loved ones there and all the saints who loved Jesus Christ. Then when Jesus calls from the clouds the dead in Christ rise up first and those who are believers on the earth will be caught up with them and meet Jesus in the air. At that point everyone in Paradise and all the believers alive on Earth will enter heaven and some will enter the kingdom of heaven. Let’s explore.
Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
This is a standing statement. If we want to see the kingdom of the Elohim it is required for us to be born again. Is the kingdom of God different from the kingdom of heaven? Yes.
There are different kingdoms referenced in the Bible. There are kingdoms of men, which are earthly kingdoms ruled by men. There is the kingdom of heaven, which both John and Jesus preached is at hand. We see it in the Book of Revelation. There is the kingdom of the Elohim, meaning wherever the Elohim is (the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit) the kingdom of the Elohim is. The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God, but the kingdom of God is not always limited to heaven. There is the millennial kingdom where Jesus will rule and reign for one thousand years from Jerusalem. There are a few more kingdoms, like the kingdom of death or the kingdom of the beast, but what we are concerned with in this study is the kingdom of heaven. Are we in or out?
When thinking of an example of a kingdom on earth, we notice that there are many walled cities that have existed over the years with the kingdom inside the nation. The governing bodies are inside, the laity are outside. A great example is from Revelation 21 and 22. There is inside the new Jerusalem and outside the new Jerusalem.
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
This is the new heaven and new earth which comes down after the great white throne judgment which takes place after the millennial kingdom is finished. The evil ones have been thrown into the lake of fire and there aren’t any followers of Satanas any longer. This does not mean that everyone is holy and spiritually clean. There will be gates and walls. Who is going to be kept out?
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
There will be people coming and going. Nothing will be brought in that is defiling or an abomination. No lies either. Just those people written in the Lambs book of life.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
This is why there is a wall and gates. Those that serve and do his commands will enter the city through the gates. But there are some unsavory people outside. Why are they there? I thought this was a new place, why mess the outer areas up with unrighteousness?
There is an “in” and an “out” for a reason. On the outside are the people who do evil things. They are on the outside. We see the kings come to bring glory and honor, but it does not mean that they stay inside, they are kings on the earth. They rule over kingdoms elsewhere. This is in the far future at the end of our unfolded fan.
In like manner there is a lot going on in heaven. There are many sons of the Elohim. They all have things to do. They are maintaining the heavens. It is not a great place today as Drakōn, Satanas, and their principalities and powers have access in the heavens, but they will be cast out halfway through the tribulation period. So in the heavens there will be a bit of warring, until Drakōn, Satanas, and the one third of the fallen angels are cast out . Heaven is simply on the outside of the kingdom of heaven. The governing body is inside, the laity is outside. Outside the kingdom is a pretty nice place, filled with angels, archangels, and other servants of the Almighty Everlasting Father.
Jesus and John preached that the kingdom of heaven was near. What they were trying to do was change people’s focus upward to heaven and beyond to the kingdom of heaven. People were focused on the earth, the laws, and doing the things to be acceptable in the sight of men. Unfolding the fan we see that there is more to attain to, by our own freedom to attain, than a flat heaven. There will be no saints sitting on clouds playing harps for eternity, there will be things to do as there is now.
When Jesus entered Capernaum a centurion met him and needed help for his servant.The centurion understood heavenly authority. He is not concerned with earthly authority as he himself had authority, he was well aware that Jesus had heavenly authority. Otherwise he would have gone to his higher up in command to heal his servant. He knew that those commanders had no heavenly authority, but Jesus Messiah did. Jesus was amazed at the faith this Centurion had.
Matthew 8:11 G3004 And I say G1161 G1473 to you, G3754 that G4183 many G575 from G395 east G2532 and G1424 west G2240 shall come, G2532 and G347 shall be lain down G3326 with G* Abraham G2532 and G* Isaac G2532 and G* Jacob G1722 in G3588 the G932 kingdom G3588 of the G3772 heavens.
