25 facts about heaven that many people don't know number 25 the three Heavens when the word Heaven is used in the Bible without a symbolic connotation it most usually refers to one of three Realms as a result we learn that the Bible refers to multiple Heavens the first Heaven the atmospheric Heaven the atmosphere includes the air we breathe and the space around the Earth the second heaven is the celestial Heaven The second heaven is commonly known as the Stellar Heaven this encompasses the sun moon and stars stars are said to be in heaven the Bible
also warns people of worshiping bodies that exist in Heaven There are scriptures that describe a different situation in the second heaven there are times when opposing Angels who serve God and those who serve Satan engage in in significant battles these conflicts primarily occur in the Heavenly Areas the third heaven heaven is the home of God third heaven scripture states that heaven is the specific location where God resides as explained in Hebrews Hebrews 8:1 now the main point of what we have to say is this we have such a high priest the Christ who is seated
in the place of honor at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty God in heaven heaven is called the presence of God number 24 Heaven is a true tangible Place John 14 Heaven is an actual place not a metaphysical concept or mental state in the Book of John chapter 14 Jesus informed his disciples about his intention to prepare a place for them this place was not going to be a mere state of mind or a concept but an actual location that was exclusively designed for individuals who have a personal relationship with God in
my father's house are many rooms if that were not so I would have told you because I am going There to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I am coming again and will take you to myself so that where I am there you also will be and you know the way where I am going John 14 2:4 not how Jesus uses the word Place three times in this short passage in some languages the word translated place has been translated as Mansions but in actuality it refers to
additional rooms built onto the patriarch's home to Accommodate the arrival of new family members through marriage these rooms were part of the extended family's property finally Jesus promises that he will return to get us so that we can be with him so if Jesus is true and lives somewhere we have promised to be with him in that place number 23 the man that heard Heaven There is a man that heard what happens in heaven who gives us a glimpse who shares visions and Revelations of the Lord 2 Corinthians 12 2-4 I Know a Man in
Christ who 14 years go whether in body I do not know or out of the body I do not know God knows such a man was caught up to the third heaven and I know such a man whether in body or apart from the body I do not know God knows who caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible Words which a man is not permitted to speak what happened with Paul is a question that many people can have in their minds was his Spirit able to break free from his body and fly To heaven on
his own or was his body carried to Heaven together with his Spirit when it died if Paul did not know then it's impossible for us to know either this is the main idea of the passage in fact Paul emphasizes the point by repeating the idea twice PA refers to this third heaven as Paradise in his writings the word Paradise stems from the Persian word for an enclosed lavish Garden in the ancient world enclosed luxurious Gardens were were Sometimes located only on the grounds of Royal homes P does not explain anything that he saw when he
is discussing this Celestial Vision only a shadowy description of what he heard Numbers 22 John sees the third heaven although Paul heard the third heaven John is granted the opportunity and he relates to us what He observed during his time there Revelations 41:3 after these things I looked and Behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I had heard like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me said come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things immediately I was in the spirit and behold a
throne was standing in heaven and someone was sitting on the throne and he who was sitting was like a jasper stone an ass sardus in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in Appearance the throne is the focus of this Vision since it was the first thing that struck Jon as being significant Jon's attention was primarily drawn to the throne that was already occupied so all other details are disgust in context with this feature there is no empty Throne there is someone who sits on this great Heavenly Throne the throne
is a powerful symbol that proclaims not only the presence of God But also his absolute sovereignity rightful Reign and his prerogative to judge rather than defying a precise form or figure John explained emanations of glistening light in two colors white Jasper May mean diamond and red sardius number 21 the Elders of Heaven Revelation 4:4 declares and around about The Throne were 4 and 20 seats and upon the seats I saw four and 20 Elders sitting clothed in white rment and they had on their heads crowns of Gold The Book of Revelations does not specify who
the 24 Elders are nonetheless the Greek term translated as Elders solely pertains to men and not to Angels especially to mature men capable of governing the church many believe that these Elders Are Not Angels crowns are never promised to Angels nor are angels ever seen wearing them the word translated Crown here refers to the Victor's Crown worn by those who have successfully completed and won the Victory as Christ promised number 20 the four living creatures of Heaven Ezekiel noted about the four living creatures of Heaven Ezekiel 1 5-9 as from within it came the likeness
of four living creatures and this was their appear appearance they had the likeness of a man each one had four faces and each one had four wings their legs were straight and the SES of their feet were like the soles of CB's feet They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze the hands of a man were under their wings and their four sides and each of the four had faces and wings their wings touched one another the creatures did not turn when they went but each one went straight forward the four living creatures are also
found in Revelation the description of these beings in the Bible give no hint that they are figurative rather they present them as real beings the cherubim also Known as the four living creatures means beings are the highest and most exalted order of celestial beings this is made abundantly clear by the close proximity of these individuals to the throne of God the roles or obligations of the four living being beings are discussed in verses 6-14 of Revelation 5 they prostrate themselves before the lamb who is Jesus Christ and offers the same reverence to him as they
