LIFE IN HEAVEN – PART ELEVEN
Saturday – July 7, 2018, Tamuz 24, 5778
TIME FRAME FOUR
LIFE IN HEAVEN -Genesis 3:7 to the Throne (Hebrews 1:3)
Welcome back to this wonderful Bible Study illuminating life in Heaven along with many other life changing Truths. At this time, let us take a moment and ask ourselves what if anything changed in Heaven between Genesis 3:5 and Genesis 3:7? The biggest change was that man in the image and likeness of God was now barred from Heaven to remain on and in the earth pending a Messiah. We do not know exactly when Lucifer, now Satan, the devil, the old Serpent, was thrown out of Heaven but was most likely during the civilization that was present in the earth before Genesis 1:3. The results of Lucifer’s rebellion in the earth is seen in Genesis 1:2 and in chapter four of Jeremiah. Along with Satan one third of the angels rebelled with him and were cast to the earth. The angels other than Satan were locked in hell but Satan could roam the earth as evidenced in Genesis 3:1 and following. This casting of Lucifer from Heaven occurred when sin was found in him and there was war in Heaven. One third of the angels rebelled with him and were cast out of Heaven with him. Jesus described this event at least in part and we see further detail in the Book of Revelation.
Luke 10:18 (KJV)
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Revelation 12:4 (KJV)
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Lucifer now called Satan and other names is left to roam the earth but the angels that sinned were imprisoned in hell and this is where they remained until mankind in the image and likeness of God sinned. When man made the Serpent his god, then God the Creator had no legal basis to hold them in chains. Satan, the Serpent was loose in the earth to test the love of Adam. Untested love cannot be trusted. The following Scriptures give us further insight concerning the angelic rebellion and the punishment. This rebellion occurred in the second (Genesis 1:1-2) of the eight time periods we are exploring.
2 Peter 2:4 (KJV)
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Jude 1:6 (KJV)
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Let’s talk for a moment about when the provision was made for mankind should he fall (sin).
1 Peter 1:19-20 (KJV)
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
In the twentieth verse above, the phrase, “before the foundation of the world” can also be translated as before the casting down. The casting down of the prior world (foundation of the world) occurred immediately following the rebellion of Lucifer the “son of the morning”. Lucifer was joined in this rebellion by one third of the angels. The redemptive provision for the man who was not even created yet was provided for before the sin of Lucifer and the casting down, or foundation of the world. It strikes me that the seed (envy, jealousy, pride) for Lucifer’s rebellion was the knowledge of this coming man in the image and likeness of God. Satan, the Serpent, was roaming the earth and the other angels were in hell awaiting judgment. Unfortunately, on that terrible day in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to make Satan their god and place Satan’s word in the highest place this loosed the hordes of hell into the earth.
Until the final redemption could come, and man could once again inhabit Heaven, a place called Paradise, or the Bosom of Abraham was created for those who worshipped the One True God. I do not know exactly when ‘Paradise’ was created but it is likely to have been created when Adam rebelled for there was no need before that time. Hell was created for the devil and his legions not mankind but since man chose the devil as his god his reward became the same as his master, the curse, death and hell. Paradise is the place where Old Testament saints went upon physical death awaiting the preaching of the gospel and the blood of Jesus (Messiah). Jesus speaks of this place which was in the bowels of the earth adjacent to Hell but separated by a gulf which could not be crossed but could be visualized.
Luke 16:19-26 (KJV)
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Please do not look at this account as a prohibition on being rich and an ad for being poor, after all, Abraham was probably as rich as anyone in his time. This account by Jesus of real people in real places is to give us a picture of just how awful Hell really is and is to be avoided at all costs. I will pick up right here next Saturday, Lord willing. Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
2 Peter 1:2-4 (KJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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