“Say but to you that many away from rising/east and setting/west have come and lean back/recline in the midst of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom heaven.”
Many will come to eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Imagine all the Jews who have looked forward to meeting Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but who rejected Jesus. They won’t get to meet them, they will see them, but not eat with them.
Matthew 8:12 G3588 But the G1161 G5207 sons G3588 of the G932 kingdom G1544 shall be cast out G1519 into G3588 the G4655 [2darkness G3588 G1857 1outer]; G1563 there, G1510.8.3 there shall be G3588 G2805 weeping G2532 and G3588 the G1030 gnashing G3588 G3599 of teeth.
“The but son the kingdom cast out into the darkness the outer in that place will be the weeping and the grinding the tooth”.
The sons of the kingdom are cast out. Who are the sons of the kingdom? The Israelites. The heirs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Israelites will be outside the kingdom, watching people eating with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They see what is going on inside in order to cry and lament over it. Let’s look at some definitions.
4655
σκότος
skotos skot'-os From the base of G4639; shadiness, that is, obscurity (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: darkness.
1857
ἐξώτερος
exōteros ex-o'-ter-os Compound of G1854; exterior KJV Usage: outer.
2805
κλαυθμός
klauthmos klowth-mos' From G2799; lamentation KJV Usage: wailing, weeping, X wept.
1030
βρυγμός
brugmos broog-mos' From G1031; a grating (of the teeth) KJV Usage: gnashing.
If we think of Great Britain there are citizens of Great Britain, but Buckingham Palace is reserved for Royals and invitees. The citizens do not go into the palace when they feel like it. It is opened to the public for a few months per year by ticket only. Those who do enter in are invited guests who have their background checked and are approved to be in the company of the Royals. Heaven is similar. Heaven is the kingdom of the Elohim, but the kingdom of heaven is an invitation only restricted area. This gives us insight as to being saved by grace; everyone who believes and confesses goes to heaven. While we are not saved by works, our service to Jesus Christ and our works are rewarded in the kingdom. This is what Jesus and John were trying to get the people to understand.
When we think of the outer darkness we recognize that there is an “inside the kingdom” and an “outside the kingdom”. Revelation 4 helps us see what is in the kingdom of heaven. There are many types of sons of the Elohim there. In chapter 5 there is a throne and many are waiting to see who can open the scrolls. The Father is there as well. Jesus the Lamb, looking like he had been slain, walks in and takes the scroll from the Father. There are many sons of the Elohim there, and there are the redeemed singing a new song about being kings and priests. Now from a logical standpoint, if every “saved believer” is made a king and priest, who are they going to be leading and ruling over? No one. Everyone who is unsaved, all the Jesus rejecters, will be spending one thousand years in death or hades and then they will be judged according to their works at the white throne judgment. The ones who will be ruled over will be people who were saved but not made kings and priests because their service didn’t measure up.
The heavens outside the kingdom is not death or hades. This place is for the saved who did believe Jesus was Messiah and Lord but did not serve Jesus. The outer darkness is just a place without the light of the Lord on the outside of the kingdom. It is not like the darkness of outer space or a black hole, it is just not as light as it is inside the kingdom. Looking back at Revelation 21 and 22 we see that there is no sun or moon because the Lord is the light, Revelation 21:23.
What we have to ask is what is going on inside the kingdom? There are redeemed humans as well as other sons of the Elohim standing around the throne of the Father. Everyone is waiting for Jesus. Where was Jesus? He was meeting his redeemed in the air. All the redeemed. Saved is saved, but not everyone who is saved is holy and not everyone who is saved has even cared to be a servant of Christ. It comes down to our own behavior and choices. Not everyone wants to live a purified life as a sold-out bond servant. This is where our vision has to get sharper. Many are called, but few are chosen.
