Our Life and Destiny in the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus, the Great Prophet like Moses (whose coming was prophesied by Moses), teaches the Gospel from a mountain made holy by his presence, just as Moses taught the Law from a mountain also made holy by God's presence.

And, just as Moses laid down the rule in his day, so Jesus does for ours, as he describes our calling, what our experiences and expectations should be, and what our rewards will be (Matt 5:1-12):

1 He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Summarizing some information from this passage in a chart:

Experience Now	Reward	When
Spiritual poverty	Possession of the Kingdom	Now
Spiritual mourning	Comfort	In the Future
Meekness	Possession of the whole earth	In the Future
Hunger and thirst for righteousness	Their hunger and thirst shall be filled	In the Future
Merciful	They shall receive it	In the Future
Pure in heart	They shall see God	In the Future
Peacemakers	They shall be called sons of God	In the Future
Persecuted for righteousness sake	Possession of the Kingdom	Now
Reviled and persecuted for Jesus' sake	They have the great prophets' reward	In heaven

Our spiritual experience in the Kingdom of God is described in the terms shown in column 1.  We have a life of spiritual victory, but not so to carnal vision. None of this looks to the world like "victory." Therefore, we must look upon our meekness and lowliness with spiritual eyes, and see the glory in it, and not be like that seed sown on rocky soil, that is disappointed and apostatizes when persecution comes.  Our hope is sourced from Heaven, not from earth.

Columns 2 and 3 show that our lives now are characterized by a hidden victory in tribulations, but later by visible glory and reward, when heaven comes to earth.

But, it is not as if we have nothing but trouble now, while we wait for peace and glory.  It is in the midst of the tribulations that our glorification begins, just as it did for Our Lord on earth.  He is the Lamb slain, reigning from the Cross!  Likewise, we also reign as kings in our Christian ministry in the world (like leaven pervading it and sustaining it), though all the while high powers of the world may laugh, despise or revile.

Therefore, Christian, have faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who even now brings us peace and hope, and the certain promise of mighty rewards, as Paul says (Rom 5:1-5):

1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.