LIFE IN HEAVEN – PART ONE
Saturday – April 28, 2018, Iyar 13, 5778
INTRODUCTION
Some time ago a friend of mine asked that I write about life in Heaven. He was talking about the abode of God and the place of our citizenship. He noted that this was a commonly asked question. At first, I thought that the task would be very daunting even somewhat overwhelming so I tried to dismiss the idea. Over time however I have not been able to put the thought of writing about life in Heaven out of my mind nor has my friend allowed me to dismiss it. The Lord has given me an outline, a plan to accomplish this at least in a limited sense. This writing, teaching, should in no way be construed as a definitive work, it is one view, I believe prompted and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Many books have been written about Heaven. Many people have reported to have visited Heaven in near death experiences. Others report visits not associated with a near death experience, and still others report on multiple trips to Heaven. I will not be dealing with any of these reports since they are testimonials which are the weakest form of evidence. The prophetic Word of God is the surest form of evidence for us to rely upon. Notice the words of the Apostle Peter in verse nineteen of the following Scripture.
2 Peter 1:16-21 (KJV)
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Apostle Peter tells us that he and others disciples and Apostles spent time with Jesus on the earth. There were first hand witnesses and they were there when the Father spoke from Heaven. Yet, the Apostle goes on to say that the Prophetic Word fulfilled is a more certain witness. By necessity, this series, Life in Heaven, will include conjecture, extrapolation, and assumptions. I will link all of this with Scripture as much as possible, however receive all that is not explicit in Scripture in a meditative fashion. I am not saying that all or any of the testimonials referred to previously are true or false, you judge guided of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has also led me to breakdown this writing into eight periods of time. I think He wants me to do this at least in part because mixing and matching of time periods is a very common error in the Church.
BEFORE GENESIS 1:1
It seems to me that all we have before Genesis 1:1 are questions. I am not aware of a Biblical record of the time before Genesis 1:1. It would be foolish for us to assume there were no created things before the beginning of the heavens and the earth of Genesis 1:1. These creations may be of a nature that is altogether foreign to our current thinking and scientific knowledge. Since God is eternal and self-existent we know that He was in eternity past, He is now, and will be in eternity future which is what follows Revelation 22:21. As we think about eternity past we might ask the question: what was God doing?
Isaiah 57:15 (KJV)
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place …
This verse written during the Old Testament period tells us that God inhabits or lives in and is settled in eternity. In our current physical creation time stands still at the speed of physical light which is 186,282 miles per second. Physical light is produced by activated photons with humans seeing a very limited part of the full physical light spectrum. The retinas of our eyes are only capable of responding to a limited part of the light spectrum and transmitting that information to our brains. Keep in mind that we are three-part creatures, spirit, soul (mind will, emotions), and body. So, we have eyes of the mind and the spirit and so on. Just as we have physical senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) so do we have the same senses in our spiritual bodies.
In reports from people who have experienced Heaven and returned they report seeing people they knew and didn’t know. These people appeared just as they did in the earth. Why? Because the soul/spirit man looks just like the physical man. Everything that is perceived by the physical man is also perceived by the soul and spirit. However, our physical man corrupted by sin and the curse is not capable of perceiving spiritual things. On the other hand, our spirit man can perceive both of the spirit and the physical. As we tune into the Spirit of God, our spirit, there can be a certain excitement that spreads to our physical man. Unfortunately, fallen flesh is a dense filter concerning the things of the Spirit. Independent of any emotion or other excitement we walk by faith in God, in His Word and not by sight. Having said all of this by way of introduction and to speak of the time (eternity) before Genesis 1:1 let me say that we can conclude much based upon the Scripture, knowing the thinking and patterns of our Lord which are repeated and consistent independent of time. Consider the following verses in this regard.
Malachi 3:6 (KJV)
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Saturday.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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