Above The Bright Blue

APRIL 3, 2022 SCRIPTURE READING–Numbers 13:1-2; 17-21; 23-27

Above the Bright Blue

Since the beginning of time man has been fascinated with the area we call the sky. What is hidden above the bright blue?

Man first found there were many shining objects in the night sky and they seemed to rotate around an axle. Certain objects remained in place except for rotation around certain other shining objects. The constellations were identified for referencing, especially for navigation.

To the Christian, other non-visible things were also in the heavens. We believe God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1) Believing God is a Spirit (non-visible being) (John 4:24), then spirits dwell in the heavens, above the bright blue. (Luke 11:2, Acts 7:48-49)

This has perked the curiosity of mankind since the beginning of time. How far out there are these spirits? How far away is God? Exactly where does God dwell?

In 1990, April 24th, the Hubble Telescope was launched into outer space. Not long after its launch, I remember a news correspondent saying it was sent out to find God. This past week, the Hubble Telescope found its most distant star on record. After 32 years, many distant stars are seen in a physical nature by the telescope; nothing in the spiritual realm. They have not found God nor where he dwells. They are searching in the wrong place as of now. Yes there is a place where God dwells in the Spirit realm, but for now scripture says the Spirit of God dwells within the heart of the saints here on earth.

You see, man could now send objects into orbit to search for a heaven where spirits, such as God, dwells; as if they could see it in a physical nature. But, for now that place is not open, therefore God’s Spirit dwells in man. We believe God and Jesus are building a place for the church, Christ’s bride, but it is not ready for occupation by earthlings and their spirits; whether past lives or current. Is it possible it will not become visible until it is finished?

We can only mentally visualize it by what is written in scripture.

Let us try to answer these questions for curious men: What is heaven? Where is the biblical heaven?, and What does Heaven look like?

We see a glimpse of Heaven in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Let us begin and see what the Bible tells us of Heaven.

First of all, we need to search the Old Testament for some visualization. Remember this passage? Romans 15:4. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

There must be some things written in the Old Testament which might give insight to Heaven; what it is, where it is and what it might look like.

The first indication is Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Heaven was created by God. We found the origin, now what is it?

HEAVEN IS A FIRMAMENT. Gen. 1:6-8. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven.

HOW MANY HEAVENS ARE THERE? No one knows; but, one is mentioned. (the third heaven) 2 Cor. 12:2-4. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

We see God created it. It is a division of firmmants; a lower and an upper. And, there are divisions of it at this time–the third being Paradise.

We have answered, ‘What it is’, and 'Where it is’. What might it appear like?

Gen. 1:31. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Gen. 2:5-6. …every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: … the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.