Yes . Years ago I was deeply influenced by H.G. Wells, who held that the original teaching of Jesus was intended a an eathly political one, one of fairness and earthly justice for all, for which the 'Kiingdom of Heaven' was only a metaphore, couched in peudo-religious terms, because that was the only language an illiterate carpenter had, with which to talk about big ideas. It was only later that people, who Wells called, 'lesser but better educated men', started to take the heaven part literaly, in part because creating a heavenly kingdom, in the sky, was easier and cheaper for the rich and powerful than creating heaven on earth.

@Fernapple Yep, Heaven is a metaphor, like God is a metaphor. Both ideas are meant to convey something larger than words can describe.

Some say "god" is within us. I'm not crazy about the term "god" and prefer "source of creation" or similar, but "god" is the language we have inherited for that purpose.

Likewise, "heaven" isn't a tangible place we "go to" but describes the happiness we can create for ourselves and/or others.

We know things that make us feel good, which we can describe as heavenly, and the circumstances which make us feel bad, which we describe as going through hell. These are just metaphors to describe what is indescribable.

@Julie808 Not for everyone perhaps though.