come A STUDY ON ETERNITY

Transcription

1 KINGDOM come A STUDY ON ETERNITY

2 WEEK 1 Introducon to the Kingdom WEEK 2 God s Original Intent WEEK 3 Already / Not Yet WEEK 4 The Bema Seat WEEK 5 The Millennial Reign of Jesus WEEK 6 Heaven On Earth Thrones were placed and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; Daniel 7: 9-10

3 Introduction to the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom Matthew 4:23 What Is the Kingdom? Historically the Church has viewed the Kingdom in various ways: In terms of the human spirit and its relationship to God. The Kingdom of God is an inward power which enters the human soul and lays hold of it through the new birth. As a future realm inaugurated by a supernatural act of God at the return of Jesus Christ referred to in scripture as the blessed hope of the church (Titus 2:13). As the Church grows the Kingdom grows and is extended in the world. The Church is God s recruiting and training ground for the Kingdom, but it in and of itself is not the Kingdom. What does the Word of God say? 1. The Kingdom is a present spiritual reality Romans 14:17 2. The Kingdom is an inheritance to be bestowed on God s people when Jesus returns in Glory Matthew 25:34 3. The Kingdom is a realm into which the followers of Jesus have already entered and is growing Colossians 1:13, Matthew 13:31-32 Confused? The bible describes the Kingdom in a wide variety of ways. To complicate things, kingdoms are a political model that have fallen out of fashion. They seem more at place in fairy tales than in the real world. But at its heart, a kingdom is a political model. It answers the question, who has the right and the ability to properly rule? Kingdom Defined: The primary meaning of both the Hebrew and Greek words for kingdom in the bible is the rank, authority and sovereignty exercised by a king. First of all, a kingdom is the legal authority to rule by a select person. When the bible refers to God s Kingdom, it always refers to His reign, His rule, and His sovereignty Psalm 103:19; 145:11-13; Daniel 2:37. Chapter 1: Introduction to the Kingdom 1

4 Bible Study Luke 19: What does this parable teach us about the Kingdom of God and its timeline? 2. When did Jesus followers assume he was going to establish His Kingdom? 3. What does the parable teach us about their expectations? 4. Was the nobleman a king before he left on the journey? How does this story translate into what we know of Jesus story, in other words, what events in Jesus life illustrate the points of this story? 5. A mina would be equivalent to about twenty dollars, in those days about three months wages. Each servant received one mina. How do you interpret this parable in light of Luke 8:18? 6. What do you think about what Jesus expects of and how He evaluates His servants? Is He an easy grader? Is He fair? 7. What does Jesus teach about the fate of those who reject His leadership altogether? Why Does Jesus Have the Right To Rule? The only words Jesus uses to describe himself in the New Testament are found in Matthew 11:28-29: 28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (NIV) 1. Because of His character when Jesus describes Himself as meek and lowly of heart it means he governs in such a way that serves sacrificially for our best interest, not His own. 2. He earned it through his death and resurrection, and by overcoming the same sin nature that spoils ALL human leadership. Kingdom Characteristics The Kingdom is first of all God s sovereign reign or rule or government It is over a people (Mark 10:15). It is a particular people who have received God s rule through his unique Son. Children are referred to because of a child s natural tendency to trust in and look for leadership without resistance. It has a territory or realm in this instance it entails the entire universe (Colossians 1:13-20.). Thy Kingdom Come When we pray the Lord s Prayer we are praying for heaven to come to earth here and now. But heaven is only an object of desire because the reign of God is to be more perfectly realized than it is now. Apart from the government of God heaven is meaningless. Therefore the prayer thy kingdom come is a petition for God to rule, to manifest His leadership over us first, then the world around us. Chapter 1: Introduction to the Kingdom 2

