THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

What is the kingdom of heaven? It is Paradise, the eternal abode of the righteous. Only those justified by the Blood of Christ will enter there. The house of the righteous will be the New Jerusalem in the Kingdom of Heaven. We shall briefly describe it during reading of this chapter.

But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21:27

God will not allow any stain into His Kingdom. Only the righteous washed by the HOLY blood of Jesus will have access forever. REMEMBER it is the only way to heaven.

Is the present earth the kingdom of heaven? The biblical answer is NO.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 5:18

God speaks about the Judgment Day here:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:11

The new earth and new heaven will be in the Kingdom of Heaven. Apostle Paul says it's the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2), we see that the sea will not exist there.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:1

The present earth was made in the abyss reserved for satan and his fallen angels. That is why God speaks of the abysses in the depths of the earth and space. Why is the earth and the sky in the abyss? Humbly, I think God wanted to test the soul of the righteous, before giving them His great gift.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:1-2

And

When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

Proverbs 8:27

It seems that we shall no more sleep in our new heavenly bodies. There will be more night and the Glory of God will be our light.

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5

What does the New Jerusalem look like? In this third heaven, this is how the New Jerusalem, is described to us. The New Jerusalem is a city with a wall of jasper surrounding it. The city will be in gold of fine crystal and precious stone and twelve exit gates of pearl. The city shall have 12,000 stadia multiplying in height, length and width. The glory of God shall be our light. God will dwell with them (Revelation 21: 13). People will have homes with a lot of land. A river of life as crystal and trees of life for the nations of the public square, There will be lots of greenery, gardens and water sources within its walls and its exterior. There will be no seas or oceans. The temperature will always be perfect for our new incorruptible bodies (Revelation 21:11-21)

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21: 9-27

Also, God tells us that there is green in the holy city and a river out of the throne of God and the Lamb will flow into the city. There will be a tree of life. I do not know if God will put greenery everywhere. I know that God loves vegetation and trees. We see that there will be nations.

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."

12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

Revelation 22:1-18

Shall we have a body? Shall we eat? Shall we drink? Will we have a gender? The biblical answer is YES. We shall put on an incorruptible and immortal body. As, explained above, a first resurrection and rapture of the church at the end of the age of Grace, a second at the end of the great tribulation and the last at the end of the millennium at Judgment Day for those whose names are in the book of life.

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Shall we eat and shall we drink? The Lord Jesus during His resurrection put on an incorruptible and immortal body. He appeared to the disciples, then, ate and drank with them.

37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?"

42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Luke 24:37-45

Similarly, I will quote my favorite part about death. It is the most reassuring psalm in this passage from life to eternal life.

1 A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Psalms 23:1-6

Jesus explaining the symbol of bread and wine during his last supper (Holy Communion), said:

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.

28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:26-30

You see, we eat and drink in the kingdom of heaven.

Shall we have a gender? The Biblical answer is YES.

But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

Luke 20:35

And

For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Mark 12:25

It seems that the notion of offspring is excluded from the plans of God. The angels have a gender, we saw in the ancient world. Will there be a form of sexuality practiced without the power to procreate? The concept of holiness is the only way possible in these exchanges. God alone knows.

There are different positions in the kingdom of heaven.

2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14: 2-3

Our heavenly reward will depend on how God receives our works; hence, some shall have higher positions than others. This is how the mode of payment of heavenly reward shall be. Let he who has ears hear.

8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written , "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";

20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours. 23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

1 Corinthians 3:8-23

Shall we have a higher position than the angels in heaven? The biblical answer is YES. We are the elects and very precious in the sight of God. We shall see how far God will Show His love for us.

Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:3

And

For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.

Hebrews 2:5

And

To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.

1 Peter 1:12

We will enjoy perfect happiness in the kingdom of heaven. The greatest happiness on earth is imperfect, temporal and short-lived except, the happiness of our ETERNAL SALVATION for born-again Christians. Imagine a perfect and lasting happiness for eternity. In our incorruptible and immortal bodies, we are man and woman, young, beautiful, full of strength, intelligence, wisdom and energy. We will always be at the height of all our faculties.

Happiness, joy, stability, happiness and abundance will be our eternal inheritance; an eternity, without grief, without sorrow, without infirmities, without disability, disease-free and with the values of the Holy Spirit in harmony and love with God.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Revelation 21:4

For those who have died without this inheritance and with whom we rubbed shoulders, my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I do not want you to grieve. Since the Lord in his great goodness has provided a mechanism that makes us not to be sad for them.

On the spiritual aspect, we are told that we shall forget past things. Among other things, unregenerate people that we knew on earth, this is to prevent any sadness. Also, because everyone will be punished by God and sent to hell, their memory will be erased forever.

They are dead, they will not live;

They are deceased, they will not rise.

Therefore You have punished and destroyed them,

And made all their memory to perish.

Isaiah 26:14

And

17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.

Isaiah 65:17-18

THE GREAT GIFT OF GOD FOR US

The elects who passed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross will inhabit a new heaven and new earth in the kingdom of heaven that God will create for them. The elects realized that they were sinners and accepted that Jesus Christ should pay the ransom for them for their sinful condition to be restored and reconciled to God by the Holy Blood of the Son of God. This HOLY sacrifice offered on the cross by GOD for the purification of sins is valid for all. However, only men willing to be purified by the sacrifice slain for us, will be saved and live forever in the kingdom of heaven. The heavenly rewards will be distributed according to the works consistent with the spirit of God that we have done on earth. The abyss which is space, and which is believed to be infinite, is very likely to finish according to the Bible. There exists between the two worlds a gap that prevents them to visit each another (Luke chapter 16 verse 26).

Jesus after the Judgment Day will hand over all the saved souls to God. Thus, we shall individually be an integral part of God. We shall NEVER again fall into sin since we shall be part of God. This will not add the power of God. This is a gift, a blessing and a treasure that God in His holiness and love, gives us free forever.

When we accept the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, here is our present situation, in the era of Grace. Immediately, we are justified by God through Christ and sealed by His Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1: 13).

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:15-17

And

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:11-14

So, the elects through Christ who is Holy are Saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. In course of time, they will take an incorruptible and immortal body. But on the Judgment Day, there will be a second stage. Indeed Jesus shall give back all His authority and the saved souls to God the Father.

27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

1 Corinthians 15:27-28

This means that we will become involved in the divine nature. This means we can NEVER again fall into sin. Our soul shall be part of God. Unlike angels WHO are immortal, but have individual soul. Sin is always possible for them. The elects shall constantly be connected to the Holy Spirit, which will make it impossible to fall in sin the second time. In our free conscience, we shall think only what is allowed in holiness. In this, we will be superior to the angels.

Personally, I think if we become participants in the spirit of God, we have the gift of creation to make us happy in a free and holy conscience. In this sense and in these circumstances, these verses have all their meaning. (Psalms 82: 6 and John 10: 34)

I said, "You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.

Psalms 82:6

And

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '?

John 10:34

This last condition is only for the elect after the Judgment Day. This is a wonderful grace that God grants us by our status as heir. I GIVE GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THESE THINGS.