did to the father proof positive of the deity of Jesus Christ they carry Harps and golden vials full of incense which represent the prayers of the Saints the purpose of the four living creatures also has to do with declaring the Holiness of God and leading in worship and and Adoration of God Additionally the four living creatures play a role in the execution of God's justice in some fashion number 19 what do angels do in heaven there are a lot of people who have false beliefs regarding angels in Heaven what are the functions and responsibilities of
angels angels are able to accomplish a wide variety of Duties the activities that Angels engage in are always directed towards God and carry in accordance with his will the good Angels elect Angels worship and serve God while also playing a role in the world created by the Lord the Bible tells us that Angels Worship the Lord and sing praises to Him Psalms 1482 praise him all his angels praise Him all his Heavenly armies Angels Also Serve God and carry out his commands being sent by God to answer prayers Serve and Protect Christians are among these
mandates God sometimes employs angels as Weapons of judgment particularly when people or nations disobey or do not believe in God there is nothing that the elect Angels do that is contrary to God's will Psalms 103:20 bless the Lord you his angels Mighty and strength who perform his word obeying the voice of his word scripture indicates that Angels observe Christians as their lives Angels celebrate when a sinner repents Luke 1510 in the same way I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents Angels serve as a
beautiful illustration for believers to follow in obeying the Lord and praising his name We can join the worship of the angels in praising God number 18 sin death and sorrow are absent heaven will be great because a few things won't be there there is no place you can go on this Earth to escape the clutches of death you see the truth is that we are all terminal the death rate in your community is 100% none of us are exempt and none of us will escape the fact that heaven has not been tainted by sin is
the most significant Distinction that can be made between this world and the Heavenly one man's sin permeates the Earth and God's glory perfects Heaven God the glory of Heaven created Earth and gave it to the human race to care for and enjoy instead of obeying God's instructions on the things of Earth however Adam and Eve decided to listen to Satan and do the only thing God had for them to do number 17 what does the throne room of heaven look like Vivid colors are Used to describe the throne room and the one who sits on
the throne not only is there a rainbow around the throne but there are also 24 Thrones the throne and the person sitting on it are depicted as very active the Lord is not dozing off on the throne there is movement the reader is being prepared for the outpouring of God's Wrath lightning rumbling and pills of thunder in Revelations 85 all ref presentent God's judgments being sent Out from his throne this language also brings to mind the thunder and lightning of Mount siai when God visited however John is not the only man in the word of
God to witness this number 16 the most mysterious angel in heaven the ofm ofm is the ancient Hebrew word for wheels ofanim are mentioned in Ezekiel 1:1 15-21 God chooses to open the heavens in front Of ezekiel's temporal eyes it's hard to picture what Ezekiel Saw or described the Throne of God is being transported in what appears to be a gorgeous Chariot on four wheels the scene creates the impression of constant motion and activity both from the living beings and from the throne upon which God sits the wheels and their mechanisms could rotate in any
direction without becoming disorganized this was addressed by one of the most well-known biblical Commenters who said like a bull bearing they could move in any direction without any steering mechanism Ezekiel 1:15 to 21 described these wheels in some detail the eyeballs are mentioned in connection with the wheels in Ezekiel 1118 the cherubim themselves as we discover here were covered with eyes all around number 15 the war in heaven Angels who defect from Heaven are called foolen angels in the Bible what happened why did they give up Their rightful territory this is the place to learn
about the Great Rebellion in heaven Revelation 12 7 to8 and there was war in heaven Michael and his angels Waging War With The Dragon the dragon and his angels waged war and they did not Prevail and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven according to Revelations 12 the dragon which is also referred to as the devil and Satan in verse 9 fought against Michael the Archangel the chief of the angels and God's angels the devil devised a plan to overthrow God who was responsible for his existence but he and the angels
that followed him were ultimately defeated number 14 what will we look like in heaven have you ever thought about what your body will look like in eternity our present bodies will be buried after we pass after many years no distinguishable features will be left in the ground then we will be resurrected from the dead will it be the same as it Is now suffice it to say that both the bodies we will have in the resurrection and the experience we will have in the resurrection are shrouded in mystery yet scripture does provide some key points
one Corinthians 1550 to 53 now I say this brothers and sisters that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable behold I telling you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a Moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed for this perishable mon must put on the imperishable and this Mortal must put on immortality the resurrection transforms us into an incorrupt and
Immortal reality we therefore have a resurrection body like Jesus's who defeated death a body that God did not allow to see corruption in Sha being incorrupt means being free of original sin and bodily Decay whereas being Immortal means living forever in order to help us understand what our Resurrection bodies will be like Paul will provide four contrasts between our present body and the future Resurrection bodies all things considered the resurrection bodies win incorruption triumphs over corruption Glory triumphs over dishonor power triumphs over weakness spiritual triumphs over natural Since we all bear the image of The
Heavenly Man the best example we have what a resurrection body will be like is to see what Jesus's resurrection body was like the resurrection body of Jesus was material and could eat yet the laws of nature did not bind it the spiritual body will be made of Flesh like Jesus's body is but a different kind of Flesh than we have now the spiritual body was designed to endure for all of eternity it is not subject to Decay or death it Will not be inconvenienced by any of the physical function necessary for life here and now
