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.
Gen. 2:8-10. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden;
In Eden, the garden of Paradise, is a tree of life and a tree of knowledge of good and evil.
GOD CREATED AN EDEN. Eden means Paradise. God created paradise for mankind; a place for perfect happiness or bliss.
It might be a place God wants his children to dwell flowing with milk and honey. (like the place Moses sent spies to explore)
Numbers 13:17-20. 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
Numbers 13:23.23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Numbers 13:25-17. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
What God created was good. It was a Paradise. It might have flowed with milk and honey (such that the grapes were so large that two men had to carry a cluster by a staff between the two).
What about New heavens? Will there be a new heaven unscarred by mortal man?
2 Peter 3:10-13. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Therefore, if this heaven and earth shall pass away, what will the new heaven look like?
Only righteousness will dwell there. We do not have to suffer from vial and evil perpetrators of mankind. (2 Peter 3:13)
NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH. The new heaven will be new.
Rev. 21:1. 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
THE CAPITAL CITY WILL BE NEW. Rev. 21:2. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven
GOD WILL DWELL WITH MEN. Rev. 2:3. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
NOTHING THERE TO BRING SORROW TO MAN. Rev. 21:4. …there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain
THERE WILL BE A FOUNTAIN OF THE WATER OF LIFE. Rev. 21:6. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
This water is free!
THE NEW JERUSALEM
Rev. 21:10-12. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
This fortified city was new and did not need security, for God and His children dwell there in peace and harmony.
NEW JERUSALEM IS MOST BEAUTIFUL
Rev. 21:18-19, 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.
Rev. 21:21. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
There was no need for a physical sun nor moon. The light was from the Lamb of God. Rev. 21:23. …and the Lamb is the light thereof.
THE GATES SHALL NEVER BE SHUT
Rev. 21:25. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
THE TREE OF LIFE SHALL BE THERE ALONG THE RIVER.
REV. 22:1-2. 22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
This tree of life is likened to the tree in the old garden of Eden. It, too, heals every nation.
Mankind will be returned to eat of The Tree of Life just like Adam and Eve were allowed in the beginning of mankind.
With a beautiful description of the New Heaven, wouldn’t you like to go and dwell there? Jesus said, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7.
To overcome is to be saved from the evils of this Tribulation Period. Rev. 2:10b. …be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. This is promised to those of whom are overcome.
Jesus is calling all to be overcome with righteousness and he will give freely to drink of the fountains of life; freedom to the Tree of Life; a crown of life; a robe of white; and, a beautiful mansion. All this, if you're found faithful, believing in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
This New Heaven will be more beautiful than this earth we now dwell upon. I believe there will be animals as we see them to enjoy. Mountains more majestic than these. Rivers flowing from the River of Life with fish ready to be caught. Most of all, God will be there; Jesus will be there; all the saints will be there along with all the angels and great men and women of Old.
HOW MUST I ACT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A CHANCE OF THESE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS FROM GOD?
HEAR the Word of God–the WORD is Jesus
BELIEVE this WORD–Jesus–He is the Son of God
REPENT of your sin–STOP doing unrighteous things against God and men as you learn of iniquities against God’s righteousness
CONFESS his name before men–Romans 10:10.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You just say, ”I believe Jesus is the Son of the living God.”
BE BAPTIZED for the remission of your sins–1 Peter 3:20b-21. …eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Acts 22:16.16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
OBEY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS UNTIL DEATH–Mt. 22:36-40. 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Rev. 2:10b. …be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
These things will get you to see the Great New Heaven and Earth, where only the found righteous shall live.
Do you desire to see The New Heaven?
These descriptions are not enough to properly describe Heaven; but, they are enough to cause me to desire to see them. How about you?
