Doctrines

1.25 Credit hours

Heaven

   There are eight different words in Genesis 1:1, and we will focus on the sixth one. The word heaven (singular) is from the Hebrew word shamayim.

   Anytime you find the the two letters "im" together at the end of a Hebrew word, that always means that that word is plural, but it is translated here as the singular word heaven.  The word "heaven" appears 583 times.   

Heavens

   The word "heavens" appears 133 times, but it is the same Hebrew word shamayim that is also translated as heaven (Singular). 

The firmament he called heaven

Genesis 1:6 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. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

   On day two, God separated waters on the earth, and placed a firmament (called heaven) which separated the waters on the earth from the waters above the earth. 

Heaven is described as above the earth

   The earth is described as being under the heaven, which we will call the first heaven, as the scripture points, to more than just one heaven (which we will study later in more detail): 

Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

    This would be the open firmament called heaven, which is the realm where the fowls of the air fly, the first heaven:

Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

The Second Heaven

Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 

   The second heaven is described as having two great lights in it (the Sun and the Moon) along with the stars. These were all created on day four. A third heaven will be discussed momentarily which is the abode of God.

There are hosts in the heavens

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 

   In Genesis chapter two God is summing up what occured in chapter one. The word host will be discussed momentarily, but the word has to deal with everything in the heavens. The word host means a company, an army, or a large group, such as angels or planets.

The Windows of Heaven

Genesis 8:2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.

    Notice that the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. This could mean that because the window of heaven were stopped the rain was restrained, and it could also mean that both the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. I will leave that for you to decide.

God is the Possessor of Heaven

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

The Angel of the LORD called out of Heaven

Genesis 22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

The LORD is the God of Heaven

Genesis 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

The Host of Heaven

   Remember back in Genesis 2:1-4 above that the heavens (plural) were finished, and all the host of them. Just what are the host of the heavens? It is definitely a reference to all the stars, moons, suns, and planets, but is there more to it than just that?

Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

Deuteronomy 17:3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;

Angels are also identified as the host of God:

Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

The Stars (Angels) fought from heaven

Judges 5:20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

The Devil and his Angels will be cast out of heaven

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

   This event happens at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period, and Satan makes war with the saints at this time.

 There is as a paved work of a Sapphire Stone under God's feet in Heaven:

Exodus 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

God's holy habitation is in Heaven

Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

   Heavenly

    The word "heavenly" appears 23 times in the scriptures, but never in the Old Testament. It is the Greek word Epouranios. It is also translated as the words "celestial" and "high". It is similar to the word Uranus, which is a planet in the heavens (the second heaven).

    It is used to describe things belonging to heaven, or things in heaven, The term "my heavenly Father" implies that Jesus Father is in Heaven (the third heaven).

   It is used to describe things in heaven. Heavenly host, heavenly things, heavenly vision, heavenly calling, heavenly places, heavenly gift, heavenly kingdom, and heavenly Jerusalem.  

Heavenly Places

     The words "heavenly places" appear only 4 times places and all of them are in Paul's epistle to the Ephesians (1:3, 20 2:6, 3:10).

   The word "places" is italicized, and is not in the Greek, but is supplied by the translators to give us a better understanding of what is being said. Take the word "places" out of the verse and the verse isn't as clear.

   There are principalities and powers (Governmental Structure) in heavenly places that are occupied by angels, both good and fallen, the fallen will be cast out of these positions at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period:

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

The Heaven of Heavens

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

The Third Heaven 

2 Corinthians 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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.

   This third heaven, as we can see, is also called paradise. Much debate over these verses have occured as to who was it the Paul was speaking about, either himself, or John who wrote the book of the revelation, Paul clearly states that he is not talking about himself in the later verses, but that is not the real issue here.

   The real issue is that there is a third heaven, where the person Paul was speaking about John who was he was caught up to the third heaven, and up into paradise.

Far above all heavens

   Scriptures supports a place far above the heavens where Christ ascended up on high as well:

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The heavens opened

   Stephen, by the filling of the Holy Ghost, saw the glory of God, and the place where Christ ascended when the heavens were opened to him:

Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

   All the heavens were opened to Stephen's view so that he could see up on high, far above all heavens to the very throne of God.