in its current configuration the human body exhibits a wide variety of needs as well as shortcomings in this fleshly body as we know it now we cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God that will change at the resurrection we will be transformed right now the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Matthew 26:41 number 13 the ladder from Heaven To Earth Earth the story of Jacob's Ladder has fascinated people for many years the expression Jacob's Ladder has developed into a commonplace phrase it has been used as the title of a movie a
book a flower and even the name of an electronic device but where did this phrase come from in the first place there is a reference to Jacob's Ladder in Genesis chapter 2 of The Bible Jacob the future father of the Nation of Israel was on the Run from his twin brother isau Jacob decided to camp out under the stars alone and on the run with nothing but a rock for a cushion at this time Jacob's heart was probably filled with regret for the past loneliness in the present and uncertainty about the future but then the
story takes a momentous turn Genesis 28 11-12 and he happened upon a particular place and spent the night there because The sun had set and he took one of the stones of the the place and made it a support for his head and lay down in that place and he had a dream and behold a ladder was set up on Earth with its top reaching to heaven and behold the angels of God were ascending and descending on it the ladder actually more like an escalator the Hebrews imply that the ladder was moving with one ladder
ascending and one ladder descending with angels ascending and Descending Jacob knew that heaven where God resided Ed was at the top of the ladders when he awoke he promised God a 10th of everything he created in his encounter with Nathaniel the Lord Jesus made an apparent reference to this incident John 1: 49-51 Nathaniel answered him Rabbi you were the Son of God you were the king of Israel Jesus answered and said to him because I said to you that I saw you under the Fig Tree do you believe me you Will see greater things than
these and he said to him truly truly I say to you you will see Heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man the latter illustrates the relationship between God and man it shows The God Who created the universe wishes a close relationship with his creation particularly Mankind and that he is the one who initiates that connection discussion and friendship number 12 How many angels are in heaven one of the most frequently asked questions is how many angels are there in the book of Hebrews there are an exhaustible number
of angels in heaven you have come to Mount Zion to the city of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to countless thousands of Angels in a joyful Gathering other Bible translators use words like innumerable English Standard Version and thousands upon thousands to describe this massive throng of angels New International Version then I looked and heard the voice of many angels numing thousands upon thousands and tens of thousand times 10,000 The Book of Revelations continued they surrounded the Throne all living things and the elders while the Bible does not specify the exact number of angels
some believe there are as many as humans throughout history this the's Foundation is Matthew 18:10 see that you do not look down on one of These little ones for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of my father who is in heaven individuals or at the very least children are said to have Guardian Angels who protect them throughout the passage however it is possible that In this passage Jesus only spoke in Broad Strokes about angels role as child protectors as to their number David documented thousands rushing through the skyways
of the Stars he impressively Comments Psalm 68:17 the Chariots of God are myriads thousands upon thousands the Lord is among them as it siai in Holiness 10,000 angels descended on Mount siai to witness God giving the law to Moses at the battle of Armageddon according to the Book of Revelation Jesus will lead armies of angels against God's enemies for their final defeat think about it Heaven is filled with incredibly powerful angels who carry out God's will in ways that are impossible to describe what's even more incredible is that each individual Angel possesses an Indescribable amount
of power almost as if they are extensions of God's hand number 11 what right do you have to enter Heaven every man and woman who has ever existed will have to answer that question question why do some people think they have a ticket to Heaven only one answer will give a person the Certain privilege the joy of entering Heaven because I believed in Jesus Christ and accept him as my savior he is the one sitting at the right hand of God and interceding for me what a wonderful concept Jesus acts as our intercessor and Advocate
presenting our case to God the father and affirming that entrance into heaven is only granted through God God's grace not based on any Deeds or actions performed on Earth number 10 God the father is there and Jesus is on his right hand Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns Christ Jesus is he who died but rather was raised who is at the right hand of God who also intercedes for us according to Romans 8 after being crucified and resurrected Jesus ascended B back into heaven and is now interceding for us at the right hand
of God when Steven was stoned in Acts 7 the bible says he saw heaven open up and Jesus standing at God's right side Jesus is the only one who has ever been to Heaven before being born on Earth as a result when he speaks of heaven and Eternity he does so with authority in conviction number nine all the Believers are there according to the author of Hebrews the names of all believers are written in heaven Hebrews 12:23 to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are enrolled in Heaven and to God the judge
of all and to the spirit of the righteous made perfect number eight there will be people in heaven from All Nations people from All Nations have responded to the gospel and have a position in heaven because of Jesus's sinless sacrifice on the cross Revelation 59-10 and they sang a new song saying worthy are you to take the scroll and to break its seals for you were slaughtered And you purchased people for God with your blood from every tribe language people and Nation you have made them into a kingdom and Priests to our God and they
will reign upon the Earth this is a beautiful depiction of God's heart heaven will be multiethnic with people from every culture people community and Country gathered around God's Throne number seven our names are recorded there in heaven in Luke 10 Something really interesting happens 72 of Jesus's followers are sent out in pairs into the surrounding towns and Villages they were tasked with Healing The Sick and spreading the Gospel of Jesus the Bible says when the 72 returned they were overjoyed and exclaimed Luke 10:20 nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to
