"Then God said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.' Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day." (Gen. 1:6-8)

Two waters are identified here. One was mentioned in the previous chapter as being peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues of the earth (Revelation 17:15). These were the waters that were under the firmament. The other is associated with the Kingdom of God.

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb." (Rev. 22:1)

Those of the nations of the world who sincerely seek after God will have the right to drink of the river of eternal life. In order to drink of the river of life, one needs to cross the firmament that was placed between the two waters.

The firmament, or Heaven as God named it, is a realm which bridges the gap between the kingdom of eternal life and the kingdom of the earth. This bridge is depicted by some Christians as a cross in which the bottom rests on the planet earth and the top rests in the spiritual Kingdom of the Father.

The condition of the world was such that God could not allow the people to have free access to His Kingdom. They were a people of darkness.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)

Therefore, God separated the world from His Kingdom. However, in order to fulfill His promise of eternal life to those who turned to Him, God provided a way by which they may enter His Kingdom. This way is a Heaven that allows those who elect Christ as their Savior to cross over into the Father's Kingdom.

Heaven in Greek (ouranos) means "that which embraces all things in the absolute."1 It encompasses all conceivable life within its bounds.2 A study on how the word was used invarious writings near the time of Christ indicates that heaven is used to define one of three states; natural, metaphysical and spiritual. Metaphysical is a mixture of natural and spiritual entities.

Scripture speaks of there being at least three heavens.

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago...whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows...such a one was caught up to the third heaven." (2 Cor. 12:2)

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1 Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1967, Page

498.

2 Ibid. p. 498.

God created heavens (plural) not a heaven.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.... Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished....This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created,..." (Gen. 1:1; 2:1,4)

The heavens that God created probably did not include the one He existed in. The one He existed in was the stage from which He orchestrated His creation. It is written that:

"God is Spirit,..." (John 4:24)

Therefore, the heaven He lives in is probably the spiritual heaven, or commonly referred to as the Kingdom of God (the Father).

If there are only three heavens, and one of them is where God the Father dwells, then it appears that He created two heavens. These two heavens seem to coexist. This is hinted at in the following two verses.

"...and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens." (Gen. 1:20)

"By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation;..." (Ps. 104:12)

One heaven is the natural heaven consisting of the atmosphere that encompasses the earth and all its life forms. The other is most likely a spiritual realm that encompasses the earth. Because the spiritual realm coexists with nature, it can be labeled as a metaphysical heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven

The New Testament opens with John the Baptist and Jesus Christ proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven.

"In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'" (Mt. 3:1,2)

"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.'" (Mt. 4:17)

The expression "the Kingdom of Heaven" is found about thirty-one times in Matthew, and is found in no other book of the Bible. Most Bible translations use this expression. However, the Greek New Testament3 published by the United Bible Societies and The Englishman's Greek New Testament4 published by Zondervan uses the Greek word "ouranon" in the expression "the Kingdom of Heaven". Ouranon is the plural form of heaven. The expression is then translated as "The Kingdom of the Heavens". The singular form of the Greek word for heaven in the expression "Kingdom of Heaven" as found in Strong's and Young's concordances is "ouranos".

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3 The Greek New Testament, United Bible Societies, 1983.

4 The Englishman's Greek New Testament, Zondervan Publishing House, 1974.

Both Greek words may very well be correct. If one thinks of heaven as being the metaphysical heaven, then, the singular form may be used. If one thinks in terms of two coexisting heavens (spiritual and physical), then, the plural form may be used.

In the expression "Kingdom of Heaven(s)", it is one kingdom not two or more kingdoms. There are two significant kingdoms mentioned in Scripture; the Kingdom of the Son and the Kingdom of the Father. The distinction between the Son's Kingdom and the Father's Kingdom is mentioned in Matthew 13.

"The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,...then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Mt. 13:41,43)

The concept that Christ's Kingdom is separate from the Father's Kingdom is reinforced in the following verse:

"For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power." (1 Cor. 15:24,25)

The Kingdom of the Son is not of this earth. Jesus emphasized this in response to Pilate's questioning.