5 Chapter 2: God s Original Intent God s Original Intent God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Genesis 1:28 Bible Study Genesis 1:27-31; 2: This passage reflects God s original intent for making humans. He made the earth for people, for what purposes did He make people? Try to identify a few things for which people were called into existence. 2. Read Romans 11:29. Does this attribute of God apply to God s plans and purposes for collective humanity? 3. For what environment did God create humans? 4. How was Adam s wife created? What was Eve s role in God s original design? Phase Two Establishing a People and a Government What is the political makeup? Deuteronomy 15:14-20 vs. 1 Samuel 8 Who gets to be a part? Non-Israelites allowed into covenant with God upon oath of loyalty (Exodus 12:48-49; Ruth 1:16; 2 Samuel 15:21). Loyalty to God is what defines Israel, not lineage (Romans 2:28-29) Who gets to rule? The Davidic Covenant: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Luke 1:26-38 Who else? Daniel 7:27; Revelation 5:9-10 Those who have cultivated the Sermon on the Mount as a lifestyle get first priority (see Summit Series). Some will be great, some will be least, and everywhere in between. David's Worldwide Kingdom by John Piper This means that when God said to David in 2 Samuel 7:16, "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure before me forever," he had in view a house and a kingdom much greater than Israel. The reason the Davidic covenant is relevant for 20th century American Gentiles is because God's job description which he revealed to David included not just the responsibility to establish a righteous ruler in Israel forever, but also to put that ruler over the church and then over all the world. Isaiah said, "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end." It will be worldwide. And the angel says in Revelation 11:15, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." When God has completed all the responsibilities in his job description, the house of David will be planet earth. And the subjects of the king will not just be Jews but people from every tongue and tribe and nation (Revelation 7:9). 3

6 Chapter 2: God s Original Intent The Church's Mission Today The mission of the church today is to submit ourselves to the Son of David who right now rules invisibly from heaven until he puts every enemy under his feet. And our mission is to announce the good news to people in every neighborhood and every nation that they can be happy subjects of Christ's kingdom forever if they transfer their allegiance from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom of Christ. To put it another way, personal holiness means learning the attitudes and customs of a new kingdom (The Sermon on the Mount) the kingdom of Christ. And personal evangelism means telling people that the rightful king of the world against whom they have rebelled is willing to grant amnesty to all who return and live under his rule. Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the eternal King of the world will come from heaven (to earth) and establish a reign of joy and righteousness and peace over all his loyal subjects forever and ever. And until he comes, the worldwide mission of the church is to extend complete, free, universal amnesty to people from every nation. To Summarize... What God originally had in mind for humans was very good, there is no need to create a new game plan, there was nothing wrong with the original. That includes the environment (the earth), our desire for pleasure (food, relationships, beauty, etc), our need for meaningful work and creative output in partnership with God and others (family business). The point of human history is to teach us that humans are incapable of leading themselves. Leadership under other supernatural powers leads to bondage and suffering. We need a human King, but no human is capable of the job (Revelation 5:2-3, the title deed to the earth). God himself had to become a man to do it (Theocracy through monarchy). It is critical to get this paradigm in order to understand what God has in mind for us forever! 4

7 Chapter 3: The Already/Not Yet Principle The Already / Not Yet Principle For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:22-26 Our destiny is to be part of a tremendously creative team effort, under unimaginably splendid leadership, on an inconceivably vast plane of activity, with ever more comprehensive cycles of productivity and enjoyment. ~ Dallas Willard There are three different ages from the birth of Jesus to eternity described in scripture, as well as three stages in the defeat of Satan: 1. Present Evil Age (Ruled by Satan Eph 2:2; John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4) Caveat (Matthew 12:28, 1 John 3:8) 2. The Millennium (Rev. 20 and OT prophets) Caveat (while Satan bound, earth still populated by fallen humans) 3. Heaven on Earth The Eternal Paradigm (Rev. 21) No caveat just awesomeness! There is an overlap between this age and the age to come: Hebrews 6:5 - Colossians 1:13 (the Gospel) and Galatians 1:4 1 John 5:19 What does this tell us about what our expectations of following God should be in this age? Bible Study: Matthew 13:1-11; What do these parables teach us about the Kingdom of God in this age? 2. In the parable of the sower, what keeps the seed from prospering? 3. What is the main point of the parable of the Mustard seed? 5

8 Chapter 3: The Already/Not Yet Principle 4. To what extent is Satan s dominion still functioning according to the parable of the weeds? What is God doing about it? 5. Why? (2 Peter 5:5-11; James 1:2-3; 2 Cor 4:17) How do we cultivate and grow the kingdom? 1. The New Birth - John 3:3 2. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit - John 20:22; Romans 12:2; 3. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1-2 6