you but Rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven have you ever attended a Conference being on the attendee list signifies membership it states that you have the right to participate and join it states that you took the requisite measure to obtain a conference seat it states that you meet the entry requirements the same can be said in heaven the fact that your name is written there indicates that you belong and have the authority to join and participate as someone who has placed their faith in Jesus number six we have an inheritance there 1 Peter
3:4 blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled and that fath not away reserved in heaven for you take a moment to imagine that your father is a wealthy King who tells you one day that he's leaving you His entire Fortune it's exciting to think about and your heart might race a bit a grin spreading across your face and you feel giddy with anticipation of
all the possibilities the good news is that your heavenly father has promised you an everlasting inheritance safely stored in heaven this isn't just a vague theological idea either what you will receive in eternity far surpasses inheriting a billion Dollars number five our citizenship there Philippians 3:20 in Philippians 3:20 the Apostle Paul says for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we took for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ an old song says this world is not our home and that is absolutely true according to the Bible we are pilgrims and nads traveling through this
land known as Earth that is one of the reasons why we should not be carried away consider this our American Ambassador to Japan may have a temporary residence there but he he is still a resident of the United States it would be treasonous for him to give up his US citizenship it is moral treason for Christians to live and behave as world people number four specific Eternal rewards are given there did you know that your actions in life have an effect on your eternal life with these words from The Sermon on the Mount Jesus offered
wise advice as well as a strong Challenge do not store up for yourself Treasures on Earth where moths and Vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal but store up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven where moths and Vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there your heart will be aome Matthew 6:1 19-21 Jesus reminds us that the things of this world are just temporary it will eventually wear out give out break down And be discarded the new car you so desperately want will only
last a few years in less than a year the new smartphone you've been eyeing will be obsolete by next fall the jacket you've been iron will be forgotten in the back of your wardrobe the treasures we keep in heaven on the other hand are Everlasting and will never Decay rust or ruin when you make financial investments you're putting money away that will be there for you Later in life the same is true of your spirituality when you make spiritual Investments of my time talent and treasure in God's kingdom and his purpose I'm making deposits in
heaven that will be waiting for me when I arrive number three it's the best of Earth only better the world in which we live today is an old Earth that has fallen but there is a new Heaven and a new earth That is as real physical and tangible as this Earth but it's going to be unbelievably better it will not be damaged by sin and disease as well as by pollution and disaster the planet on which we live is a gift from God but it is stained and scarred by sin no scientific or environmental breakthrough
will make this paradise a paradise we must be meticulous stewards of the planet God has given us but we shouldn't put our hope here God is preparing us a New Heaven and a new Earth the far exceeds our wildest imaginations number two the alternative to Heaven hell a controversial subject you may wonder what about hell or is there fire in hell and similar questions we can't ignore this unpopular issue even though it makes people uncomfortable and anxious it is perhaps the most difficult of all Christian doctrines to accept we do not know when we will
pass Into eternity the Bible teaches that there is hell for anyone who intentionally and knowingly rejects Christ as Lord and Savior Matthew 13:41 to 42 New American Standard Bible the son of man will send forth his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks and Those who commit lawlessness and they will throw them into the furnace of fire in that place there will be weeping and nashing of teeth In The Sermon on the Mount Jesus said it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to be thrown into hell Matthew 5:29 will a loving God send a person to Hell the answer from Jesus in the teachings of the Bible is clearly yes he does not send man willingly but man condemns himself to eternal hell because in his blindness stubbornness egotism and love of sinful pleasure he refuses is God's way of Salvation and hope of Eternal life with him let's say a person is sick and travels to the doctor the doctor diagnoses the problem and recommends medication but the advice is ignored and after a few days the person stumbles
back to the doctor's office and says it's your fault that I feel worse do something God has prescribed the remedy for the spiritual sickness of the human race the solution is personal faith and commitment to Jesus Christ Since the treatment is to be born again if we resolutely refuse it we must endure the horrible consequences yes there is an alternative to Heaven no matter how you imagine it we know that it will be the separation from God and all that is Holy and good John Milton describes this in Paradise Lost a dungeon horrible on all
sides round as one great furnace flamed yet from those Flames no light but rather Darkness visible served only to discover Sights of Woe regions of Sorrow doleful Shades where peace and rest can never dwell hope never comes that comes to all but torture Without End number one why is no one talking about heaven however glorious Heaven may be all too many Christians don't give it much thought we are seeing more and more articles about age and experiences outside the body but rarely if ever do we read anything about the newspaper or Find books on the
subject why the general lack of attention to heaven in modern thinking and preaching if we begin to think of reasons for disinterest in heaven here are a few conclusions for starters we in Western Nations live in a prosperous Society most of us have enough to eat and a beautiful environment the biblical Promises of these benefits seem seem to have been tarnished for us we are so enmeshed in the Affairs of this life That we pay little attention to Eternity throughout our culture we have been led to the notion that we accept death as the end
of life on Earth with her five death stages Elizabeth Kubler Ross has shown that the acceptance phase is the healthiest Heaven's hopes rarely come into a therapy session Heaven may seem vague to some of us because our experience is EarthBound how can we imagine Infinity to imagine an existence That Never Ends is Mindboggling what do we do for eternity an individual who has worked hard all his life may be looking forward to retirement but occasionally the relief of obligation and trial leads to anxiety we live in an era where activity is equated with value and
