In Jesus's time the kingdom was expected to be established on Earth, and Jesus's followers were exhorted to anticipate the reign of God by comporting themselves according to the Way (that is, "making the world a better place"). As time passed and the Parousia failed to occur, the kingdom relocated to the heavens.

It's amazing the way self-identified Christians enervate the gospel of its vision for justice and the end of suffering in this world. So much more comfortable to domesticate Jesus as the heavenly, blue-eyed chair of the Republican National Committee.