9 The Bema Seat Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment Hebrews 9:27 Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. Revelation 22:12 Whoever breaks (consistently) one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches (encourages) them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19 God invites whosoever or literally everyone to be great in His Kingdom. This is a primary teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. We cannot repent of the desire for greatness because God designed our spirit with this longing. We must repent for seeking greatness in a wrong way. We must also repent for neglecting to seek greatness. Jesus taught on God s invitation for our greatness more than any other man in Scripture. Jesus revealed a new paradigm for greatness. We are to focus on being great in His sight rather than in the sight of men. We understand that this greatness will be fully manifest in the age-to-come not in this age. Our greatness will be based on our heart responses not on natural gifting and resources and thus, it is available to everyone (whoever Mt. 5:19; 20:26-27; 23:12). (Mike Bickle) For believers, this is what will be determined at what is referred to as the judgment seat of Christ. The Judgment (Bema) Seat Positive Aspects Both Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:9 speak of the judgment seat. This is a translation of one Greek word, the word bema. While bema is used in the gospels and Acts of the raised platform where a Roman magistrate or ruler sat to make decisions and pass sentence (Matt. 27:19; John 19:13), its use Chapter 4: The Bema Seat 7

10 in the epistles by Paul, because of his many allusions to the Greek athletic contests, is more in keeping with its original use among the Greeks. This word was taken from Isthmian games where the contestants would compete for the prize under the careful scrutiny of judges who would make sure that every rule of the contest was obeyed (cf. 2 Tim. 2:5). The victor of a given event who participated according to the rules was led by the judge to the platform called the Bema. There the laurel wreath was placed on his head as a symbol of victory (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-25). In all of these passages, Paul was picturing the believer as a competitor in a spiritual contest. As the victorious Grecian athlete appeared before the Bema to receive his perishable award, so the Christian will appear before Christ s Bema to receive his imperishable award. The judge at the Bema bestowed rewards to the victors. He did not whip the losers. We might add, neither did he sentence them to hard labor. In other words, it is a reward seat and portrays a time of rewards or loss of rewards following examination, but it is not a time of punishment where believers are judged for their sins. Such would be inconsistent with the finished work of Christ on the Cross because He totally paid the penalty for our sins. Chafer and Walvoord have an excellent word on this view: With reference to sin, Scripture teaches that the child of God under grace shall not come into judgment (John 3:18; 5:24; 6:37; Rom. 5:1; 8:1; 1 Cor. 11:32); in his standing before God, and on the ground that the penalty for all sin past, present, and future (Col. 2:13) has been borne by Christ as the perfect Substitute, the believer is not only placed beyond condemnation, but being in Christ is accepted in the perfection of Christ (1 Cor. 1:30;Eph. 1:6; Col. 2:10; Heb. 10:14) and loved of God as Christ is loved (John 17:23). Again, Chafer writes concerning the Bema, It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the judgment is unrelated to the problem of sin, that it is more for the bestowing of rewards than the rejection of failure. (Above from Bible.org) Types of Rewards There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. - 1 Cor. 15:41-42 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. - Matthew 13:43 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3 Chapter 4: The Bema Seat 8

11 Our rewards in eternity will differ. There will be a vast range of degrees of glory and greatness including those who are called the least and the greatest. (The largest star known is the Pistol Star with a mass over 100 times that of our Sun being over 10 million times brighter). The measure of God s glory will manifest in our resurrected body. ~ Mike Bickle 1. THE GLORY OF GOD IN OUR RESURRECTED BODY (1 Cor. 15:41-42). The largest star known is the Pistol Star, which has a mass about 100 times that of the Sun and is 10 million times brighter. 2. INTIMACY WITH JESUS (REVELATION OF GOD) (Rev. 2:17) The Morning Star is a reference to Jesus (Num 24:17-19). A deep relationship with Jesus is promised. The face of Jesus as our Morning Star shines like the sun (Rev. 1:16). Each believer will experience varying capacity to receive from the Morning Star (Rev. 2:28; 22:16; Gen. 15:1). 3. STRATEGIC WORK ASSIGNMENTS (THRONE AND AUTHORITY) We will each receive strategic work assignments that will bring us joy and fulfillment. The two functions most emphasized for the saints: priests and kings (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Saints with resurrected bodies will be made kings or rulers over different spheres of life (Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom 8:17). 4. HEAVENLY PRAISE OR HONOR FROM GOD Jesus will confess one s name before His Father and His angels. This is not a reference to being saved but of Jesus speaking about our love, exploits and obedience before the Father. The story of our loving devotion to Jesus will be manifest and retold by Jesus. (1 Pet. 1:7, Rev 3:5, Mt. 25:21, 1 Cor. 4:5) 5. HEAVENLY CROWNS AND JEWELS (PRECIOUS STONES) Those who endure temptation by persistently resisting it are given crowns. There are nine NT references to the crowns that believers will receive from the Lord. We will receive crowns or jewels to honor and openly manifest our loving obedience to Jesus. This is not the same as the gift of eternal life that all believers automatically receive by faith. This seems to be used as a symbol of victory, authority, and responsibility. (2 Tim 5:8, 1 Pet 5:4, Rev 19:12) Chapter 4: The Bema Seat 9