utility how are you busy busy when the merrygoround slows down will the music of Life fade away every day we just a single breath away from Eternity those who believe in Jesus Christ have the Assurance of Heaven if you trust in those promises the thought of Heaven never becomes mundane it'll be more exhilarating than any pleasure Earth can provide why was there silence in heaven we are told in the Book of Revelation about a 30 minute silence in heaven surely there must be a reason for this after all Heaven is where God is continually praised
by myriads of angels and redeemed Saints there is joy and happiness and Loud shouts of Hallelujah ReSound this mysterious silence concerns the contents of the seven judgments about to be revealed all Heaven stands in suspense holding its breath because something unusual is about to happen where it all starts the scene of this unique occurrence begins in Revelation 5 in the Book of Revelation written by The Apostle John he shares a detailed vision of God's throne room in this Vision a lamb is sitting on the throne and is given a scroll sealed with Seven Seals Revelation
6 the lamb starts to open these seals one after the other with the opening of each seal a different judgment happens on Earth the Lamb of God Jesus Christ is the only person worthy to open the Scrolls Seven Seals Revelation 5: 1-5 in other words all judgment has been entrusted to the sun John 5:22 it is is here we see the infamous Horsemen of the Apocalypse pass their judgments on the earth the opening of the seal is seen as the beginning of Endtime events marking the start of what is often referred to as the tribulation
period there is war and bloodshed a period where peace is Stripped Away leading to conflict and Destruction there was a time of famine and economic hardship basic food will become very expensive it will take a full day pay to buy just a little bit of wheat or barley there will be a lot of death and disease a large part of the world will experience great suffering and loss of life there will also be huge changes and disasters in nature and the universe showing God's power and how it can change things on Earth a huge and
very damaging ing earthquake the sun turned black like sackcloth the stars in the sky fell to Earth people from all walks of life regardless of their status are terrified and try to hide from these events all in all I think you get the picture the opening of these seals will bring unimaginable Suffering The Sixth Seal causes people from every segment of society to hideing caves and call to the surrounding Mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the Wrath of the lamb for
the great day of their wrath has come and who can withstand it Revelation 6: 16-17 Revelation chapter 7 serves as a pause between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals in this break John describes seeing a vast crowd in front of God's Throne all shouting together salvation Belongs To Our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb and they cry out with a loud voice saying salvation Belongs To Our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb Revelation 7:10 following this scene in Revelation 8 verse1 Jesus opens the seventh seal
after this seal is opened John notes there was silence in heaven for about half an hour when the lamb broke the seventh Seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour Revelation 8:1 scripture does not specify the reasons for the silence in heaven for that half an hour but here are some possibilities ities the moment of silence in heaven for about half an hour is a powerful sign of respect and wonder in front of the judge of the whole world similar to how silence is required in Earthly courtrooms when the judge is Present
the Heavenly Court observes silence as well this act of silence is a form of reverence acknowledging the solemnity and significance of what is about to happen be silent before the Lord God for the day of the Lord is near for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice he has consecrated his guests Zephaniah 1:7 but the Lord is in his holy Temple Let all the Earth be silent before him habach 2: 20 some people think that the half hour of Silence in heaven is because everyone is thinking deeply about what was just shown to them when Jesus
Christ opens the seventh seal it's a first time God's plan for judgment is completely revealed now everyone in Heaven can clearly see God's plan to judge the evil on earth end the rule of the Beast and correct the Wrongs Heaven stays quiet as God's fairness and Justice are shown seeing the the complete scroll and the judgments that are about to happen the beings in heaven remember the words of job when job was in the overwhelming presence of God he said I am unworthy how can I reply to you I put my hand over my mouth
job 40: 3-4 then job replied to the Lord and Said behold I am a little importance and contempt what can I reply to you I lay my hand on my mouth some people think the silence in heaven is because of the serious steps the Lord God is about to make with the scroll completely open Heaven can see the trumpet judgments coming up right after this silence seven angels get seven trumpets to start these judgments as mentioned in re ation 8: 2 and the Bold judgments that are Introduced by the seventh trumpet these judgments will be
worse than anything the world has ever experienced before the ultimate disasters are about to happen to the Earth leading to a moment of silence and calm before the storm this quiet time is filled with anxious waiting for those days will be a time of of tribulation such as has not occurred Since the beginning of the creation which God created until now and never will and unless the Lord had shortened those days no life would have been saved but for the sake of the elect whom he chose he shortened the days Mark 13 verses 19- 20
be silent All Flesh before the Lord for he is aroused from his holy habitation Zechariah 2:3 the silence in heaven might be thought of as a quiet moment before a Big storm the storm being the final judgment about to hit the Earth this silence highlights how serious and significant the seventh and last seal is when this seal is opened it marks a peak moment in the day of the Lord evil has had its time but now it's the Lord's turn to act the silence in heaven is like the scene in the movie before a huge
explosion there is always a pause it is Placed there to highlight the severity of what is about to occur so mighty is the wrath of God which is about to be revealed that the inhabitant of Heaven stands bell bell for half an hour in breathless and Silent amazement we must make no mistakes about it the merciful god who is kind loving and Grace filled will one day release his righteous and final judgment over an evil loving World if all the hosts of Heaven are shocked into silence because of the enormity of God's judgment then we
