Words and Phrases
Heaven continued.
THE SYMBOLIC HEAVENS
Having we believe established the fact that there are three LITERAL heavens, we now turn our attention to the SYMBOLIC heavens, in the attempt to understand what they imply, let us examine a few Scriptural references which might assist us in this respect.
“See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” (Heb 12:25, 26)
“And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and their entire host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine and as a falling fig from the fig tree.” (Isa 34:4)
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, [nor the Son], but my Father only.” (Matt 24: 35, 36)
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men…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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.” (2 Pet 3:5-7, 10-13)
And as the apostle Paul states, “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 knows) such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” (2 Cor 12:2)
It is quite obvious that the LITERAL heavens (i.e. the “residence” of the Father and of all the heavenly hosts) is NOT what is being referred to in these scriptures as being destroyed, Why should God wish to destroy the literal heavens?
Is there something wrong with them? Is this not the abode of the heavenly hosts, the holy angels? If something is wrong with the literal heavens then why are we admonished to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?”
Nor is there any reason for our assuming that this is in reference to the physical heavens or physical earth and its atmosphere (i.e. the “firmament”, either the expanse of the sky or the starry heavens, i.e. the universe), in fact the Scriptures expressively state that “the earth abides forever” (Eccl 1:4) “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isa 45:18)
What are the “New Heavens” spoken of in 2 Pet 3:13? What was Paul talking about when he mentioned the “third heaven”?
Let us first off state what we believe the symbolic “heavens” here represent, as used in our example texts.
We believe that these “heavens” represent the religious powers and influences of the world, both the seen and the unseen, the ecclesiastical rulers, thus these heavens are symbolically designated the “ECCLESIASTICAL HEAVENS”.
We shall now attempt to show this, the best place to begin; I believe would be with our example text above (2 Pet 3:5-7, 10-13), which pretty much covers all of our questions.
“Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world," and until the era or the "world to come" does come, Christ's kingdom will not control the earth. And for this we are taught to hope and pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Continued with next post.
Heaven continued.
THE SYMBOLIC HEAVENS
Having we believe established the fact that there are three LITERAL heavens, we now turn our attention to the SYMBOLIC heavens, in the attempt to understand what they imply, let us examine a few Scriptural references which might assist us in this respect.
“See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” (Heb 12:25, 26)
“And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and their entire host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine and as a falling fig from the fig tree.” (Isa 34:4)
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, [nor the Son], but my Father only.” (Matt 24: 35, 36)
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men…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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.” (2 Pet 3:5-7, 10-13)
And as the apostle Paul states, “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 knows) such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” (2 Cor 12:2)
It is quite obvious that the LITERAL heavens (i.e. the “residence” of the Father and of all the heavenly hosts) is NOT what is being referred to in these scriptures as being destroyed, Why should God wish to destroy the literal heavens?
Is there something wrong with them? Is this not the abode of the heavenly hosts, the holy angels? If something is wrong with the literal heavens then why are we admonished to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?”
Nor is there any reason for our assuming that this is in reference to the physical heavens or physical earth and its atmosphere (i.e. the “firmament”, either the expanse of the sky or the starry heavens, i.e. the universe), in fact the Scriptures expressively state that “the earth abides forever” (Eccl 1:4) “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isa 45:18)
What are the “New Heavens” spoken of in 2 Pet 3:13? What was Paul talking about when he mentioned the “third heaven”?
Let us first off state what we believe the symbolic “heavens” here represent, as used in our example texts.
We believe that these “heavens” represent the religious powers and influences of the world, both the seen and the unseen, the ecclesiastical rulers, thus these heavens are symbolically designated the “ECCLESIASTICAL HEAVENS”.
We shall now attempt to show this, the best place to begin; I believe would be with our example text above (2 Pet 3:5-7, 10-13), which pretty much covers all of our questions.
“Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world," and until the era or the "world to come" does come, Christ's kingdom will not control the earth. And for this we are taught to hope and pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Continued with next post.
