The Kingdom of Heaven is Within!

[blacktiger057]

I know that there are many ways to interpret the Bible, and all have different opinions and insights. I believe that when Jesus refers to heaven, he is talking about a state of higher consciousness, of God-consciousness, like Jesus himself had. Likewise, hell is the state of consciousness most people are in now. We are ultimately responsible for own peace and our own suffering.

With this view, Jesus is teaching us the path to heaven, the path to enlightenment. No one can enter heaven without following his teachings used to sound harsh and judgemental to me. But now I see that no one can enter God-conscious (heaven) without living out his teachings on love and forgiveness. When I looked at Jesus’ teachings and compared them to Gautaum Buddha, the Tao Te Ching, and the teachings of people like Osho and Eckhart Tolle, they all had the same core teachings about enlightenment. Now, I know this is a more “mystical” view of Jesus, but then there are forms of Jesus, depending on how we interpret the Gospels.

That’s just my insight on heaven and hell…

 

[SpiritMeadow]

I know that there are many ways to interpret the Bible, and all have different opinions and insights. I believe that when Jesus refers to heaven, he is talking about a state of higher consciousness, of God-consciousness, like Jesus himself had. Likewise, hell is the state of consciousness most people are in now. We are ultimately responsible for own peace and our own suffering.

With this view, Jesus is teaching us the path to heaven, the path to enlightenment. No one can enter heaven without following his teachings used to sound harsh and judgemental to me. But now I see that no one can enter God-conscious (heaven) without living out his teachings on love and forgiveness. When I looked at Jesus’ teachings and compared them to Gautaum Buddha, the Tao Te Ching, and the teachings of people like Osho and Eckhart Tolle, they all had the same core teachings about enlightenment. Now, I know this is a more “mystical” view of Jesus, but then there are forms of Jesus, depending on how we interpret the Gospels.

That’s just my insight on heaven and hell…

A ton of folks would agree with you. Many many people see Jesus in just this way. I tend to think that this is what we should be striving for while still sojourning on this planet in this life. After death, I believe we are in for a good deal more important work at the behest of our God. Doing as you suggest is a good way to get ahead of the game so to speak. Not as much schooling to do after death! While our ultimate place may be in complete and total interface with God, I suspect that we have a good deal to do before we are worthy of that achievement. Most of it awaits us after we have completed our lifespan on this planet.

 

[mattkubes]

While that may make people feel warm and fuzzy, it simply can’t be reconciled with Scripture - not to mention 2000 years of constant Church teaching. I don’t see how even the most wild interpretations could logically come to your conclusions when the verses describing Heaven and Hell are so clear.

 

[blacktiger057]

While that may make people feel warm and fuzzy, it simply can’t be reconciled with Scripture - not to mention 2000 years of constant Church teaching. I don’t see how even the most wild interpretations could logically come to your conclusions when the verses describing Heaven and Hell are so clear.

I think it can be reconciled with Scripture…

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

• Luke 17:20-21

I think Jesus was really clear about it here. Ofcourse, you may have a different interpretation of what he meant and that is perfectly okay.

Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a child: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” This refers to the childlike consciousness, to a simple trust in the goodness of God.

Ezekiel said, “The spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.” The glory of God fills everyone’s consciousness who is aware of that glory.

In the Gnostic Gospels there is even more evidence:

His disciples asked Jesus, “When will the dead find peace? When will the new world come?” Jesus replied, “What you expect has already come, but you do not recognize it.” -Thomas 144

Jesus said, “If a guide tells you, ‘See, the kindgom of God is in the sky,’ then the birds of the air will get there before you. If they tell you, ‘It’s in the sea,’ the fish will get there before you. Rather, the kingdom is inside you and outside you at the same time. When you come to know yourself, then you will be known. You will realize then that it’s you who are the sons of the living Father. But as long as you do not know yourself, you will live in poverty, and you will be that poverty.” -Thomas 62

With the knowledge that heaven (at this moment) is a state of consciousness within, then so much of Jesus’ teachings make more sense. Jesus says repeatedly the first shall be last, rich shall be poor, masters shall be slaves. Before I came across this interpretation, I thought Jesus was giving hopeful promises to gain faithful followers, telling them it would all be fine in heaven. But now I have found I much deeper meaning. If you are identified with wordly possessions, then you will suffer because nothing in this world is permamenent. He who is rich in identifying with forms in this world suffers. The one who is poor in deriving a sense of self from form enters heaven. I think that this what Jesus meant when he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And many other Eastern religions have the same basic teachings on enlightenment. We only need to become aware of our attachments and let our identification with form dissolve. Then we enter the kingdom of heaven.

“Therefore, keep awake- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn.”- Mark 13:35

One must awaken and be constantly aware to enter the state of heaven.

The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand.- Mark 1:15

The only moment you can enter heaven is now! The kingdom of God is at hand!

I’ve found it to be a beautiful way to live. I enjoy every moment of my life. It’s difficult to always be aware of this, but that is one of my spiritual challenges for growth.

Many Blessings,
Blacktiger

 

[mattkubes]

No, I certainly recognise that reference in Scripture, but we can’t simply take one verse and pit it against all others in order to satisfy a personal interpretation. In light of everything else we are told about Heaven, I have always understood that verse to mean that we should always look to see Christ in others; this seems to follow when we are told that we are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” I don’t want to derail your thread by starting a discussion on who has the authority to interpret Sacred Scripture, but we can start a new one if you’d like.