must rise up and stand on God's side we cannot afford to be on the side of those who pervert hate and Scorn God's ways because on that day when his full wrath finally comes who can survive it the Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will not at all acquit to the Wicked the Lord hath his way in the Whirlwind and in the storm and the Clouds are the dust of his feet the mountains Quake at him and the hills melt and the Earth is burned at his presence yay the world and
all that dwell therein who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger his furi is poured out like fire and the rocks are thrown down by him the Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them That trust in him but with an over running flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof and darkness shall pursue his enemies what do ye imagine against the Lord he will make an utter end Affliction shall not rise up the second time nahim 1:
3-9 this proves the respect that we should have for God's Wrath take note that this takes place after The Sixth Seal which is called the Great day of his wrath Revelation 6 fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the righteous wrath and indignation of the lamb for the great day of their wrath and Vengeance and retribution has come and who is able to face God and stand before the Wrath of the Lamb we have here The Sixth Seal open John described how people reacted to
these terrifying Cosmic distresses by Hiding in caves and trying to seclude themselves from God and Christ on that faithful and Dreadful day a sense of Terror and fear would grip people from all walks of life the Wrath of the Lamb the Wrath of the Lamb is an unusual phrase that terrified people use to describe the calamities they experience it's worth noting that they do not view the Lamb of God who gave his life for human sin or God who sent his Son to die as the cause of these calamities the people of the world still
view God as a vengeful being the wrath of God of course is a basic theme of The Bible Revelation tells us much abouted another term for the day of the Lord is a day of judgment as described by the prophets Joel and Zephaniah Joel described it as Dreadful while Zephaniah characterized it as a day of distress and anguish a day of Trouble and ruin a day of darkness and Gloom a day of clouds and Blackness the wrath of God is not a manifestation of vengeful hate or personal vindictiveness instead it is God's holy response to
unrepented sin which is the root cause of the misery and suffering that humans bring upon themselves the people of Earth during this time of judgment even Kings ask a legitimate question who can stand prior Verses indicate that in the face of natural disasters humanity is often spurred to admit something typically suppressed an admission that God is God and that what is happening is his judgment the events that were approaching were tremendous and there were several occurrences that contributed to making that day and era extremely Dreadful first there was a great Earthquake second the sun became
black as sackcloth of hair either Naturally by a total eclipse or politically by by the fall of the chief rulers and governors of the land third the moon should become as blood fourth the stars of Heaven shall fall to the Earth fifth the heaven should depart as a scroll when it is rolled together sixth Every Mountain and Island shall be moved out of its Place the phrase day of the Lord is used more than 25 times in the Bible the phrase however is not used to refer to a specific day but rather to a period
of time described as God's time this period of time is characterized by God's divine intervention in human Affairs which results in the ultimate Triumph of God over evil the idea behind the day of the Lord is that the present time belongs to Humanity but it will not last last forever the day of the Lord is a time of Reckoning when God will judge the world and bring an end to the era of human power the Bible describes the day of the Lord as a time of great upheaval when the world will be shaken to its
core the Messiah who is Jesus will come to Earth and will put an end to the human era he will bring forth the day of the Lord a time when God's glory will be revealed and his kingdom will be Established on Earth in summary the phrase day of the Lord refers to a period of time when God's divine intervention will put an end to the era of human dominance and establish his kingdom on Earth it is a time of Reckoning judgment hope and Redemption when the Messiah will come and the world will be transformed the
day of the Lord of hosts shall come on that day people will be terrified and God will tell them to Enter into the Rock and hide in the dust to escape the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty on that day people will be humbled and the prideful looks of man will be diminished the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day and there will be no more idolatry the day of the Lord is the day when God will be glorified and everyone will witness the terror of the Lord and The glory
of his majesty what is the biblical understanding of the wrath of God Wrath refers to the emotional reaction to perceived Injustice or wrongdoing it can be described as anger vexation indignation or irritation both humans and God can exhibit Wrath but there is a significant difference between the two the wrath of God is distinct from the wrath of Man the wrath of God is always holy and Justified but the wrath of man is rarely Justified and never holy the Old Testament portrays the wrath of God as a Divine reaction to human sin and Disobedience most frequently
idolatry triggers this Divine Wrath for instance Psalm 78: 56-66 recounts Israel's idolatry the Divine wrath is consistently aimed at those who fail to Follow God's will Psalm chapter 2: 1-6 why are the Nations restless and the peoples plotting in vain the kings of the Earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord Lord and against his anointed saying let's tear their shackles apart and throw their ropes away from us he who sits in the heavens laughs the Lord scoffs at them then he will speak To them in his anger and terrify them
in his Fury saying but as for me I have installed my king upon Zion my Holy Mountain the wrath of God against sin and disobedience is completely Justified because God's plan for Humanity is Holy and perfect just like God himself God has made a way to receive his Divine favor which is through repentance by repenting a sinner can turn God's Wrath away from themselves however if someone rejects this perfect Plan they reject God's love Mercy grace and favor and will incur his righteous wrath the New Testament supports the concept of a wrathful God who judges
