My initial thought was, “How am I supposed to know what they thought or understood 2000 years ago about the kingdom of heaven?” but after having some time to research, I learned some important things that I want to share with you and that I think might help you re-think how you understand what the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” means.  My primary source for this research is the commentary on Matthew by Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, professor emeritus from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and one of my former teachers.  The primary background for how we can assume they would have thought about God’s kingdom coming is the OT scriptures—passages like Isaiah 64:1-2, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence.”  Along with the OT scriptures, there is the literature that has survived from this time period that helps us understand how they would have thought.  Here is a quote from the pseudepigraphal (a fancy word for false name/title) work called The Testament of Moses.  (It was clearly not written by Moses but is Jewish literature from the time period around Jesus’ time.)  “Then his kingdom will appear throughout his whole creation.  Then the devil will have an end.  Yea, sorrow will be led away with him…For the Heavenly One will arise from his kingly throne.  Yea, he will go forth from his holy habitation with indignation and wrath on behalf of his sons…For God Most High will surge forth…all their idols he will destroy.” 

            There are many other examples, but I just chose these two to highlight an important distinction between how they thought and how we tend to think about the kingdom of heaven.  Notice that in their view the kingdom of heaven was something that would come down. They were looking for the Lord (or His anointed one—Messiah) to come down in judgment against His enemies (including the devil!) and to save His people and restore His creation.  By contrast, we tend to think about the kingdom of heaven as the place (paradise) that we go up to when we die.  Going up to be with the Lord is Biblical and it is a comforting teaching of God’s Word, but I think we could learn something from the people of Jesus day.  Advent means “coming” and as we approach our annual celebration of our Savior’s birth, we rejoice that God comes down to us.  He came down to bring His saving reign that would transform our lives and all creation.  Key for this was dealing with human sin which He did by paying for it Himself through His Son’s suffering, death, and resurrection. He comes down to us even now to overcome the power of sin in our lives through His Word and Sacrament.   He will come again in glory, and all His creation will be restored, and Satan and all evil will be dealt with once and for all.  As you consider the words of John the Baptist this Advent season, repent of your sins and believe in the God of heaven who comes down to you!