Heaven

[Ani Tefillah]

7 hours ago, HAZARD said:

 Heaven is a created place. Many Scriptures teach that Heaven is inhabited. (1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chron. 18:18; Matt.18:10; 22:30; 24:36; Rev. 12:12; 13:6). Armies and hosts of Heaven are mentioned a number of times as seen in these passages and in Dan. 4:35; Luke 2:13; Rev. 19:14. These inhabitants are listed in part as common angels, archangels, seraphim, cherubim and other spirit beings. Heavenly bodies are mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:48-49. Rejocing in Heaven is referred to by the inhabitants in Heaven (Ps. 96:11; 148:1, 4; Isa.44:23; Rev. 12:12). 8. Paul speaks of "the invisible things" in Heaven as being like the visible things on Earth; that is the things in Heaven are just like the things on Earth. (Rom. 1:20). The word "things" is used in many passages in referring to realities in Heaven. (Phil. 2:10; Col 1:16-20; Heb. 8:12; 9:23).

We know from Scripture that in Heaven there are Cities (Rev.21), mansions (John 14:1-3), trees, rivers (Rev.22:1-3), fountains of water (Rev. 7:17), food (Ex.16:4; Ps.78:25: 105:40; John 6:31-51: Luke 22:16, 18, 30; Rev. 2:7, 17: 19:1-10; 22:1-3).

ANIMALS are mentioned as being in Heaven in these following Scriptures; (2 Kings 2:11-12; 6:13-17; Zech. 1:8-11: 6:1-8; Rev. 19:11-14, 21: Rom. 1:20).

All these things are mentioned, furniture, tongs (Isa.6:6), fire and coals (Isa. 6:6; Rev.8:5) censer and incense (Rev. 8:4-6), smoke (Rev. 8:4; 15:8), musical instruments (Rev. 5:8; 14:1-5; 15:2-4), clothes (Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:13; 6:9-11), stones (Rev. 2:17), books (Rev. 3:5; 5:1-7; 10:1-11; 20:11-15), Also mentioned in Scripture are, vials or bowls, crowns, thunderings, lightnings, clouds, lamps, a sea of glass, singing, worship, palm trees, temples, silence, so there must also be noise at other times, trumpets, hail, mountains, keys and chains, measuring sticks, olive trees, the ark of the testament, doors, posts, girdles, pearls, diamonds and other precious stones, walls, gates, gold in abundance, streets, fruits, banquets, and many other innumerable things.

If the invisible things in the heavenlies are clearly seen by the things on Earth, as Paul taught in Rom. 1:20, then we have a right to believe that there are in Heaven the same kind of things that we have on Earth. We have no right to make an exception of any good thing that God created and intended for man to have before the fall.

Thank so much for sharing this with us! 😊 

[OneLight]

32 minutes ago, Katie Müller said:

Onelight, you neglected the following verse:

1 Corn. 2:10 "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

If you continue on from where you left off, you will see that it is the Spirit of God who knows them and reveals them to the simplicity of mans mind so we can have a glimpse of what He is saying to us.  I highly doubt that there is any mind of man who has the ability to comprehend all the Spirit tells us, which is why we still see in a mirror dimly or through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12), even with all He gives us through His Spirit. 

[Dennis1209]

13 hours ago, HAZARD said:

Inhabitants of this celestial city will have all tears wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

Good morning, Hazard,

I’ve done some study on the following and would like to hear your interpretation on the subject. Many Christians have asked the same question, and the question is; how can I be happy knowing or seeing our loved ones are in Hell?” I believe this to be associated with “wiping away our tears.”

The first consideration is chronological events and timing in Revelation. I believe the book of Revelation to be written in chronological order, with parenthetical chapters inserted, to give some more future or past information. To get to my view, I need to back up a bit:

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

These do not appear to be Tribulation saints, they cannot be the bride of Christ, who are these martyred saints? If these are Tribulation saints, certainly they would know exactly where they were in the seven-year Tribulation, the events, and 1,260 days times two.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Here we have the first mention of God wiping away tears. This seems to be confined to the Tribulation saints only and immediate. It is possible, this being the first parenthetical chapter, it could be adding information yet future, but I don’t think so. I suspect this is a separate group having their tears wiped away. This group is Tribulation saints only in my thinking.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

It is a long period between Revelation chapter seven and chapter 21 if, in chronological order, the second event of wiping away tears. What saved people group do these tears belong to?

