Kingdom of Heaven Part 4
What is the extent or measure of the
kingdom of Heaven? Is the habitation of mankind the only one in the kingdom of
Heaven? Or are there more that can be defined which are part of it? Please
remember that a simile is a comparison used to signify or make known things that
are not alike. They are used to help man understand the invisible things of God
by comparing them to the visible things that God made for him. The dictionary
defines the word habitat as an area or environment in which something lives.
Genesis 1:1, 6-8, 14-18 & 26
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it
divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the
firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the
second day.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide
the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for
days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the
lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the
darkness: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps
upon the earth.
In this account of the creation recorded by Moses the habitat of mankind is
defined as the earth and the universe that surrounds it. God gave man dominion
over all things in his habitation. However God retains the authority and control
of mankind and also the realm of his habitat.
Genesis 6:5-6 & 17-18
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him
at his heart.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy
all flesh, where in is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing
that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with you will I establish my covenant; and you shall come into the ark,
you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
The Messias chosen Apostle John was shown Gods dwelling place and the seat of
his throne.
Revelation 4:1-6
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first
voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said,
Come up here, and I will show you things which must be here after.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven,
and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there
was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I
saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on
their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and
there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven
Spirits of God.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the
midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes
before and behind.
Gods dwelling place is a place of glory that it is compared to the beauty of earth's most precious
stones. Where Gods power emanates from his presence and his subjects are
inspired with admiration, reverence and awe. An Apostle of the Messias called
Judah revealed that Satan and his angels are to be judged for leaving their
habitation and estate.
Jude 1:5-6
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that
the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed
them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day.
The place of Gods throne is surrounded by what John described as a sea of
crystal glass and by his seven Spirits and four Beasts. This would lead one to
conclude that the Angels of God have their own habitation. And it is not the
same as the place of Gods throne. That old dragon known as the devil and Satan
is also cast into a place called the bottomless pit.
Revelation 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The Messias Jesus revealed two additional habitats within the kingdom of heaven
that are recorded by Luke.
Luke 16:19-31
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:
more over 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 saw 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 you in your life time received your good
things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are
tormented.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that
they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that
would come from there.
27 Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that thou would send him to my
father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, unless they also
come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead,
they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Abraham's bosom and paradise are the same places what is shown here is that
those who choose the true life. Are transported there by Gods angels when they
die to wait for the final day of Judgement. Hell is the place where those who
did not choose the true life awake to wait for the final day of Judgement.
Please keep in mind that this too is a simile, a comparison. Neither of the men
depicted are in their mortal bodies but are spirits. The rich man may have felt
thirsty but he doesn't actually have a tongue. Nor is there fire and water as it
is known here in this world. However the rich man still possesses his desires
that cannot be satisfied without his body a torment indeed. Jesus the Messias
revealed that God has created many creatures their habitations and places within
the kingdom of Heaven. In part five more of what his Messias revealed will be
provided. Please take the time to read it and examine his words.