The Kingdom of Heaven

Old Testament

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Psalm 22:28

All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
For the kingdom is the Lord’s,
And He rules over the nations.

One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life.  

I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.  

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming.
And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.  

The New Testament

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” 

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest..."

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.” 

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

The Heavenly Doctrines

All who receive love and faith from the Lord, both angels and men, have heaven residing in them. People therefore who have heaven within themselves while they are living in the world enter heaven after death.

After death a person is immediately in the other life, and his life in this world is continued there, and is of the same quality as it had been in this world.

Wherefore let him who wishes to be eternally happy know and believe that he will live after death. Let him think of this and keep it in mind, for it is the truth.

As far as a person’s affections, thoughts, and actions look toward the doing of good from the heart, the person, spirit, or angel dwells in heaven. As far as a person looks toward doing evil from the heart, he is in hell.

Everyone who becomes an angel carries his own heaven within him, because he carries the love that belongs to his heaven.