2003-08-15
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Because of all the stories we hear about heaven and that we believe in it, we are curious to know as much as God will allow about it. So, let’s take a look at four bits of information that God gives us about the Kingdom of Heaven in the Scriptures.
1) We have been told that heaven is God’s literal abiding place. Paul testifies to a personal experience about heaven in 2: COR 12: 2-3, “I know a certain Christian man who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the highest heaven (I do not know whether this actually happened or whether he had a vision-only God knows). I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision-only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak.” I am fully aware that this is not the easiest passage in the Bible for our limited human capacity to understand. Most competent theologians feel that Paul is talking about himself here with great humility. The key issue is really made easier to understand by looking at the King James Version of (2), “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago , (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” Scripture implies the existence of three heavens. The first is the atmosphere above us, the second is the stellar heaven (space with stars), and the third (highest) is where the throne of God is [Paradise]. This man heard the language of Paradise, but is not allowed to repeat it when he comes back to earth. I believe this is the very same heaven that is referred to in LK 22: 43 right after Christ makes His crucial plea in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If You will, take this cup of suffering away from Me. Not My will, however, but Your will be done,” (42). “An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.”
Another aspect of heaven is part of what the Scriptures reveal to us about God’s ultimate sovereignty. 2) God has universal and eternal dominion over the heavens, which includes the angelic host (good and evil) and over the earth. IS 43: 13, “I am God and always will be. No one can escape from My power; no one can change what I do.” This is no empty or boastful statement; it is a statement of fact amply supported in the Scriptures. The story of the book of Revelation, in which evil is brought to an end and Christ wrests dominion over earth from Satan returning it to God, is salient evidence of the truth of IS 43: 13.
We learn more about the extent of God’s power to prepare people for eternal citizenship and residence with Him in heaven from RO 12: 2, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God-what is pleasing to Him and is perfect.” The third aspect of heaven is 3) Christ rules within all who have genuinely been born again of the Spirit. RO 2: 14-15 lends illumination on this issue. This statement is made by Paul in a discussion of God’s judgment that will come as a result of the hypocrisy of the traditional Jews of his day. “The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they have their own law, even though they do not have the Law. Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.” Later in that same discussion, Paul comes to the conclusion in (28-29), “After all, who is a real Jew, truly circumcised? It is not the man who is a Jew on the outside, whose circumcision is a physical thing. Rather, the real Jew is the person who is a Jew on the inside, that is, whose heart has been circumcised, and this is the work of God’s Spirit, not of the written Law. Such a person receives his praise from God, not from man.” The ability or lack thereof to understand matters of the Spirit is outlined in 1 COR 2: 14-15, which I hope you will review.
The last aspect to discuss about the Kingdom of Heaven is 4) Christ will reign over it, and all the earthly kingdoms will be replaced by it. The Scriptures also compare the Kingdom of Heaven to human kingdoms (which fall far short of it) in the book of Daniel amongst other places. DN 2: 34-35 comes as a part of King Nebuchadnezzar’s giant statue dream which Daniel later interprets. While you were looking at it, a great Stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it, struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, and shattered them. At once the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold crumbled and became like the dust on a threshing place in summer. The wind carried it all away, leaving not a trace. But the Stone grew to be a mountain that covered the whole earth.” And no, the capital “S” on Stone is not a typo. Daniel explained to the king that the various metals and clay represented human kingdoms which would only exist for a short time in the overall scheme of eternity. But, the Stone represents the Kingdom of Heaven, which will eventually replace all human kingdoms and will last forever. As to Who has authority to rule over this eternal Kingdom, DN 7: 13-14 left us no question. God [there referred to as the Ancient of Days] has given Christ [there referred to as One like the Son of man] authority, honor, and royal power to rule His everlasting Kingdom. Praise be to Him!
PRAYER: O Lord, as we study these four facts about heaven today, You want us to know You better and to understand Christ’s stated purpose in JN 6: 39-40 better. “And it is the will of Him Who sent Me that I should not lose any of all those He has given Me, but that I should raise them all to life on the last Day. For what My Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last Day.” You do not teach us about the horrific consequences of unbelief just to frighten us or bring us a feeling of hopelessness. Instead, out of the brilliant glow of the love You have for each of us, You want us to see why it is Your purpose to grant as many of us who will come to faith in Your Son eternal life with You. You are a compassionate Deity Who loves all of His creation and Whose grace is sufficient to provide for all our needs [PS 145: 8-9]. Because of the sinfulness of our human natures, You find it necessary to allow Satan to challenge us and for us to have to work through those challenges in the process of sanctification. You know it is the only way You can perfect us and have refused steadfastly to allow any challenge that is too great for us to overcome if we remain obedient and faithful to You [1 COR 10: 13]. We come before Your throne today to acknowledge Your unparalleled goodness and wonderful attributes. In addition we offer You praise and thanks for Your marvelous works over mankind’s history. PS 9: 1-2, “I will thank You, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done. I will be filled with joy because of You. I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High.” Most of all, we offer thanks that You sacrificed Your Son on the cross, so that we might be saved by repenting and coming to faith in Him. We love You, Dearest Abba, and pledge our obedient, loyal faithfulness and trust in You. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
In next week’s message, I am led to discuss the amazingly detailed description of heaven that we are given in the book of Revelation. All of this helps us to better appreciate Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount and why He wants us to eventually dwell with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. As individuals we may think we are not very important, especially if we listen to incoming attitudes from worldly sources. However, to the Lord God and His Son each and every one of us, no matter what our age, sex, educational background, career, or personal attributes, is a cherished and deeply loved treasure. We should never forget that and have been told we can confidently come to our Father’s throne with our cares and concerns, and He will listen to our prayers and answer them [EPH 3: 12; PS 116:1]. Once again, we must say, “Hallelujah!” which means “Praise the Lord!”
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn