"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2:1)
In the above verse, many modern day translations have removed the (s) from Heavens thus making it a singular entity. Older translations including The Kings Version reference Heaven as both a plural and a singular entity. In the King James Version of the Bible Heaven is used 552 as a singular entity and 130 times in the plural. The translation of the scripture from Greek and Hebrew to English is the causes of much of the confusion in modern day Christianity. The insertion of a punctuation mark, which was not common to the Greek, can change the meaning of the verse or statement. For this reason, the earlier Christian leaders tried to control who taught and provided interpretation of the scripture. The failure of this system has allowed for diverse interpretation of singular verses.
With the free dispensation of spiritual enlightenment and the proliferation of the word of God interpretation of the scripture became a matter of personal belief. The incident in the Garden of Eden was the beginning of the Devil campaign to misinterpret the word of God. Unknowingly many of us indoctrinated into the one Heaven concept proceed down the path without question. This indoctrination provides for the narrative that when we die we go to Heaven. Thus, the proliferation of the tainted ideology of Heaven is implanted and flourished. Regardless of the life lived we are awarded Angel wings and ushered into Heaven. Rock stars and those who meet their premature death at the hands of others usually are sitting on a cloud looking down on us or singing in the Heavenly choir long before the funeral is over. Our celebrity status preachers and talk show host concept of Heaven does not prepare us for the ideology that some will make and some will not.
With the free dispensation of spiritual enlightenment and the proliferation of the word of God interpretation of the scripture became a matter of personal belief. The incident in the Garden of Eden was the beginning of the Devil campaign to misinterpret the word of God. Unknowingly many of us indoctrinated into the one Heaven concept proceed down the path without question. This indoctrination provides for the narrative that when we die we go to Heaven. Thus, the proliferation of the tainted ideology of Heaven is implanted and flourished. Regardless of the life lived we are awarded Angel wings and ushered into Heaven. Rock stars and those who meet their premature death at the hands of others usually are sitting on a cloud looking down on us or singing in the Heavenly choir long before the funeral is over. Our celebrity status preachers and talk show host concept of Heaven does not prepare us for the ideology that some will make and some will not.
There is a prepared place for the soul of the saints and in simple terms, this place is not a shared place for saints and sinner. Jesus depicted this in the narrative of Lazarus and the rich man. The scripture teaches us that man is composed of three parts, the body, the spirit, and soul (1st Thessalonians 5:23). Upon the death of the body, each of these entities has a prepared place that they go. We also can conclude from the scripture that there are at least three places referenced as Heaven. Paul spoke of a third heaven (2nd Corinthians 12:2). The Earth can also be divided into three segments, the crust, the mantle and the core.
Believing in the Heaven(s) and the soul can be as simple as believing that there is air in you car or truck tire. This unseen element is capable of supporting the weight of your vehicle, but when the tire become too damaged to contain the air where does it go? Believing in the Heaven(s) and the soul can also be as complicated as believing that there is life after death. It is all a matter of perspective, and to understand the things that are spiritual we must separate the spiritual and view them from a spiritual perspective.
Believing in the Heaven(s) and the soul can be as simple as believing that there is air in you car or truck tire. This unseen element is capable of supporting the weight of your vehicle, but when the tire become too damaged to contain the air where does it go? Believing in the Heaven(s) and the soul can also be as complicated as believing that there is life after death. It is all a matter of perspective, and to understand the things that are spiritual we must separate the spiritual and view them from a spiritual perspective.
In the Jewish theology, there were three "heavens. The first heaven dealt with the atmospheric region (Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:12; Judges 5:4; Acts 14:17). Ephesians 2:2 wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: This is the residence of the Devil and his demons. This also includes the abode of the tormented souls that the Devil has polluted. There is a gulf that separates this spiritual realm from the natural realm, and we should not try to communicate with it inhabitants.
The second heaven deals with the region of outer space (Psalm 19:4, 6; Jeremiah 8:2; Isaiah 13:10). Remember our perspective is spiritual and the rich man was able to look up and see Lazarus, therefore he was in a position below Lazarus. Study carefully the works and words of Jesus. He told his disciples he was going away to prepare a place for them a separate place for the souls of the righteous and the unrighteous. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3). We must go through numerous steps before we stand before the throne of God. The church will be caught up, transformed and receive their awards, before being presented to the throne of God in the third Heaven.
The second heaven deals with the region of outer space (Psalm 19:4, 6; Jeremiah 8:2; Isaiah 13:10). Remember our perspective is spiritual and the rich man was able to look up and see Lazarus, therefore he was in a position below Lazarus. Study carefully the works and words of Jesus. He told his disciples he was going away to prepare a place for them a separate place for the souls of the righteous and the unrighteous. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:3). We must go through numerous steps before we stand before the throne of God. The church will be caught up, transformed and receive their awards, before being presented to the throne of God in the third Heaven.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18) Air and clouds are the operative words here
The third heaven is God's dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30; Psalm 2:4). "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".(Matthew 5:16)
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". ".(2nd Timothy 2:15)
The third heaven is God's dwelling place (1 Kings 8:30; Psalm 2:4). "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".(Matthew 5:16)
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". ".(2nd Timothy 2:15)
