Article 1 - In Heaven (under the title: Living in Heaven Now, Really)

By: Bob Jamison

LIVING IN HEAVEN NOW- REALLY
Where Do You Live?
by Bob Jamison
Article 1. In Heaven

I have yet to hear anyone say that he lives in heaven. We are so convinced in our minds that we live only on earth, that we haven’t even considered the truth about our dwelling place in heaven.

True, we were born on earth and we physically walk, work and sleep on
earth, but followers of Jesus do so as aliens, not citizens. We are so accustomed to dwelling on earth, we don’t realize that in our second birth by the Holy Spirit, we become spirit John 3:6). Spirits change their dwelling place from earth to heaven. The spirit or heart of all followers of Jesus lives in heaven. The confusion may be due to:

1) We don’t know which heaven.

2) We don’t know Jesus raised mankind with Him to the Father in heaven in His ascension; just as He became sin for all mankind on the cross for our salvation. Paul said in Ephesians 2:4-6, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

3) Our church doctrine doesn’t say anything about our living in heaven.

Paul calls it the heavenlies and heavenly places, and Matthew calls it the kingdom of heaven. John 3:13 tells us that while Jesus walked the earth, He was in heaven, meaning physically He walked on earth while His spirit, His heart and consciousness, lived in heaven.

For example, when I watch a good movie, I know I physically sit in a theater, but good actors take me to some different place where I watch and even participate in a drama scene that unfolds. Living on earth while setting our hearts and minds in heaven is like that.

In Philippians 4:20, Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Having our hearts and minds occupied with earthly matters for so long, we don’t know Paul’s instruction means we, our spirits, live in heaven now.

In Matthew 10:7, Jesus told His disciples to, “Go. Preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Being “at hand” means God’s kingdom reign has come, with us and at the same time, above us. Jesus, in His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension opened the kingdom of heaven to mankind living on earth.

Just as we say the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, meaning Saudi Arabia ruled by a king, likewise we say the kingdom of heaven meaning heaven ruled by a king. Heaven ruled by King Jesus has become the dwelling place for newly created followers of Jesus.

We may ask, “which heaven?” We know Genesis chapter 1 says God created the heavens (plural) and the earth, meaning only one earth, but more than one heaven.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul tells of his experience of being caught up into the 3rd heaven which he called Paradise. Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross, “today, you will be with Me in Paradise,” (the 3rd heaven). When Bible authors speak singly of heaven, they are usually referring to the 3rd heaven where our spirits will reside upon our physical death.

That leaves 1st and 2nd heaven neither of which are referred to by name in scripture; therefore we know nothing about either of these. Since we know we don’t yet dwell with Jesus in the 3rd heaven, we evidently reside with Him in either the 1st or 2nd heaven while we walk the earth.

Psalm 8:3 and other scriptures describe the celestial bodies in the sky,
the sun, moon, stars, planets as heaven; therefore I call the celestial bodies the 1st heaven.

The kingdom of heaven and heavenlies referred to in scripture, I then conclude to be the 2nd heaven. When we say we live in heaven while we walk on the earth as aliens, we are referring to living in the 2nd heaven, the heaven above us that Jesus raised us into in His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

Since our spirits live in the 2nd heaven, Paul exhorts us in Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden in Christ in God.”

The whole world can see 1st heaven with their natural eyes, but only new creation saints can see 2nd heaven with the eyes of their heart.

Our old life that existed solely on earth, died. We are now a new creation and part of a new humanity whose spirits live in the 2nd heaven in Christ and where Christ is; while our physical bodies live on earth. Recall John 3:13 telling us Jesus was in heaven while He walked and slept on earth. So do all of us who have experienced our 2nd birth by the Holy Spirit.

Paul says to keep our minds where our hearts (spirits) are dwelling in 2nd heaven, where:

(1) We receive every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), such as spiritual growth and being filled daily with the Holy Spirit.

(2) We receive our inheritance reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4), such as the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the manifest character of Jesus, after we suffer tribulation and perseverance (Romans 5:3-4).

(3) We partake of God’s divine nature through true knowledge of God and of Jesus (2 Peter 1:3-4). His nature is our inheritance we appropriate as we pursue true knowledge of Him in His Word and through the essential act of experiencing Him as we, filled and led by the Spirit, pursue the work to which we have been called.

(4) We maintain fellowship with God, the Father and His Son Jesus (1 John 1:3), conversing with him, our Lord and Bridegroom and Father, loving him intimately, receiving His love and joy and acceptance, laying our troubles on his shoulders, and receiving his encouraging words.

(5) We maintain fellowship with one another in the light (1 John 1:7), speaking to one another about heavenly topics so that the Lord hears and writes it in His book of remembrance (Malachi 3:16). In the light, we are about the work God has called us; therefore we will have much to share and to edify and encourage one another.

(6) We bring victorious change on earth through persevering battles against Satan and his principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:10-12). If we are walking in the light, Satan will be furiously opposing us in our calling or preparation, and there will be much to join together in earnest warfare against him.

(7) In spirit, we place ourselves in different places on earth. Jesus prayed for someone at a distance as though standing next to him, and Paul was with the Corinthian church in spirit when they dealt with sin (1 Corinthians 5:3-4). Being somewhere in spirit requires prayer with earnest compassion, not simply imagination. Hebrews 13:3 says we can be with mistreated prisoners as if chained with them.

(8) There is no day difference in heaven. If your congregation is asked to fast on Tuesday, and you can’t fast until Wednesday, it doesn’t matter, you still join their Tuesday fast.

(9) We can demonstrate the power of heaven with signs and wonders, God bearing witness to our ministry of reconciliation (Heb 2:4). When we are obediently about the work God has called us to finish, He will confirm our efforts in various ways, including working wonders in answer to our prayers.

(10) We carry multiple spiritual passports to identify with people of any culture with the one message of the gospel of God’s love and covenant for them.

(11) In prayer, we can lift our eyes into heaven where God’s throne is located; just as Jesus lifted His eyes into heaven when He prayed (John 17:1, Matthew 14:19, and Mark 7:34). In heaven, we submit our prayers to become spiritual words, led by the Holy Spirit.

Church doctrines should be amended, confessing that those members who are born again, live in heaven, the 2nd heaven.

Read “Whose Image at Birth?” and “How the Mark Given to Cain Helps Define You” in the “Who Are You?” series and “On Earth or in Heaven” under the Garden of Eden series found through my website, www.whatwasjohnthinking.com.

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Bob has held various management positions in local governments and credit unions, and is a retired Captain in the Naval Reserve. He has a B.B.A. degree from S.M.U., an M.A. dgree from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Theology degree from Fountaingate Bible College, where he learned principles for interpreting figurative language in scripture. Bob is author of the book, "What Was John Thinking?" He invites you to his website, www.whatwasjohnthinking.com where you can receive a free chapter of his book, view word pictures comparing earth facts with heavenly truths, and read all 19 articles under the title "Living in Heaven Now, Really." The 19 articles are under three sub-heads, Where Do You Live? (Art.1-4), Who Are You? (art. 5-12), and Take Another Look at the Garden of Eden (Art. 13-19).

Please Share and Bookmark this Article