Going To Heaven?
It may surprise you to know that of the 255 times the word heaven is used in the New Testament, not once is it used in the context of going to heaven. Most of us need to adjust our way of thinking about heaven, the kingdom, and our purpose as Christians. 

Consider this statement: One day Jesus will come and take all Christians to heaven to live eternally with Him. Is it true or false? Most Christians would read over such a statement and never consider that it might be false, but it is! Did you know that the Bible never teaches that we are to live in heaven eternally or that heaven is our ultimate goal? 

Of course, Christians who die prior to Christ's return go to heaven. Paul spoke of being absent from the body to be present with the Lord (see 2 Cor 5:8). But the issue is our focus; should we be focused on getting out of here or preparing for the return of Christ and the appearing of His kingdom on earth? 

All Christians are familiar with The Lord's Prayer (see Matt 6:10). It is a model prayer that Jesus used to teach his disciples how to pray. In this prayer, Jesus taught us to pray for the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven. Again, our focus should therefore be on seeing the kingdom of heaven come on earth. Nevertheless, modern Christianity has focused on getting to heaven, while biblical Christianity is focused on getting heaven here. 

In Heaven or on Earth?
The Bible  teaches that we have certain things in heaven such things as treasures, rewards, and our citizenship. But we should not assume we are going to heaven to enjoy these things. These rewards will be brought to earth when Jesus returns. He said, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev 22:12). 
Paul also expected heavenly benefits to come to earth. 

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus   Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.            Philippians 3:20 21 niv

Aren't We Strangers and Aliens on Earth?
Yes, the Bible does refer to us as strangers (aliens) and pilgrims on earth. But we are strangers and pilgrims seeking a home to call our own! Consider what God said to Jacob: 

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest   be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed  with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave  unto Abraham.    Genesis 28:3 4

What is the Kingdom?
First it should be understood that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same thing at least as it applies here. Probably the most common definition of the kingdom of God in Christian circles coincides with 
Webster's second definition: "The inhabitants or population subject to a king."  When a person becomes a Christian, we say, "He is now in the kingdom." This is certainly correct, but it is not the primary understanding carried by Jesus or the early church. 

Webster's first definition of the word kingdom is: "The territory or country subject to a king; an undivided territory under the dominion of a king or monarch."  This definition best represents the biblical idea of the kingdom of God. Kingdom is a political term. It is a form of government with a king as its sovereign ruler. Therefore, the kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven) is a governmental order where all affairs are conducted according to the oversight and will of its sovereign ruler God. 

Therefore, when Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," what was He saying? He was teaching us to pray for and expect the return of Jesus Christ to set up a  political system, a kingdom that will bring the whole world into subjection to Him. As Paul put it, Jesus will come and exercise "the power that enables him to bring everything 
under his control" (Phil 3:21 niv). 

This kingdom of God is real, near us, and exists now, but it is outside of what we call the natural world it is invisible. Those of us who know Jesus and the Holy Spirit have the kingdom of God within us, though we live on earth. Nevertheless, this kingdom and its King are yet to appear. When it does, the governmental order of God will rule over the entire earth. This is the gospel 
(good news) of, the kingdom of God and peace on earth. 

A Biblical View of the Kingdom of God
The modern understanding of the kingdom has been primarily mystical/heavenly. But the early Christians understood the kingdom in a more literal/earthly way. When we read about the kingdom of God and heaven in the Bible, it is almost always talking about a literal government that will appear on earth. Several points can be made from the scriptures to verify this. 

Historical Context
First consider Israel's history and the historical context of the time.  Israel had been operating under a monarchial (kingdom) form of government for hundreds of years. Their kings had been men anointed by God to lead them into victory over their enemies. Peace and prosperity had been theirs when the kings obeyed God. Also consider the fact that at the time Jesus walked on the earth, Israel was a conquered nation under Roman occupation. 

In addition, Israel had a prophetic promise that God would raise up the Messiah, a King whose kingdom would never come to an end (see Isaiah 9:6- 7). Therefore, they were expecting a king who would lead the kingdom of Israel to victory. So when Jesus appeared on the scene, and they understood that He was the Messiah, they thought the time for the kingdom of God on earth had come. They thought Jesus would take the throne in Jerusalem, deliver Israel from Roman occupation, and rule the world! At one point the people even tried to force Jesus to be king, and He had to escape (see John 6:15). 

After Jesus' Resurrection
After Jesus' resurrection, but before His ascension, the disciples still had the kingdom on their minds. Once they realized that Jesus was risen from the dead, they again thought the time had surely come for Jesus to rule the world. "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). 

Jesus did not indicate that their perception of the kingdom was wrong. He only instructed them not to concern themselves with when the kingdom would appear as it relates to time. Jesus' answer instructed them to take the good news of the kingdom to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:6 8). His idea of timing had more to do with a task completed than clocks and calendars. 

Jesus promised His disciples specific positions in His government

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.           Matthew 19:28

They felt it important to have exactly twelve because they fully expected to rule over the twelve tribes of Israel; they were making preparations to do so. They were identifying the judge to take Judas' place. 

Some have conjectured that the eleven were not actually being led by the Spirit in choosing Matthias. They suggest that in God's sight Paul was actually the twelfth apostle. I don't thinkso; Jesus gave Paul a call to the Gentiles. In all probability, Matthias will be one of twelve judges over Israel in the kingdom when it appears. 

Here we see that Jesus was filling "staff positions" for His administration which would be in effect in the regeneration (the resurrection).  This way of thinking is also demonstrated in the parable of stewardship, where Jesus spoke of giving faithful servants authority over cities (seeLuke 19:17). 

Another Gospel?
Jesus said, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom... (Matt 9:35). We have preached the gospel, but have we preached the gospel of the kingdom? Most presentations of the Christian message say little if anything about the coming kingdom of God. But Jesus came preaching, not the gospel, but 
the gospel of the kingdom of God (see Luke 4:43). This was the central focus of His message. 

As long as we are more focused on getting to heaven than we are on getting heaven here,  it is not likely that we will build in such a way that prepares us to rule and reign with Christ in His kingdom. What we build will likely be designed to amuse and pacify people as they simply wait to "get to heaven." We will produce an impotent church that carries little or no responsibility for 
the preparation of the gospel of peace. If we don't preach the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel we do preach is likely to become another gospel, a self-centered self-serving gospel. It will be a gospel that does not serve the 
purpose of God or hasten His coming. It will do little damage to the kingdom of darkness. 

God is working in partnership with man He always has. The coming of the kingdom is no different. The kingdom won't just come while we sit by and wonder when. God is revealing His strategy to people who will work with Him in making the needed preparations. 

The coming of the literal kingdom of God on earth was the primary topic that Jesus preached. It was Jesus' parting topic for forty days after the resurrection until He ascended (see Acts 1:3). It was also the topic the disciples preached (see Acts 8:12; 28:31). To see His kingdom come is the very reason we receive power! It is why we witness. It is what motivates us to go into all the 
world. 

Progress in spreading this gospel of the kingdom is perhaps the foremost indicator that the return of Jesus Christ and the appearing of the kingdom of God on earth is imminent. He is looking for faithful servants who are fully determined to make Him King!