Hi, Mike,
I’m still loving the word. This may be a dumb question, but if flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom how can the kingdom be in us?  If heaven were created before man how is it in our minds? May God continue to bless all you’re doing and your site,

S____

Hi S____,
First I will address your question about the kingdom being in us.
When Christ made that statement in Luk 17:

Luk 17:20 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:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

He is not denying that the kingdom of God will one day rule the nations of this world with a rod of iron. Christ was answering Pharisees who demanded to know when that kingdom would come, and He was answering them, not for their benefit, but for our benefit. Christ wants us to know that the kingdom of God has to come inwardly before any of us is fit to judge things outwardly. He has decreed that we must first suffer with Him before we are “counted worthy of that blessed and holy first resurrection.”

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [ is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The scripture that answers so very many questions which arise as we come to see the things of the spirit is this one:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [ trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The kingdom and eternal life itself, is all ours now “in earnest of the inheritance.” ‘Earnest’ is down payment. Down payment is “until the redemption of the purchased possession.” Understanding that, clears up many questions.
No, the “lake of fire… which is the second death” will not hurt us, but the flames of that lake of fire in the great white throne judgment, are the same flames which are our “fiery trials.”

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

That is how Christ can promise the overcomer that he will not be hurt of the second death and at the same time inform us that “there is one event to all men.”

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

When we rule with Christ during the millennium, we will be spirit which, like Christ after his resurrection, could appear to be flesh and bone but was in reality “raised a spiritual body.”

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Christ appeared as flesh and bone, only because of the unbelief of His disciples. Here is what He affirms to be the truth of this matter:

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

You ask:

If heaven were created before man, how is it in our minds?

Heaven and earth were not created before man, but were included in the six days of creation during which time mankind was made. They are not separate from us! The days of creation are only a type of what God is doing in mankind. Please read and view Steve Crook’s “Teach Us To Number Our Days” series on the site. It is to be found under the heading of Indianapolis Weekly Bible Studies. The truth is that the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, were created in six days.

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

But the truth of course is that God says this just for our benefit. The Truth is that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him.

2Ch 2:6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

God speaks to us in words we can understand, if He gives us eyes that see, and ears that hear. He wants us to know that He considers us to be his dwelling place.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

His dwelling in us is called “the heavenly things themselves” in scripture.

Heb 9:23  [ It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Study with us each Sunday morning at 11 A. M. EST and you will get a lot of details and in depth studies on this subject.
I hope this has answered some of your questions.
Your brother in Christ,

Mike