HEAVEN

Martha · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 19 Location: TN

HEAVEN

The Bible teaches the Bible and Ecc. 1:9 states, “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun”.

Based on these two facts, I have started looking at the study of the Bible a little different. I believe the Seven Feast, the Tabernacle and the Temple are rehearsals for the Tribulation as spoken by John in the book of Revelation. Recently some old Hebrew writings have come to light which states that John wore a miter. This is only worn by a priest in the Temple. Also, John was able to go into the trial chamber during Jesus’ trial and even took Peter with him. According to this old writing, this could not have been accomplished by just anyone. He had to have been in the Temple as a priest before becoming a disciple of Jesus. If this is true, then when you read Revelation with the traditions of the Temple in mind, then some of the mysterious happenings in Revelation take on new meaning and would have been understood by the Jewish people of John’s day. That is why some of these seem so strange to the west, because we did not worship in the Temple where the Menorah and its candlestick were. In Revelation chapter 1, John sees Jesus in Heaven in a linen garment and barefooted. This would have been the dress of the High Priest on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) when he went into the Holy of Holies to pour blood on the Ark of the Covenant for the atonement of Israel’s sins. This is the only time the High Priest went barefooted because he would be in the presence of God and on holy ground. When John sees Jesus in Heaven dressed the same, this confirms to us that He is our High Priest, seated at the right hand of God and ever interceding on our behalf. So the feast (6th) is pictured in the first chapter of Revelation. We know that while Jesus was here on earth, He was a prophet and now He is in Heaven as a priest, but one day He will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule and reign forever.

The scripture teaches that there are 3 levels of Heaven. Paul mentioned being caught up into the third heaven (II Cor. 12:2). Isaiah reveals statements made by Satan before his expulsion from heaven (Is. 14:13, 14).
The Bible speaks of God dwelling in the heaven of heavens (I Kings 8:27, II Chron. 2:6).

According to Isaiah’s revelation there are 3 levels of Heaven: First Heaven is the clouds; Second Heaven is the stars; and the Third Heaven is above the stars. Paradise is in the third Heaven far above the stars. This is the region of the heavenly Throne Room and the Temple of God in Heaven.
In respect to earth, where is Heaven located. Isaiah 14:13, 14 says “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High”.

This was Satan’s view;
He desired to ascend into the northern part of the heavens (Is. 14:13). Several references in the scripture speak of the north in relation to Heaven. Ezekiel described a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud and a fire enfolding itself. (Eze. 1:26-28). David sings of Mount Zion being on the sides of the north (Ps.48:2). Over 3400 years ago Job, under the divine inspiration, revealed 2 strange scientific facts concerning the earth and the heavens. (Job 26:7) “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing”. Science has proven the earth is hanging upon nothing and that there is a vast empty place in the northern part of the Heavens. There are no constellations or galaxies in the northern part of the Heaven. The only star in the north is the North Star, known as the directional star.

Scriptures reveal that the Throne Room of God is located in the northern direction of the third heaven, far above all the stars, galaxies and constellations. In visions of Heaven, prophets describe mountains of brass (Zech.6:1), rivers and streams (Rev.22:1), trees bearing fruit (Rev. 22:2) and street, gates and doors. There are harps (Rev. 5:8) and horses (Rev. 19:14), books (Rev. 29:12 , Malachi 3:16-17 & ch.4), and dwelling places (John 14:1-30). The earth is considered a planet as are other orbiting bodies in Heaven. Every planet is circular in shape. The dwelling place of God appears to be a large planet and it may be that the earth is patterned after the planet Heaven. All spiritual activity, past, present and future centers around the Temple. Revelation 11 speaks about the Heavenly Temple in verse 19 “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail”. Two other times John’s vision he saw the temple of Heaven (Rev. 14:17 and 15:5). From scriptures we find that the heavenly Throne room is located upon a mountain, and there are many angels gathered with the Lamb of God.

Ezekiel said the Throne appeared as a sapphire stone (Eze. 1:26). A sapphire is a deep blue stone that forms a starburst when light hits its surface. Ezekiel then saw the color of amber, like fire, burning within the throne itself (Eze.1:27). John said that the one sitting on the throne appeared like a jasper and a sardius stone. The sardius stone is red in color. The appearance of God’s Glory is like a semi-transparent, red glow of bright light. Both John and Ezekiel describe a rainbow around about the throne (Eze. 1:28, Rev. 4:3). It appears that God’s throne sits under this multicolored rainbow. When a rainbow appears on earth, we only see half the bow because the other half is around God’s Throne.

The sapphire stone is used in relation to the Glory of God and is mentioned 9 times in the scripture and used 3 times in relation to God’s glory appearing to men: (Exodus 24:10, Eze. 1:26 and Eze. 10:1). In Revelation 4:6 John says that the throne of God is sitting upon a sea of glass. This is not symbolism, but literal. The floor of the Temple is clear like crystal and John could actually see under this floor to another level when he saw under the altar, souls that were martyred (Rev. 6:9). John also says that this glassy floor is mingled with fire as he sees a large number of tribulation martyrs worshipping and singing before the throne. He saw lightning flashing from behind the throne throughout his vision and it appears the lightning was creating the effect of a prism of colors on the floor of the Throne Room. There are 24 smaller thrones of judgment and rulership (Ps. 122:5; Daniel 7:9& Matt.19:28. No doubt these are the 12 Apostles of Christ and the 12 sons of Jacob.

There were voices coming from the Throne (rev. 4:5). Often in scripture, God’s voice sounds like the noise of thunder and at times, can sound like a trumpet blast. There were innumerable multitude worshipping God before the throne and their voices sounded like many waters. Rev. 5:8 tells us that the prayers of the saints are stored in golden vials. Prayers are words coming before God. NOT ONE WORD FALLS TO THE GROUND, but each prayer is preserved before the throne of God.

Most Christians have heard some teaching on the Ark of the Covenant, the Menorah, the Golden Altar, the Table of Shewbread and the Laver. All these were in the Tabernacle built by Moses under God’s exact orders (Heb. 8:5); in fact this verse says that they are patterned after the things in Heaven. Because Moses viewed the Heavenly furniture, he could pattern the pieces for the Tabernacle. Moses’ furniture may have only been in miniature size, but it was an exact copy of what is in Heaven.

Worship on earth is an echo of worship in the heavens. Angels were created in the ages past to worship God in His Holy Temple. Before creation, the angels in Heaven worshipped and praised God. Ezekiel 28 leads us to believe that Lucifer led the worship and praise in Heaven. He seems to have been created for this purpose. Lucifer may have even been in a position of High Priest in Heaven because he wore a breastplate with 9 stones on it. The earthly High Priest’s breastplate had 12 stones, one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Excerpts from “Breath of the Holies” by Perry Stone