I’m probably misguided, but it appears to me, it is all the saved, and everyone throughout history, all the way back to Adam, except for the preceding Tribulation saints? This second wiping away tears appears to occur after the millennium, as we are entering eternity.

Like I said, and until I can be convinced otherwise, this is my current view right or wrong. I asked myself if I do have the correct view, why such a length of time to have our tears wiped away? I see no evidence that our tears are immediately wiped away at our Resurrection – Rapture.

I concluded if my view is close to correct, perhaps it is a time of self-reflection, all the missed opportunities that were presented to us that we squandered away, and the consequences of our actions and inactions?

[abcdef]

On 2/18/2022 at 12:16 PM, Starise said:

Let's talk about that place we all want to eventually be in. You know that place where Jesus and the Father reside.

Over time both heaven and hell have been distorted. I like harp music played well. I believe I would be getting tired of only harp music all the time. It's amazing how many Christians plan on going there, look forward to it, but have no idea about what it really is.

Q. Will everyone have puffy white wings and halos on there heads??

A. Get outta here. We are looking for real questions and answers 

-

The first thing that I would observe is that this heaven and earth "fly away" at the judgment throne of Jesus, Rev 20:11.

Be ready to leave this material earth and this created universe heaven, the sun, stars, and moon behind, there is no place for them anymore. Also shown in Rev 21:1.

Since the material things change and deteriorate, they cannot remain in the eternal realm. They also bring about temptation, as in the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the vain pride of life, which are passing away, 1 Jn 2:15-17.

When we are before the judgment throne we will have entered the spiritual realm and the material will have ended.

-

How long do you think that the judgment will last?

Maybe billions and billions of "earth years". We won't know because the universe will fly away and there will be no way to tell time.

Each one of us will take their turn before the throne. There will be no flesh to hide our sins, thoughts, guilt, or deeds. His eyes of fire will see everything we have done.

Each soul, a lifetime of thoughts and deeds. Billions of years. Jesus is not in a hurry, He has eternity.

Long enough for this earth and universe to fly away.

Just to say, once we see His face and are in His presence, we will never want to come back to this material world where there is temptation, sin, guilt, pain, and suffering, good bye and good riddance.

==================

After the judgment Jesus will deliver the kingdom up to God, 1 Cor 15:23-28.

This is when the souls who are given the gift of salvation are changed into the new  living Jerusalem.

We are living stones, not the flesh, but souls built into living city. 1 Pet 2:4-5, Heb 12:22.

In Rev 21:1-3, we see the souls coming down from God, transformed into the living city, our spirits changed from what we are now, into something that is beyond our understanding.

---

Understand this,

The new heavens are living heavens, God the Father.

The new earth is Jesus, a living earth. Dan. 2:35, "filled the earth", became the new earth.

The new Jerusalem is a living city. Heb 12:22, we are transformed.

What this means is that we are completely surrounded God, INSIDE God, if you can accept it. In the heart of God.

We will never see this earth, universe, or even the darkness of outer space ever again.

-----

The descriptions of heaven in the passages of Rev 21 & 22, are symbolic descriptions of the spiritual relationship between God and His souls.

--

We will be the bride of Christ.

We will become one with Christ, one with God the Father through Christ.

"Ye are gods", Psa 82:6, Isa 41:23, Jn 10:34.

After the wedding, we will be literally, God through Christ, sitting with Jesus on His throne, one with Him.

------

That is probably enough to digest for now.

---

[Marilyn C]

On 2/19/2022 at 4:46 AM, Starise said:

Let's talk about that place we all want to eventually be in. You know that place where Jesus and the Father reside.

Over time both heaven and hell have been distorted. I like harp music played well. I believe I would be getting tired of only harp music all the time. It's amazing how many Christians plan on going there, look forward to it, but have no idea about what it really is.