The kingdom of heaven is the Father’s kingdom, Jesus’ kingdom is the millennial kingdom. Two distinctly different kingdoms. If the Father is there, it’s the Father’s kingdom, if Jesus is ruling and reigning, it is Jesus’ kingdom.
Notice the wedding parable. The Israelites who were originally invited didn’t want to go, so the Father invited other people, the nations.
Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The Israelites rejected their invitation. The idea here is that all the nations were invited/bidden to the wedding. Bad people were invited. This does not mean evil people enter the kingdom of heaven, but people who did not know and were not keeping the law, people who worshipped idols because that was all they understood, people who did not come from the region, or from Jacob’s lineage, were invited. The idea is the invitation. People did not stay wicked, they were invited to join the wedding, and along the way they did something important, they repented and believed. How do we know this?
The wedding rejectors killed the kings servants. The wedding rejectors were destroyed and their cities were burnt. The invited Israelites were not worthy. However the wicked people from the nations were worthy. Why? They were invited and accepted the invitation. To be invited is to be called kaleō, it is to “be summoned or named”. When they were invited they believed and received Jesus as Messiah. We know this because in order to follow a servant of the king to the wedding banquet, they had to travel with the servant. There was no teleporting. During the journey they believed and received Jesus as Messiah. They were willing to become servants and go to the banquet. Also the overcomer who is a believer in Christ, has clean white garments, Revelation 3:5. They will walk with Jesus in white. We can lengthen out our time here. The nations are called, and then they follow the kings servants to the wedding supper, but they are not instantly transported into the wedding. They have to travel there. By the time they get there they have confessed Jesus as Messiah before men. They have gained the proper garments. They would not follow the kings servants if they didn’t want to attend the wedding.
Again let’s sharpen our vision. The man without white wedding garments was thrown out into the outer darkness. It seems confusing because the bad and good were invited, but at some point in the journey to the wedding the invitees believed, confessed, and received a white garment. This man did not have a wedding garment on. The point Jesus is making is that we can’t sneak into the wedding, we have to have our white garment. We get our white garment by confessing Jesus as Lord before men then Jesus confesses us before the Father.
Sardis had a little problem, they were not teaching people to confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord and believe he rose up on the third day. Those who do confess before men, will be confessed before the Father. This is a huge key. Where is the Father? In the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is going to confess those who confess Jesus to his Father and the angels. They will walk with Jesus in white garments. The man trying to sneak into the wedding which he may have been invited to, was not wearing white. He did not repent and confess Jesus as Lord, he was not properly clothed. This is a picture of either entering in or remaining outside. We may very well be saved but we may not have a white wedding garment. Later in Revelation 19 the armies of Jesus Christ have white garments as they go to battle alongside Christ the king.
There will be weeping. Why? Because of the realization of being of the many. There will be grinding of teeth. Why? Because of the anger at ones self for not doing what they knew to do. It is sad because the many did not do more for the Lord when they had the chance. We all have friends and family who will be “of the many” and while that is sad on the one hand it is not all bad news. They will be part of Jesus’ millennial kingdom after he takes back rulership of the earth.
The story of the wedding supper has its own sadness. Imagine being a parent who prepares a wedding for their son, but the people invited don’t want to come. That is heartbreaking on its own. Then recognize that someone who didn’t fulfill the smallest requirement of believing on the Messiah tries to sneak in. That act cheapens the entire point of wearing a white garment. We earn the white garment, and it is given to us because of what we do now.
Our accordion fan is opening and we are seeing a bigger picture here. Jesus explains to his disciples the idea of being outside the kingdom. The story of the talents is fascinating. None of us start in the same position in life. Some people have a great start, learning of Jesus as children. Some people may not have come to know Jesus until later. No matter, we all have something from Jesus the master. We all have a little ability or a lot of ability. What will we do with what he has given us?
Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The man with one talent is called a “servant”. Servants are supposed to hear and do. This servant didn’t hear and do. We have all been involved in volunteer ministries at church. Some people serve like crazy while some show up, drink coffee, chat a bit and leave. In other words some actually serve and some just hang around.
Again, as we open the accordion fan this outer darkness is not hades or gehenna, it is heaven outside the kingdom where there is shade, not all light. It is not pitch black but it is probably the type of light we have now, from a star instead of the Father. This brings us to the understanding that someone may be saved, but not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. They are not in death, hades, or gehenna, but they are not in the kingdom. They are in heaven somewhere, just not in the kingdom.
The kingdom of heaven is a holy place, it is the place of the Father’s throne. If we want to go there we should do the will of the Father. If we do not care enough to live our lives in service to Jesus and do the will of the Father, we will be somewhere in heaven, just not in the kingdom.
Now think about what is taking place in the kingdom. The scrolls are being opened, the redeemed are singing about being kings and priests, and by the seventh seal, the prayers of the saints are offered with incense on the golden altar before the throne. It will be mixed with fire and cast to earth. Let’s ask the question, who earns the privilege to be in the kingdom before the throne? Is it the person who does not serve Jesus in this life or is it the person who has served Jesus to the end of his earthly life? This is a very holy place. This is not the place most Christians will find themselves. Many will not enter. Many will be outside. The consolation is that at least people who did believe Jesus was the Messiah and rose up from the dead are in the heavens.
There is another point to notice. The church of Philadelphia has overcomers who will be pillars (supports) in the temple of the heavenly Father, Jesus’ God. They will not ever leave. They will have the name of Jesus’ Elohim, and the name of the city of Jesus’ Elohim, the new Jerusalem, as well as Jesus’ new name. This is a great honor. These people are highly exalted in the kingdom. Now let’s ask the question, is this an honor reserved for people who live for themselves, for money, and power? No. This is for people who keep the word of Christ through all persecutions. Remember that the Father honors those who serve his Son.
What else goes on in the kingdom of heaven? The coronation of Jesus Christ when the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ, and he shall reign forever. The world’s kingdoms will change rulership. Satanas will be dethroned. Jesus will take back His kingdom and all the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Jesus gives rewards to His servants. His servants are prophets, saints, people who fear His name, small and great. There isn’t one type of service, there are many types of service. Everyone is invited to come to know Jesus Messiah. Although many are called, few are chosen.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/06/rewards-megas-and-microns-fire.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2018/05/rewarding-saints-destroying-corrupt.html
This is not like we are lining up for a game of kickball out in the school yard, we are chosen because we chose to serve him. To Jesus, it is a crap shoot, he rolls the dice, makes an offer, and he gets whoever chooses to follow him. The part that is predestined is the path to salvation. The people who choose Jesus can go as far and as fast as they want to go on the narrow road to the the kingdom of heaven. The path is predetermined, the people are not. This is good news because as soon as we understand this subject, we can choose to serve him now.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2017/02/choice-predestined-path-eternal-life.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/10/chosen-by-lot-peace-sacred-love-hold-up.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2022/11/administration-of-completion-in-messiah.html
Notice what Jesus says during his sermon on the mount. First he says that he came to fulfill the law. Then he says that nothing will pass from the law until all is fulfilled. When did Jesus fulfill the law? When he said “it is finished”. This is when the law was fulfilled. The Messiah fulfilled the law on the cross.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Now some people would like to claim that we all must still follow the law, but the problem is that there is no temple. Therefore we cannot follow the law so everyone will die in their sins. That would be a pretty horrible thing for a Savior to do to his people, tell them to do something they cannot possibly do for the next two thousand years. Ridiculous. Jesus came to fulfill the law, and he did. Then he goes on.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
If at that time, when Jesus was on the earth before he was crucified for us, someone was to break one of the least commandments, and then teach others to do the same, that person would be called least or small in the kingdom of heaven. Then he says that whoever does all the commands and teaches others to do the same, they will be called “great” in the kingdom of heaven. Why? The way for people to enter into the kingdom of heaven was by keeping the law, until Jesus fulfilled it. Not all the Israelites were unworthy servants. Most were. But the law was their way into the kingdom of heaven until Jesus could fulfill the law.
This tells us something interesting. If someone made a mistake, and taught that mistake to others regarding the law, they did not lose their place in the kingdom of heaven. We are speaking of unintentional missteps, not outright evil. He is speaking to a large crowd, not directly to scribes or Pharisees.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus tells the crowd that their own righteousness needs to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, otherwise they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. There is a level of holiness expected here. People had to be personally and intentionally righteous to be saved. Not all scribes and Pharisees were evil sons of Satanas. Many believed on Jesus, remember the believing Pharisees? Before Jesus came to earth, the way into heaven was to live holy, with the Holy Spirit, and commune with Yahweh, as Abraham, David, and Elijah did. Then those who served Yahweh, as Abraham, David, and Elijah did will enter the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s think about Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar kidnapped the young men from Israel, but those young men stood firmly for Yahweh and taught Nebuchadnezzar about Yahweh. Nebuchadnezzar writes in Daniel 4 how the Most High restored him, and how he praises the King of heaven. Nebuchadnezzar will probably be in heaven when we are all called up. He believed on Yahweh. The bar is technically low for entering heaven, but the bar is high for entering the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s look at this example from Jesus where he speaks about the kingdom of God. He compares two sons and asks which did the Father’s will.
Mat 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Mat 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Jesus was speaking in the temple courts. There were chief priests and elders annoying him. Jesus tells them something harsh. The tax collectors and prostitutes will enter heaven, the kingdom of the Elohim. They will be entering ahead of the chief priests and elders because they didn’t believe John’s call for repentance. Jesus distinguishes between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven here. The chief priests and elders were not going to attain to the kingdom of heaven, but maybe the kingdom of God, in the heavens. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed John, but the religious leaders did not. The religious leaders saw the tax collectors and prostitutes repenting and believing John. But they themselves refused to believe and repent. Were the religious leaders prideful?
We see that there is a distinction between heaven and the kingdom of heaven. Many will enter the Elohim’s kingdom in the heavens, but not many will enter the kingdom of heaven, inside heaven. We have so many basic uncompressed fan pictures here. Some denominations teach that everyone goes to heaven. Some teach that only the “chosen” go to heaven. Some teach that it is by grace we go to heaven, while others teach that it is by works we go to heaven. Some throw up their hands and figure that they can’t know the truth, it is too complex. While others intentionally want to hide the truth from people.
Here we see simply and basically that Jesus taught there are different places, there is heaven and within heaven a kingdom. The bar for entering heaven is low in that it is by believing and confessing Jesus is Messiah and that he rose up on the third day. No one loses his salvation, even if people do not choose to live as Jesus is their Lord, just like the man with the one talent. That person simply stays in heaven. There is no sneaking into the kingdom of heaven and for those who believe they have some special birthright to the kingdom they are incorrect. People will be sad and upset that they are in heaven as compared to the kingdom of heaven, because the kingdom looks like a wonderful place with all sorts of activity.
Today, Satanas has access to heaven but not the kingdom of heaven. He accuses us before the Elohim day and night. He and his fallen followers will be cast to earth half way through the tribulation. It is interesting to understand that Satanas had access to the most secret places of the Everlasting Almighty Father, but was removed when he sinned. Why would we think that anyone who lives for themselves and not for Jesus Christ would have access to those secret places? Why would we be so prideful to think we can march into the kingdom on our own terms. We can’t. This is what Jesus was trying to communicate and why we see the distinction between heaven, which is the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of heaven, in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus was/is trying to open our folded fan so we can see the bigger picture. Jesus wants us to enter the kingdom of heaven. To be continued.