Especially with what you said about Hell in your first post…what kinds of verbal gymnastics do we have to do in order to equate our “current states of consciousness” with these passages?

*Mark 9:47-48: “It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

Revelation 14:11: “And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”*

 

[blacktiger057]

No, I certainly recognise that reference in Scripture, but we can’t simply take one verse and pit it against all others in order to satisfy a personal interpretation. In light of everything else we are told about Heaven, I have always understood that verse to mean that we should always look to see Christ in others; this seems to follow when we are told that we are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” I don’t want to derail your thread by starting a discussion on who has the authority to interpret Sacred Scripture, but we can start a new one if you’d like.

Especially with what you said about Hell in your first post…what kinds of verbal gymnastics do we have to do in order to equate our “current states of consciousness” with these passages?

*Mark 9:47-48: “It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

Revelation 14:11: “And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”*

Yes, I agree that we can’t just take one verse out of context, but I have tried using the “heaven within” interpretation with the Gospels and it seems to make sense to me. But your interpretation of the verse is wonderful as well. I do agree that we should try to see the Christ in others as well. I know you personally may not agree with this, but from the “heaven within” aspect it could say that everyone has the capability to access heaven, they only need to discover it for themselves, which is impossible if they are sinful. I’d rather not actually debate on who has the power to interpret Scirpture correctly because I like hearing different views on these subjects.

The verse from the Gospel of Mark you cited could mean that it is better for you to have one eye and enter the state of heaven-consciousness than for you to have two eyes and suffer in the world, be in a hell. Even though situations may seem to be negative, it is our mind that labels them as good and bad. It is not the actual situations themselves, with the exception of exetreme physical pain. It equates the turmoil of life to being burned by eternal flames, and most people have felt so hopeless as this at one point or another.

The Book of Revelation is steeped in symboldry and there are numerous interpretations of the texts. I have not personally studied this book yet. But Jesus didn’t say that. Interesting verse, though.

Well, I hope you can see how this really is a wild, out of proportion interpretation of Scripture. Even if you don’t agree with it fully, hopefully you understand the reasoning behind it

Peace!!!
Blacktiger

 

[Valke2]

While that may make people feel warm and fuzzy, it simply can’t be reconciled with Scripture - not to mention 2000 years of constant Church teaching. I don’t see how even the most wild interpretations could logically come to your conclusions when the verses describing Heaven and Hell are so clear.

Don’t underestimate warm and fuzzy.

 

[Lev23]

While that may make people feel warm and fuzzy, it simply can’t be reconciled with Scripture - not to mention 2000 years of constant Church teaching. I don’t see how even the most wild interpretations could logically come to your conclusions when the verses describing Heaven and Hell are so clear.

Agreed!

 

[blacktiger057]

Don’t underestimate warm and fuzzy.

 

[Lev23]

I know that there are many ways to interpret the Bible, and all have different opinions and insights. I believe that when Jesus refers to heaven, he is talking about a state of higher consciousness, of God-consciousness, like Jesus himself had. Likewise, hell is the state of consciousness most people are in now. We are ultimately responsible for own peace and our own suffering.

With this view, Jesus is teaching us the path to heaven, the path to enlightenment. No one can enter heaven without following his teachings used to sound harsh and judgemental to me. But now I see that no one can enter God-conscious (heaven) without living out his teachings on love and forgiveness. When I looked at Jesus’ teachings and compared them to Gautaum Buddha, the Tao Te Ching, and the teachings of people like Osho and Eckhart Tolle, they all had the same core teachings about enlightenment. Now, I know this is a more “mystical” view of Jesus, but then there are forms of Jesus, depending on how we interpret the Gospels.

That’s just my insight on heaven and hell…

I will agree the Kingdom of Heaven must start within a person. But you are forgetting what gets a person to be at peace.

Before Jesus came, John the Baptist preached repentence to all in Israel before the Messiah came. All those teachings you speak of, none of them deal with the sin issue of man. Jesus was the promised Messiah to Israel who was crucified, died, and was resurrected on the 3rd day, according to the scriptures. Jesus blood was shed for the remission of sins for the New Covenant.

The God of Israel is the only God, he is creator of everything, everything is below him. His created universe has physical laws that cannot be broken. More importantly, Gods spiritual Law is perfect and his justice must always be met. Mankind broke it. These “higher” and “lower” enlightment feelings will not reconcile us back to God, and just accepting your own interpretation of his Sons sayings to do so wont do either.

You must realize that without Jesus Christ, your sin nature makes it impossible for you to ever see God and be in his Kingdom.

Remission of sins only comes from his shed blood, not enlightment.

 

[Sam_777]

I will agree the Kingdom of Heaven must start within a person. But you are forgetting what gets a person to be at peace.

Before Jesus came, John the Baptist preached repentence to all in Israel before the Messiah came. All those teachings you speak of, none of them deal with the sin issue of man. Jesus was the promised Messiah to Israel who was crucified, died, and was resurrected on the 3rd day, according to the scriptures. Jesus blood was shed for the remission of sins for the New Covenant.

The God of Israel is the only God, he is creator of everything, everything is below him. His created universe has physical laws that cannot be broken. More importantly, Gods spiritual Law is perfect and his justice must always be met. Mankind broke it. These “higher” and “lower” enlightment feelings will not reconcile us back to God, and just accepting your own interpretation of his Sons sayings to do so wont do either.

You must realize that without Jesus Christ, your sin nature makes it impossible for you to ever see God and be in his Kingdom.

Remission of sins only comes from his shed blood, not enlightment.