Q. Will everyone have puffy white wings and halos on there heads??

A. Get outta here. We are looking for real questions and answers 

Hi Starise,

Oh what a blessed hope we have - with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

I believe the part of heaven that we go to is called the third heaven, the angelic realm. The lower area is in the Universe where the city, the New Jerusalem will come down to near the earth and be its light. Then there is the atmospheric heaven above us where the birds and planes fly. All these are called `heaven` and are part of God great kingdom.

Each of these areas will have rulership. We, the Body of Christ will be with the Lord on His own throne, (authority under the Father) on Mount Zion, (symbolic for throne). (Rev. 3: 21,  Heb. 12: 22 & 23) 

The OT saints have been promised the city, (Heb. 11: 16). 

Israel and the nations of those saved, (Rev. 7: 14) and others. (Rev. 20: 13) (Rev. 21: 24)

[Selah7]

Wow!  “An open door in heaven?”  

In Revelation 4, John describes the things he sees.  

Rev. 4:1 
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

The words "Behold, a door was opened in heaven" remind me of the words which Christ spoke to the church of Philadelphia in chapter 3 verse 8. "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.”  

Rev. 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

Wow Again!  John sees a throne in heaven and Almighty God is sitting on it!

(3). And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

This must be describing the "shekinah glory" of Almighty God!  Wow!  It seems to me that HEAVEN is wherever Almighty God is! 

[Selah7]

. . . Continued from above . . .

And didn’t Ezekiel also see the throne of God?

Ezekiel 1:1 
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

Ezek. 1:4 
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

Did God visit Ezekiel in a flying saucer?! 

 

 

[Starise]

Some great thoughts here from everyone on Heaven.

Apparently calling it 'heaven' is a more recent coined term. Not sure exactly when it came about?

To call the place the New Jerusalem probably sounds wonderful to anyone who was raised in Jerusalem or has roots from there. To me it sounds overly Jewish and not as attractive to a person who might have some Jewish ( is Jaggi Jewish?) I don't really know and it probably doesn't matter. I have felt much much more Gentile when I approach the scriptures and even feel discomfort in saying "Shalom" like I see some here say often. I AM NOT a Jew is any sense I know or am aware of, nor are many others who are belivers......................so why call a city by an old Jewish association when said city is supposed to house the entire population of those who came to Christ both Jews and gentiles?  This is why I like "celestial city" or "Holy City" better coming from a Gentile perspective. I mean, if it's a place for all of us, then let's make it a place for all of us.

I'll be honest, Jewish culture kinda creeps me out. Men with weird curls down the sides of their heads and strange tall hats. The total denial of Christ Jesus. Putting the new city in that wrapper is just odd to me. I have nothing against Jewish people. I'm just trying to wrap my head around the extent the Jewishness is going to pervade in the new city. It might take some adjustment for me who might still feel like an outsider. If I went to Jerusalem today I would stick out like a sore thumb and probably feel out of place...know what I mean? In fact it probably wouldn't be the first place I would want to visit if I could go anywhere in the world. I adopted Jesus or Jesus adopted me and hopefully I didn't sign on for a culture conversion.

No more tears- It seems the Lord will have a way of helping us to move past all of the bad because the good will be so utterly good!

To me it seems as if the new city will maybe be more of a command post, a capital of earth than a new earth in itself. If the new city is ON the earth or hovering AROUND the earth, this would makes sense. I don't read of a non existence of earth, I read of something that looks more like a joining to me. Neither can I be sure we are all in a 1400 mile square confinement. Maybe we never want to leave? After a few thousand years that 1400 miles might seem awfully small. But then again, maybe not. I don't really know. Men seem to be made to explore and visit other places. Will we be in a 14000 mile cage? I don't think the bible is very clear on this.

I don't want to get away from Jesus. Maybe we can take Him with us.

 

[Starise]

God wants his creation to praise and worship Him. This is acceptable, just and very fair.

How do you see that playing out in the new heavens and new earth? At one time I pictured us all kneeling for thousands of years praising Him.

[Alive]

My picture of the eternal state is some different perhaps--maybe not.

I am convinced that we will all be very busy working alongside our Lord.

His vast universe is not to be wasted....Star Trek---move aside, the sons of the most high have arrived.