sin the story of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates the Judgment of God and the severe consequences for unrepentant Sinners John 3:36 says whoever believes in the son has eternal life but whoever rejects the son will not see life for God's Wrath remains on him the one who believes in the son will not suffer God's Wrath for his sin because the son took God's wrath upon himself when he died in our place on the cross those who do not believe in the son who do not receive him as Savior will be judged the Bible cautions
against human anger in several passages such as Romans 12:9 Ephesians 4: 26 and Colossians 3: 8-10 the reason being that only God is capable of exacting righteous Vengeance because his judgment is Flawless and pure whereas human rage is sinful and often leads to demonic influence as Christians we must strive to suppress our anger and wrath as it conflicts with our new nature which is in line with the nature of Christ himself man humbled God exalted God has amazing ways of making men feel as though they are nothing more Than dust he will sweep entire dynasties
away just as people remove an anel when it has become a nuisance if you examine the books of History you will discover that the Lord in all of the works of Providence that have been done up until this point has been continually bringing down hoty looks and making the hotess of man to be humbled indeed it appears that this is the miraculous work of God and if there is a man who were to turn to me and ask What is God doing I would respond by saying he is elevating those who are lowly while he
is lowering those who are proud he always appears to be involved in this as if it were his natural work and he takes pleasure in it he takes down nests that are built Among the Stars what is constantly being done in his Providence will continue until the pride of humanity is completely eradicated there will be no place in This world for any kind of majesty except for the King of Kings under the canopy of Heaven There will be only one name before which people shall bow one Throne that will be held in high regard in
people's minds and only one name by which all the families of the Earth shall be called in that day when all the Earth will be filled with his glory as the waters cover the sea it shall be said he has demolished the arrogance of man and The Lord alone is exalted our our good deeds and merits cannot save them instead we should turn to Christ and contemplate his wounds which are the source of Salvation mercy and peace to be saved Sinners must recognize Christ as their only Savior and honor him even though he was despised
and humiliated during his time on Earth this message humbles humanity and discourages arog Possibly there is nothing in the gospel that offends some people's Pride more than the doctrine that man is a sinner a spiritually dead Sinner and is saved by the work of another unfortunately many have turned away from him Jesus was saddened by the fact that people were refusing his grace and mercy and instead choosing to starve themselves of the love and compassion he had to offer Some individuals have even stopped listening to Jesus because they disagreed with his teachings it is important
to remember that we have the choice to either accept or reject the message of Jesus and the Seven Angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them Revelation 8:6 the seven angels who stand before God or each given a trumpet after this loud Silence they do not however proceed to blow these instruments right away but they must wait for the signal before they will sound their trumpets thereby releasing God's judgments something else has to take place first in Revelation chapter 8 verse3 we read and another angel came and stood at the altar having
a golden sensor and there was given unto him much incense that he Should offer it with the prayers of All Saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne in John's Vision the angel standing at the altar of incense is none other than Christ who was adding incense to the prayers of the Saints this means that these prayers had to be cleansed before they could be presented to God the incense represents the power of jesus' blood for he has given himself For us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling
Savor or Aroma and that is precisely what Christ does in heaven that is why he is at the right hand of the father he is our intercessor there when our prayers reach the sanctuary on high Christ adds the incense of his Mar merits to them and unto him was given much incense no wonder on the altar were laid the prayers of all the saints Consequently much incense was needed so who are these Saints they are the people of God that are still on Earth in Revelation 6 John saw the souls of the martyrs Under The
Altar and he heard their cry how long Lord but here in chapter 8 the reference is to those Saints who are still alive these are the persecuted believers who were crying to God for help in their afflictions we are told that these prayers are Heard in verse four we read and the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angel's hand their prayers are accepted by God for Christ's sake that God's judgments will come on a wicked God dishonoring Christ rejecting and Christian hating world
is only a matter of time the souls under the altar in Revelation 6: 9-10 have been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held they are Martyrs now in glory and they are asking that God's justice be done how long long O Lord holy and true Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth these are our departed brothers and sisters they paid the Supreme sacrifice for their loyalty to Christ and God will attend to their prayers so that his Judgment will begin fiercely there
are many Believers today who were treated the same way all over the world the cries of the persecuted are going up to heaven for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Romans 8:36 listen to what the psalmist says oh Lord God to whom Vengeance belongeth show thyself lift up thyself though judge of the earth render a Reward to the proud Psalm 94: 1 and 2 when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me Psalm 119: 84 God did hear such prayers in the past he
will also do so today and eventually when the end of age arrives God shall arise and by his might put all his enemies to flight with shame and consternation but let the righteous blessed of your joy in their God is near Before Faith's Victory achieving then the seven trumpets occurs seven angels who stand In God's Presence are given seven trumpets which will be used to unleash another round of judgments the first trumpet when the first Angel blow his trumpet the entire world is engulfed in hail and fire mixed with blood Revelation 8:7 this plague destroys
onethird of the world's trees and consumes all Grass this judgment Bears some resemblance to Egypt's seventh plague the second trumpet in heaven a second Angel sounds a trumpet the result is that something like a huge mountain all Ablaze was thrown into the sea the third trumpet the third trumpet judgment is like the second except it affects the world's freshwater lakes and rivers Instead of the oceans specifically a great star blazing like a torch falls from the sky and poisons a third of the water supply the fourth trumpet the fourth of the seven trumpets brings about
