The 3 Heavens

br-gt)

tr.v. ab·ro·gat·ed, ab·ro·gat·ing, ab·ro·gates

To abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority.

[Latin abrog

re, abrogt- : ab-, away; see ab-¹ + rogre, to ask; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

We ask Peter:

- What was the object of the birth of this living hope which now controls you, Peter?

— "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:4,5.)

- According to this you have not yet received the inheritance, Peter?

No, "salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time." I am now holding this salvation only with the hand of faith and hope, but I rejoice over it in hope as if I were already in possession thereof, this because I am fully convinced it will come.

- But, Peter, you have nothing but sorrow and suffering for all your faith. In what manner do you really expect to obtain the salvation you are now hoping for, Peter?

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7.) - Very Good! :0)

- Don't you believe, then, Peter, that you will receive full salvation when you die, and that the hope then, by means of God's mercy, will reach the reality of salvation?

No. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13.)

- Now, Peter, since you say that the inheritance is reserved in heaven, do you then mean the heaven above the stars?

No. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13.) very good! :0)

- But is not this inheritance of the third heaven, where Paul in a rapture saw Paradise, Peter?

Yes, but the third heaven, according to the promises we believe in, is in the future and not now up above the sky.

- How can you explain this, Peter?

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (There were changes in nature.) 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."

(2 Peter 3: 6, 7.) very good! :0)

The third heaven will come as a result of the new creation. This is the hope of the gospel, and in this the apostles lived and worked, leading with them all those who listened to their gospel, based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

If they had continued to live to this day,

• They would all this time have waited for the Resurrection and Life — the King of the new Kingdom To Come and realize the promises and take them to their promised and appointed eternal inheritance.

• They would have awaited His arrival for the purpose of revealing His might and take over the governmental power and establish the kingdom of righteousness on the earth and then place them on the promised thrones of judgment.

• But the fact that they lie unconscious in the grave for a while means no more to the Resurrection and Life than if they had slept over night.

• The same pertains to all who sleep in the earth.

• They died in the hope of His return, and they awake at the sound of His voice, when He comes to bring about the promises.

Then they receive their incorruptible inheritance, which by means of faith and hope they have held on to unto death. But what those will get who have imagined that they would go to the inheritance in and through death, remains for them to see, especially for those who, in the name of Jesus, have dared to deceive the people through a false gospel. It will be a terrible day of reckoning for them — a ghastly awakening!

THE DUAL PLAN

XX. MICHAEL AND THE WAR IN HEAVEN

When the kingdoms of this world are finally brought under the feet of Christ, the union of heaven and earth progresses in the same proportion that the purifying process, which removes what has constituted the separating wall, goes on. At last Paradise appears in its original beauty with additional glory. John says:

"And he (the guiding angel) showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it (the city of God), and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Thus we see that heaven, as the inheritance of God's people, is not located beyond the starry sky, but is secreted within the Logos-power, and is of a future creation. It will come into existence in a similar manner as did the first creation. This is the great object of faith, and when the soul begins to comprehend it, Christ, as the mediator, becomes very great and precious. All of one's future existence and joy depends entirely upon his office work as the Messiah. He is the new Adam who restores and takes possession of the lost inheritance.

As long as the salvation-process goes on, Christ, as the Logos, holds a centre-position in the chain broken by man in order to convert and restore the prodigals and bring them in union with the government of God. By means of the kingdom which is cast into the great human sea like a dragnet, he brings individuals forward and out from the kingdom of darkness and death to the boundaries of heaven where the power of faith unites them with the heavenly kingdom. Having passed the boundary line, which is drawn by the cross of Christ between the kingdom of death and the kingdom of life, they are citizens of the heavenly kingdom—whether they die, are hidden in the grave, or live until the time of the restoration. Time with the dead is as the twinkle of an eye. Six thousand years are the same as a minute. When once connected with the Logos-power, they belong to the work of restoration.

Controlled by this faith, Paul says:

"For our polity begins in the heavens, from whence also we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humiliation into a conformity with his glorious body, according to the energy by which he is able even to subject all things to himself."

(Phil. 3: 20, 21; Emph. D.)

We understand Paul here refers to the third heaven to which he was caught. It is the third heaven we look for, that will develop its power and glory on and over the earth by the work of the Messiah. Peter tells us that the world that existed before the flood, including both heaven and earth, "perished," and that the heavens and the earth which now are, shall perish by the fire at the judgment day of God. (2 Pet. 3: 5-7.) But new heavens and a new earth will then be created, and righteousness shall reign therein. Then comes the third, the everlasting heaven which contains an indescribable glory.

Paul, like the Revelator, was brought forward by the Spirit to that heaven.

As the throne in the opened heaven becomes established on the earth, a voice is finally heard from him who sits on that mighty throne:

"Behold; I make all things new." And again he speaks, "It is done!"

"I am Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end."

Rev 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.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 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.

Rev 21:4 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.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. (LOGOS)I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely(NO TITHING TO A CHURCH).