"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.'" (John 18:36)

However, His Kingdom does include people of the earth. As mentioned in Matthew 13, Jesus will send forth His angels and cast out of His Kingdom those who practice lawlessness. In order for Christ's Kingdom to not be of the world, yet contain people of the world, it would have to be metaphysical in nature.

Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were concerned with their disciples going on to perfection. The Son's Kingdom is the sphere of activity where Christians grow in the Lord. The reward for dedicating oneself to this activity is entrance into the Father's Kingdom. What we know of the Father is through the Son. What is presented through Christ in the Son's Kingdom is what we know of the Father's Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is a type of the Father's Kingdom. Its characteristics are a subset of the Father's Kingdom. The Son's Kingdom is a training ground for entering the Father's Kingdom. It is a place where one grows in the Lord, as a mustard seed.

In general, the Kingdom of Heaven refers to the Son's Kingdom, and the Kingdom of God refers to the Father's Kingdom. If there is a question as to which Heaven is being referenced, the disciple should study the context in which the expression is used. References to rewards and eternal life would indicate the Father's Kingdom. References to such things as receiving knowledge and understanding concerning the ways of God and growing in the Lord would indicate the Son's Kingdom.

In the interest of facilitating understanding and avoiding "legalism", the Kingdom of Heaven will be referred to as the Son's Kingdom, and the Kingdom of God will be referred to as the Father's Kingdom throughout the remainder of this book.

Parables Concerning The Kingdom of Heaven

Since God desires that we seek Him, be part of His Kingdom and become like Him, it is reasonable to assume that He would provide us that which is needed to achieve these goals. His perfect character is found in the vast depth of His multi-dimensional nature. The attributes of this nature are made available in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven (The Son's Kingdom) is a sphere of activity in which man seeks after God's righteousness. This is depicted in the many parables referencing the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Mt. 13:44)

The treasure is the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life. That which the man sells is his old ways of living. The field that he purchases is the new way of life in the Kingdom of Heaven. He could not take the treasure with him because the treasure could only exist in the field. He hid the treasure because he didn't want anyone to take away his opportunity to receive eternal life. He knows that the only way to keep the treasure that was offered to him was to sell or put away his worldly ways, and purchase a new way of life.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:2)

While in the field, man actively seeks God's knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls," (Mt. 13:45)

It is in the Kingdom of Heaven where man will begin to examine himself in the light. Here, he will begin to cast away bad characteristics, and retain Godly attributes such as the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which when it was full, they drew it to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away." (Mt. 13:47,48)

The sea represents mankind. The dragnet is the Holy Spirit who separates light from darkness. The characteristics of mankind are revealed by casting the dragnet into the sea. The good characteristics are kept. The bad characteristics are thrown away.

The gathering of good characteristics causes a person to grow.

"...The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree..." (Mt. 13:31,32)

The mustard seed represents man's stature when he chooses a new way of life. The tree begins to grow when he finds the pearls and grows in Christ. Eventually, the tree becomes mature in Christ, and the man becomes mignty in the sight of God.

The Body Of Christ (The Kingdom Of Heaven)

When we decide to follow Jesus, we enter His body.

"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free...and have all been made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:13)

If a person enters the body of Christ, he enters the Kingdom of Heaven.

The head of the body is Christ.

"And He is the head of the body, the church,..." (Col. 1:18)

In the early Church, the disciples belonged to a group called "the Way".

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1,2)

The Way existed in the Kingdom of Heaven through the body of Christ. One must travel the "way" through the Kingdom of Heaven in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:6)

Stated differently, Jesus is the true way to eternal life.

The Name Of Jesus

Jesus in Greek means "Savior". This is a fitting name, as it is through Him that we receive salvation.

"...and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

The firmament, the Kingdom of Heaven and the body of Christ can all be considered to be the way of our salvation.

Using the Greek ciphered number system5, the number that represents the name "Jesus" is 888. (See book for conversion)

It is interesting to note that Jesus was the Son of David, who was the eighth son of Jesse. The number eight is associated with salvation. This reasoning is supported in part by the salvation of Noah and his family during the great flood; for eight people (Noah, his wife, his three sons and his sons' wives) were saved aboard the ark.