changes in the heavens a third of the sun was struck a third of the Moon and a third of the Stars so that a third of them turned dark a third of the day was without light and also a third of the night Revelation 8:2 the fifth trumpet when the fifth angel blows his trumpet the abyss a great Smoking Pit will open and a horde of demonic locusts will rise out of it Revelation 9: 1-3 these beings will be given the authority to torture anyone who does not bear God's Zeal the pain they cause will
be so excruciating that sufferers will wish to die abaten aolon is the abyss' ruler and The king of these demonic locusts at Baden apolon is likely one of Satan's underlings a destroying demon and one of the rulers authorities and Powers mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 the sixth trumpet the sixth trumpet and the second woe Heralds the arrival of yet another demonic horde when the sixth trumpet blows a voice from God's altar requests the release of the Four Angels who are bound at at the great river Euphrates the seventh trumpet the seventh trumpet and the Third Woe
sounds and there are loud voices in heaven proclaiming the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah after these events but the Bible does not leave us on a lowly note what happens after all the judgments and tribulation the new Heaven the new Heaven and the new Earth then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea Revelation 21:1 Believers will live in a new Heaven and a new Earth because the
first Heaven and the first Earth will pass away revelation 21: 2-4 and I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying behold the Tabernacle of God is among the people and He will dwell among them and they shall be his people and God himself will be among them and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will no longer be any death there will no longer be any mourning or crying
or pain the first things have passed away right now Christ dwells in a Heavenly city with the souls of all Believers who have died during the Millennium God's people will live and work on the earth we know now with their capital in Jerusalem but after God destroys and makes the Earth new he's going to send that Heavenly City down out of Heaven to the new Earth prepare like a bride adorned for her husband that City will be known as the New Jerusalem and will serve as the capital of the new Creation and there in the
midst of his new creation God will dwell and live with his people as we live alongside our Creator all sadness hurt and disappointment will be gone the idea that God will make everything new may appear too fantastic to be true but he claims that this promise is faithful and true his people will be completely satisfied in the new creation which is Symbolized here by the metaphor of thirst being quenched from the spring of life's water when you are thirsty the refreshing satisfaction of Downing a cold glass of water pales in comparison to the spectacular satisfaction
that awaits you every saved person will live in the new creation but the Christian who is fully committed the one who conquers will inherit an even greater reward and God will dwell with him with greater intimacy as a father does with his son although Believers will live throughout the new creation the angel directs John's attention to the capital of the new Earth this city will shine brighter than a cut diamond because it will be adorned with God's glory the city's massive high wall symbolizes its inhabitants identity first the names of Israel's 12 Trib sons are
inscribed on the gates indicating that Old Testament Israel Believers will be present within it second the city wall is depicted with 12 foundations each with the names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb written on it this denotes the presence of Believers from the New Testament erors Church the Lord's Old and New Covenant followers will coexist in the new creation while the invitation to dwell in this city is universal the Requirements to enter are specific nothing unclean will ever enter it nor will anyone who does what is detestable or false but only those whose names
are written in the Lamb's Book of Life who have accepted Jesus as their Savior by faith Heaven is a true tangible Place John 14 Heaven is an actual physical location Heaven is neither a metaphysical term nor a mental state it Is not a figment of someone's imagination make believe or pretend heaven like Miami London and Tokyo is a true and physical place all the Believers are there Hebrews 12 talks about the Church of the firstborn this is a reference to jesus' church which is the firstborn of God all believers who have put their confidence and
trust in Jesus Christ make up the Church of Jesus Christ the Bible says but will God indeed dwell on the earth behold Heaven and the highest Heaven cannot contain you how much less this house which I have built First Kings 8: 27 the heavens cannot contain him but he can contain his whole Creation in his hands who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with the span of the hand and Calculated the dust of the Earth with a measure and weighed the mountains in a balance and the
hills in a pair of scales Isaiah 40:12 the Bible says but just as it is written in scripture things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard heard and which have not entered the heart of man all that God has prepared for those who love him who hold him in affection of reverence who obey him and who gratefully recognize the Benefits that he has bestowed 1 Corinthians 2:9 Heaven may be beyond the capabilities of man's satellites and telescopes however it does not mean it is beyond the capability of our hearts to
reach heaven the word of God says he is the exact Living Image the essential manifestation of the Unseen God the visible representation of the invisible the firstborn the preeminent one The Sovereign and the originator of all creation for by him all things were created in heaven and on Earth things visible and invisible whether Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created and exist through him that is by his activity and for him Colossians 1: 15-16 Heaven is where the Lord is and Christ is Lord of Heaven and Earth he can rule from
heaven and also dwell within our Hearts the question for us today is is are you on God's side of Mercy or his side of judgment remember that no one knows the day of his final appearance let us pray our father thank you for your mercies that are new every morning we are grateful for your patience that has waited for us and has now drawn us to the place of repentance please cleanse us of every Hardness of Heart filthiest of the Flesh and a love for sin in the name of Jesus make us new and Empower
us to live on your side of Mercy Grace light peace and joy so that we will never be consumed in your wrath amen
