Those in the Kingdom of God vs. Those in the Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens

Those in the Kingdom of God vs. Those in the Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens

Central Revelation

The Kingdom of God is the realm of all regenerated believers who possess the divine life.

The Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens is the living of the overcoming believers who are under the inward ruling of Christ's life.

Regeneration brings a believer into the Kingdom of God; submission to the law of the divine life brings the believer into the reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens. 

Item	Those in the Kingdom of God	Those in the Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens
Meaning	Regenerated believers possessing God's life	Believers living under the inward ruling of Christ's life
Cause	Through faith in Christ and regeneration (John 3:5)	Through daily denying the self, bearing the cross, and walking according to the Spirit
Life Characteristic	Possess the divine life	Express the maturity and reign of the divine life
Spiritual Condition	Have life	Have life governed by life
Center of Living	Christ dwells within	Christ reigns within
Kingdom Experience	Entered the kingdom	Live out the kingdom
Spiritual Nature	Beginning of life	Maturity and manifestation of life
Daily Living	Sometimes in the spirit, sometimes in the flesh	Habitually live in the spirit
Law of Life	Possess the law of life	Submit to the law of life
Christ's Government	Partial submission	Continual submission
According to Witness Lee	Transferred into Christ's kingdom (Col. 1:13)	The kingdom becomes one's practical living
Illustration	Citizens who have entered a kingdom	Faithful subjects living under the King's rule
Another Illustration	Christ has entered the house	Christ governs every room of the house
Another Illustration	A seed has been planted	A tree grows according to the law of life
Explanation	Christ is present but may not govern	Christ governs every aspect of living
Rule of Christ	Intermittently accepted	Constantly accepted
The Self	Often preserved	Daily denied
The Flesh	Still active	Dealt with by the cross
Natural Man	Still retained	Renewed daily
Ground for Satan	The natural man still gives opportunity	Satan loses all ground through Christ's ruling
Result	Saved and possessing eternal life	Living the heavenly kingdom life
Outcome	Children of the kingdom	Overcomers of the kingdom
Degree of Growth	Initial stage of life	Mature stage of life
Church Life	Participate in the church	Build up the church in reality
Purpose	To receive life	To express God's governmental administration
God's Desire	To gain sons	To gain reigning companions
Future Reward	Eternal salvation	Reward and reigning in the coming kingdom
Millennial Kingdom	May not reign	Will reign with Christ
Relationship	Includes the reality of the kingdom	The highest practical expression within the Kingdom of God
Scope	All regenerated believers	Only the overcoming believers
In the Church	Every genuine believer	Only the overcoming believers
Compared with Outward Christendom	Different from merely nominal Christians	Higher than outward religious practice
Biblical Examples	The Corinthian believers (saved but fleshly)	Paul, Timothy, John, Stephen
Examples in the Gospels	The disciples when first called	The disciples living according to the Sermon on the Mount
Present Application	Be assured that we are in God's kingdom	Allow Christ to rule our mind, emotion, and will daily
Daily Practice	Meetings, prayer, Bible reading	Living in the spirit, following the anointing, accepting the cross
Practical Test	Do I possess the divine life?	Am I under the ruling of the divine life?
Ministry Burden	Not merely to be saved	To live under Christ's inward government
Goal of the Ministry	From regeneration to maturity	From the position of the kingdom to the reality of the kingdom
Speaking Burden	God is not merely seeking saved people but believers who allow Christ to reign in every part of their being, becoming today's overcomers and tomorrow's co-kings with Christ.
Conclusion	The Kingdom of God emphasizes the entrance of life.	The Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens emphasizes the government of life.
Ultimate Goal	Members of God's household	Co-kings reigning with Christ
Related Scriptures	John 3:3–6; Col. 1:13; Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 4:20; Mark 4:26–29	Matt. 5–7; Matt. 16:24–28; Matt. 18:3–4; Matt. 19:23–30; Matt. 24:45–47; Matt. 25:1–30; Luke 17:20–21; Rom. 8:2, 4, 6, 13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:5–13; 2 Tim. 2:11–12; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 20:4–6

 

Spiritual Sequence

Believe into Christ
↓
Be Regenerated
↓
Enter the Kingdom of God (the realm of the divine life)
↓
Christ dwells within
↓
Submit to the law of the Spirit of life
↓
Live under Christ's inward government
↓
Enter into the Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens
↓
Become an Overcomer today
↓
Participate in the Manifestation of the Kingdom (the Millennium)
↓
Reign with Christ
↓
Consummate in the New Jerusalem

Spiritual Core Relationship

The Kingdom of God (the realm of the divine life)
↓ contains

The Church (the corporate expression of the divine life)
↓ produces

The Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens (the living under Christ's heavenly ruling)
↓ perfects

The Overcomers
↓ inherit

The Manifestation of the Kingdom (the Millennial Kingdom)
↓ consummates in

The New Jerusalem (the eternal and ultimate Kingdom of God)

One Prophesying Summary

Regeneration brings believers into the Kingdom of God; submission to the inward law of the divine life brings them into the Reality of the Kingdom of the Heavens. Those who allow Christ to reign within today become the overcoming believers, will participate in the manifestation of the Kingdom to reign with Christ in the coming age, and will ultimately consummate in the New Jerusalem, God's eternal kingdom.

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Memorial Day Special Conference theme: The Urgent Need for a New Revival, Part Four: Living the Life of a God-Man by Living in the Kingdom of God as a Holy Kind.