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

LUTHER

AND

THE LONG PEN

OF

THE REFORMATION

BY

C. AND J. LEE

TRANSLATED FROM THE SWEDISH

The Septuagint

The translation made of the Old Testament into the Greek about 200 B. C. by 70 learned Jews render the Hebrew words which have been translated soul and spirit, as follows:

Soul and Spirit

1.

"And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life [Psychen Zosan] ... " (Gen. 1:20.)

2.

"And whatsoever Adam called every living creature [Psychen Zosan], that was the name thereof." (Gen. 2:19.)

3.

"And the Loan God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [Pneuma Zoes]; and man became a living soul [Psychen Zosan]." (Gen. 2:7.)

4.

"And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life [Pneuma Zocs1 ..." (Gen. 6:17.)

5.

"And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life [Pneuma Zoes]." (Gen. 7:15.)

6.

"And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life [Pneuma Zoes] ..." (Gen. 7:21, 22.)

The above quoted texts prove that the word soul and the words breath of life are applied to beasts as well as to humans.

Those who believed and disseminated the doctrine of Plato called themselves Platonists and considered they had discovered the truth. When the Christian doctrine had been disseminated and the name of Jesus had been intermingled with the names of the Roman gods, some of those who held with the latter took a portion of this doctrine, intermixed it with their Platonic beliefs and as a result called themselves New Platonists or Gnostics — the wise, or those who had found the true wisdom. They followed the example of the Hamites in apostatizing from the promises of God by adhering to their own governmental structure, and separating them­selves from the seed of Shem by their walls and towers, calling themselves by the distinctive name of Chaldeans — the wise people.

These New Platonists left the disciples and teachings of Christ and mixed enough of the doctrine of Christ with their Platonic beliefs to enable them to deceive those who were not imbued with the spirit of truth. This was the sect that later introduced the doctrine of trinity -- three gods in one god. And the Platonic doctrine regarding the world soul was confirmed as divine revelation — an immortal being living within the human body, whose origin was the god of all might. In identifying this doctrine with the name of Jesus they were forced to adopt a method of interpretation which made Jesus and His apostles responsible for its verity.

Originally the pagans claimed that heaven consisted of ten divisions, one above the other. The Platonic doctrine, on the other hand, claimed heaven to be in three divisions, each one above the other: the atmospheric heaven, the star heaven, and the heavenly abode of the gods. This unscrip­tural doctrine, plus its deceptive interpretation, is even now maintained along with the Platonic concept of the world soul, or immortal thing. The Scriptures teach, on the other hand, that heaven, such as it originally appeared at the time of creation, is one. Note the following:

1.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

2.

"And God made a firmament .... and God called the firmament Heaven."

3.

"And God set them [the sun, the moon, and the stars] in the firmament of the heaven."

4.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them."

When you keep this doctrine in mind, it is impossible to picture three heavens, one above another. The heaven is one, — a firmament which retains the rainwater in the sky and keeps the sun, the moon, and the stars in their appointed positions and orbits. These are called "the host" of the heavens.

The three heavens referred to in the Scriptures follow one another in the passage of time by virtue of the changes which the firmament undergoes in its relationship to the earth.

With the advent of the flood, and the change that took place in the firmament with respect to its original purity and glory, an entirely new phase or condition made its appear­ance. This new phase is the second heaven — a second and completely different relationship with respect to the earth, as if the original heaven had completely disappeared and another had taken its place. This second heaven is reserved for the fire on judgment day, says Peter, when it will be completely dissolved in order to make room for the third or new heaven.

(2 Pet. 3:5-13.) This means a complete revamp­ing of the firmament, giving it an indescribable glory which — as the prophet describes the result of this magnificent change — will cause the sun to shine seven times brighter than now, and the moon as brightly as the sun does now. This is the heaven which Christ, as the Resurrection and the Life, has promised to His people.

READ TWO CHAPTERS BELOW

2 Peter 3 The Whole Chapter is relevant.

2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2Pe 3:5 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:

2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

2Pe 3:7 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.

2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2Pe 3:10 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.

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2Pe 3:12 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?

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 30

Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Isa 30:2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Isa 30:3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

Isa 30:4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

Isa 30:5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

Isa 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

Isa 30:7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

Isa 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

Isa 30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Isa 30:12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

Isa 30:13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

Isa 30:14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

Isa 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Isa 30:16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

Isa 30:17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

Isa 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Isa 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Isa 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Isa 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Isa 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

Isa 30:24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

Isa 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

Isa 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

Isa 30:28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

Isa 30:30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Isa 30:31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.

Isa 30:32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.

Isa 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

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In order to show how the modern preachers faithfully follow the footsteps of their predecessors in interpreting the Word of God so as to make it correspond with the Platonic doctrines, we will discuss below ten points set forth by the ministers of the Mission Society, read and discussed at the conference of ministers held in New Britain, Connecticut.

TO BE CONTINUED