12 6. HEAVENLY GARMENTS (WHITE, BRIGHT, MANY COLORS) Jesus rewards righteous living with bright and white garments given to the faithful to express their dedication. Therefore, they differ with each believer (Rev. 3:4-5, 18; 16:15; 19:7-8). White garments are not the same as the free gift of righteousness. Justification is a gift by faith based on Jesus worthiness, not ours (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:4-7). Our garments begin with the gift of righteousness that is imputed to us by faith (2 Cor. 5:21). 7. HEAVENLY FOOD (TREE OF LIFE AND HIDDEN MANNA) 8. LIFE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM (AUTHORITY AND REVELATION) 9. HEAVENLY GOLD, RICHES AND TREASURE Riches and treasures in heaven include the location and design of our heavenly dwelling place and our garments and jewelry that exhibit our dedication to God (Mt. 5:12; 6:4, 6, 18, 20; 10:41-42; 16:27; 19:21; Mk. 9:41; 10:21; Lk. 6:23, 35; 12:21, 33; 16:11; 18:22; Rev. 2:9; 3:18; 22:12). Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Chapter 4: The Bema Seat 1 0

13 The Millennium For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good Titus 2:11-14 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Revelation 20:4 Isaiah "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 "Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. 23 They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Chapter 5: The Millennium 11

14 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD. What is the Millennium? (Revelation 20) In the Millennium, Jesus primary mandate is to prepare the earth for the Father s coming by bringing the nations to mature righteousness (1 Cor. 15:24-28). Righteousness will be substantial in the Millennium, then perfect afterwards on the new earth. The earth will be purged with fire at the end of the Millennium to fully prepare it for the Father (2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 20:11). Jesus will rule the earth with the natural human processes not suspended, yet they will be significantly enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit. As Gentile believers, our most natural paradigm is to think of worshiping Jesus as God in the supernatural conditions of heaven. We emphasize Jesus deity as the Son of God, whereas the Jewish paradigm speaks of reigning with the messianic king as a man in the natural conditions of the earth. They emphasize the Messiah s humanity as the Son of David. The full truth is only seen when these two paradigms are brought together. The two functions most emphasized for the saints are priests and kings (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). As priests, resurrected saints will worship, intercede, and communicate the knowledge of God to others (non-resurrected people on the millennial earth, plus the saints in the New Jerusalem). The primary government of the millennial earth will come forth from continual intercession. As kings, resurrected saints will evaluate the past, determine future action plans, and appoint people who serve in the infrastructure under their authority. This will include training and managing the people they appoint. Our personality will come forth in the decisions we make. Three types of people on the earth at the return of Jesus: 1. The redeemed will be raptured during Jesus worldwide procession across the sky. 2. The reprobate, who took the mark of the Beast, will be judged and then killed (some executed). At this time, 1-3 billion of these people may still be alive. They will not just disappear. 3. The resisters are unsaved survivors of the Tribulation who refused to worship the Antichrist. These resisters will stand against evil governments, even without faith in God. For example, in World War II, the French Resistance fought the Nazis. Scripture refers to those who are left. They can be saved, and then populate the millennial earth (Isa. 4:3; 10:20; 11:11; 49:6; 65:8; 66:19; Jer. 31:2; Ezek. 20:38-42; 36:36; Amos 9:9-10; Joel 2:32; Zech. 12:14; 13:8; 14:16). Behold, I Make All Things New A. Jesus will establish infrastructure in partnership with resurrected saints who oversee those with non-resurrected bodies. The saints (resurrected) will have a dynamic role in training resisters (with non-resurrected bodies), who become born again after Jesus return to earth. B. The necessary infrastructure to govern each sphere of life will gradually increase in capacity, Chapter 5: The Millennium 12

