Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, a North-African born early Christian author who became an advisor to the Roman emperor Constantine I once remarked: “It is possible that Mount Olympus may have supplied the poets with the hint for saying that Jupiter obtained the kingdom of heaven, because Olympus is the common name both of the mountain and of heaven.” Revelation 13:1-5 reminds us: “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth.
And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.”
Wikipedia defines Jupiter as a gas giant, made up of 89% hydrogen, 10% helium, and trace amounts of other elements. It doesn't have a solid surface, and its visible "surface" is made up of clouds of methane and ammonia. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun. In astrological terminology, Jupiter is regarded as the largest planet in our solar system. It consists of a mass regarded as two and a half times that of other planets and its diameter is considered eleven times that of earth. The name itself has many connotations and was the former title given to a missile. It has also been used as a code name for a previous military offensive during World War II. In Roman mythology, Jupiter is the appellation for the king of the gods and is associated with a heaven. Jupiter was the entitled chief deity of the Roman state religion during the Republican and Imperial eras. He was regarded as the god of the sky and thunder, and the champion of the Roman people. Jupiter was also known as Jove. The Jupiter-C was a secondary name applied for an American research and development vehicle used in three unmanned sub-orbital space flights during 1956 and 1957.
Some people believe that there is more than one heaven, certain cultures believe in different gods. Many have said that life itself can be a form of heaven, but for most Christians, heaven is an eternal resting place after death, it is not of this life. It is a place filled with happiness earnt through faith and good deeds striven for, where all pain is denied. We do not know its exact location, whether it be on this planet, another planet, in a different universe or perhaps, over the rainbow in an epithet called “somewhere.” All we can be sure of is that it is the main dwelling place of the one and only true God who made heaven and earth and all life within it. Revelation 22:1-5 reminds us: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”
Mountains can be prominent in religion. The book of Deuteronomy in the Bible informs us of the story of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai. Chapter 5:1-7 reminds us: “And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.
The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said: “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “‘You shall have no other gods before me.”
It is believed that the Romans regarded Jupiter as the equivalent of the Greek god Zeus. Zeus is considered by some to be the true God. However, there is no actual current evidence available to prove that Zeus ever existed. He is a believed deity of ancient Greek religion and mythology who ruled as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. However, Deuteronomy 13:1-4 cautiously reminds us: “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.
There are probably many hidden elements of revelation across the spectrum of the zenith of the heavens. Some will define truth, some belief, others focus on fiction or mythology. Les Dawson, an English comedian and actor once remarked: “In awe, I watched the waxing moon ride across the zenith of the heavens like an ambered chariot towards the ebony void of infinite space wherein the tethered belts of Jupiter and Mars hang, for ever festooned in their orbital majesty. And as I looked at all this I thought... I must put a roof on this toilet.”
Ephesians 5:1-21 reminds us: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Amen.