The LORD's throne is in heaven: 

Psam 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Jesus came from heaven

John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 

Jesus was sent by God, from heaven

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Jesus went back to heaven and he will return

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazig up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

God's throne is found in the Heavenly places

Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

We are seated in heavenly places

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

   As believers in Christ today, we make up his body, and he is the head of that body. Where he is as our head in eternity, there will his body be, because we are in Christ.

   This doesn't not mean that we will occupy the exact same space of real estate that Christ is on at every moment. We will not all be sitting on his lap throughout eternity. We, as his body, have roles to accomplish during the millennial kingdom and on out into eternity.

   Notice that Ephesians 2:6 it states that we are seated together with Christ, but we are seating in heavenly places (plural, many places), not just seated with him.

I will shake the heavens

Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

Joel 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Haggai 2:6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

   Why will the LORD of hosts (angels) shake the heavens? There are some fallen angels in heavenly places that do not want to leave their positions.

   When the LORD shakes the heavens, Satan then casts those angels that followed him down to the earth to make war with the saints. It is very clear from these passages that they each speak of a day to come. Not some past event.

   Hebrews tells us a little more about this event. Notice Paul does not speak about this event, but the writers to the Hebrews back in the Old Testament do and so does the author of Hebrews here.

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

   Everything in the book of Hebrews, and especially in this chapter is written to the Hebrews. It is written especially for those going through that time when the LORD shakes the heavens and the earth.

  That will be during the time of Jacob's Trouble (the seven year tribulation period) to educate them so they can take the necessary precautions during that time.


A throne was set in heaven

Revelation 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. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

   Who were the four and twenty elders seated on twenty-four thrones? There are a lot of guesses out there. They are twenty-four Jewish believers first of all who wore white robes, not because it was what everyone wears, but it is the righteousness of the saints, their robes were made white in the blood of the lamb. 

   Secondly, is there anywhere in all the scripture where the number twenty-four is associated with Israel and worshiping God? Of course there is.

   There were twenty-four courses of priests in the tabernacle and later the temple each with a person over that course found in first Chronicles chapter twenty-four.

   They are most likely the original twenty-four priests listed in 1 Chronicles 24:9-17, because one of them asks John who are all those before the throne who are wearing white robes, thus enlightening us that they themselves are not Tribulation Saints:

Revelation 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

A New Heaven

Revelation 21:1 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. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 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. 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. 

   The new heaven is not new Jerusalem, new Jerusalem is in heaven today, but it will come down out of heaven, (if it comes down out of a place called heaven, it cannot be heaven also). It is called that heavenly city because it was for a while in heaven.

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

   Many teach that the body of Christ (the church today) is going to be the bride of Christ. This is not so! The Bride, the Lamb's wife is a city, New Jerusalem, technically it is the inhabitants of that city.

   You and I in the body of Christ are not believing Israel so we are not the bride, we are the body of Christ. See our study on the Bride of Christ.

   Will we have access to the city? Absolutely! We are given celestial bodies and will be able to go anywhere with them. I am currently in Tel Aviv, Israel as I am writting this. I do not live here, but I can travel to and from here, I am a citizen of another country so while I can visit here, I must return home.

    My citizenship is in heaven because I have trusted in Christ as my Saviour in this dispensation of grace, but that doesn't mean I am restricted to heaven. The body of Christ will take up the positions vacated by the fallen angels and we will rule with Christ from the heaven places. 

   Faithful Israel will rule and reign with Christ here on the earth. As angels ministered to the nation of Israel and other nations under the Law, so will we have roles in different heavenly places that work in support of what is going on in the kingdom down here on earth.

   You will not spend eternity strumming a harp on some cloud, or catching rainbow trout in the Crystal Sea. Reigning with Christ does not just mean we sit around on thrones either.

The god of this world

   The new heaven will be just that, a new heaven, free from thousands of years of defilement by Satan and his angels who have been usurping principalities  and powers in high places to wage his war against God and his angels, and from where he ruled over this world as the god of this world.

2 Corithians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

The End