15 quality, and size as the leaders grow in wisdom and skill development. C. The saints, as well as leaders with non-resurrected bodies, will need to learn and then apply what they learned. Jesus, with His saints, will be involved in training the non-resurrected leaders of the nations in God s ways. As wisdom is gained and applied, society will progressively improve. Together they will establish training institutions that all nations may systematically learn Jesus ways (political, economic, spiritual, educational, agricultural, family, media, technology, etc.). (Isa. 2:3 D. Social improvements, or the healing of the nations, will be progressive, not instantaneous. (Rev. 22:2) E. The resurrected saints, in partnership with the kings of the earth, will work together to fully restore the cities of the earth that are destroyed in the Tribulation. The saints will oversee what is rebuilt by labor (Isa. 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jer. 31:5; Ezek. 48:18-19) (Ezek. 36:36) (Isa. 61:4) F. The resurrected saints, in partnership with the leaders of earth, will bring the gospel to those needing salvation. The lost will not be instantly and automatically converted at the moment of the second coming, neither will the children born in the Millennium. It will take time and effort to convert individuals and then to disciple nations. (Isa. 66:18-20) G. The resurrected saints with the kings of the earth will work together to re-establish businesses to generate financial resources (Isa. 60:1-14). Israel will be prosperous in the Millennium (Isa. 4:1; 35:1-2; 30:23-25; 62:8-9; 60:1-14; 65:21-23). H. The saints will oversee the work necessary to restore God s order to the agriculture, atmosphere, and animal life (Rev. 20:1-6; Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:1-16; 51:1-8; 60-62; 65:17-25; Ps. 2:6-12; 110:1-7; Deut. 8; 28; Mt. 5:5; 6:10; 17:11; 19:28; 28:19; Acts 1:6; 3:21). I. The saints will oversee the work required to restore justice over every sphere of life (Isa. 9:7; 11:3-5; 10:22; 28:17; 32:16; 42:1-4). They will oversee the establishing of judges and governors (Jer. 30:21; Isa. 24:23, 32:1; Ezek. 45:8-9; Mt. 19:28; Lk. 22:30; 19:12-28). They will oversee the establishment of a world government under Jesus (Zech. 14:9; Ezek. 37:13-28;Rev. 19:16) (Isa. 32:1) (Ezek. 45:8) J. In the millennial kingdom, sin will occur by those with non-resurrected bodies and thus sin will be punished. Sin and even false prophets will continue in the Millennium. They will be punished (Ps. 2:9; 72:9-11; Isa. 11:4; 66:20, 24; Zech. 13:2-4; 14:16-19) (Zech. 13:3) Chapter 5: The Millennium 13

16 Chapter 6: Heaven on Earth Heaven on Earth Having made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will 10 that He might gather together in one ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. - Eph. 1:9-10 God s purpose has always been to live together with His people face to face on this earth. This is the most difficult yet ultimate reality that God determined to accomplish through Christ. The dilemma is that God cannot violate His blazing holiness and yet will not violate man s free will. He had to provide a salvation that created the context for Him to dwell face to face with humans. ~ Mike Bickle New Heaven and New Earth Revelation The millennium, as good as it is, primarily is still an earthly paradigm. God s ultimate plan is to restore Genesis 1 and 2 conditions by reuniting the supernatural and natural realms, or bringing heaven to earth. The millennium is about preparing the earth for this reality. Earth in Scripture is used to describe our planet in four different time frames. First, the original earth which God called very good (Gen. 1:31) before Adam sinned. Second, this present earth which is under the curse of sin (Gen. 3:16-19; Rom. 8:20-22). Third, the Millennial earth will be establish in substantial righteousness and justice by Jesus' coming to establish a 1000-year period of unprecedented blessing (Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:6-9; 65:20-25). Fourth, the New Earth which is established in perfect righteousness after the Millennial Kingdom is completed (2 Pet. 3:13). This is the time when the Father will dwell on earth with His people. (Rev. 21:1-3) (2 Pet. 3:13) Heaven in Scripture can be used to refer to four different realities. The first heaven refers to the sky (atmosphere) above the earth. 14

17 Chapter 6: Heaven on Earth The mid-heaven (heavenly places) refers to the place from which high ranking demonic powers rule (Eph. 2:2; 6:12). The Third Heaven is the place of God s Throne and where angels and disembodied saints live (2 Cor. 12:2). I refer to the Third Heaven as the present heaven. The fourth usage refers to the New Jerusalem or heaven on earth. It is the place of our heavenly rewards (Mt. 6:20; 19:21; Mk. 10:21; Lk. 12:21, 33; 18:22). God s fine craftsmanship: building, refining, finishing. 15