 "...God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water." (1 Pet. 3:20)

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5 Numerals And Numeral Systems, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1967, Vol. 16, Page 759.

The ark was symbolic of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who enter the Kingdom of Heaven have the opportunity to receive everlasting life. Those who did not enter the ark, drowned in the sea of nations, or the ways of the world. The ark was a place of salvation. The story of Noah demonstrates the relationship between righteousness and salvation.

This relationship is brought to light in 2 Peter.

"and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;" (2 Pet. 2:5)

Eight is the number of "a new beginning". On the day of our salvation, we shall experience a new beginning. The period of time from Adam to Christ was about four thousand years. From the time of Christ to the beginning of the thousand year reign is about two thousand years. In Revelation 20, Satan is cast into the bottomless pit and held there for one thousand years. During this time, those who had given their lives to Christ will reign with Him.

"Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." (Rev. 20:6)

From the time of Adam, there are seven thousand years before entering the gates of New Jerusalem and eating of the tree of life. In Revelation 21, New Jerusalem comes down out of Heaven from God. In Revelation 22, those who elected to follow Christ are allowed to enter the city and eat of the tree of eternal life. This is allowed after the thousand year reign.

"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." (Rev. 22:14)

In the following verse, the Bible is good to assist the reader in the area of interpretation by stating the interchange of one day and a thousand years.

"But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Pet. 3:7,8)

The time of entering New Jerusalem is on the eighth day. It is a new beginning for those who have achieved salvation.

The Sabbath occurred on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Jesus arose on the day following the Sabbath; the eighth day. When Jesus arose on Sunday, this day was the day of His salvation. Sunday became a day of a new beginning for Christ. A passage from an extra-Biblical writing makes an interesting statement on this issue.

"when resting from all things I shall begin the eighth day, that is, the beginning of the other world. For which cause we observe the eighth day with gladness, in which Jesus rose from the dead."6

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6 The Lost Books of The Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden, World Bible Publishers, Inc.,1926, Page 161.

It's fitting for those who are part of the body of Christ to celebrate and worship on this day. Those who are free in Christ should elect to worship in unity and spirit on Sunday in honor of Christ. It sets them apart from the rest of the world.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (1 Pet. 2:9)

The King James Version translates "special people" as "peculiar people." We are a peculiar people, set aside from the rest of the world.

Sunday is not a day of rest. It is a day of celebration. Saturday is the day of rest, and it should be honored as a day of rest. It was one of the ten commandments.

"but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work:..." (Deut. 5:14)

At Day's End

The Father sent His Son for the purpose of resurrecting the people from the throes of death. This purpose was facilitated by establishing the Kingdom of Heaven. The sins of the world could only be destroyed through the Son. A disciple having entered the Kingdom of Heaven through the body of Jesus Christ has entered into the truth and wisdom of Christ. We were predestined from the beginning to have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven in order to receive salvation and redemption rather than to fall into the foolish ways of the world.

The purpose of the Kingdom of Heaven was symbolically portrayed by Jesus' death on the cross. The law was not adequate enough to destroy sin. In its own inadequacy, it attempted to destroy the one person that could destroy sin. Through resurrection into the Kingdom of Heaven, an opportunity was created for the sins of the world to be destroyed. By this, Jesus Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world.

"who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness..." (1 Pet. 2:24)

If we enter the body of Christ, He forgives us of our sins and bears them in His own body. His body suffers from the burden of our sins. As the disciple goes through the stage of resurrection, this burden is lifted. When a disciple suffers a relapse and sins again in an area that was cleansed, the crucifies again the body of Christ.

"For it is impossible for those who...if they fall away, to renew again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." (Heb. 6:4-6)

When Jesus was nailed to the cross at Golgotha (Place of a Skull), He carried a cross beam made of wood. The cross beam of wood stood for the evil works of man's hands. The tree, o which the beam was attached, stood for humanity that dwelt in the place of the dead. The Logos was sent to draw this humanity toward God. In order to do this, the sins of the world were drawn into the body of Christ, thus, bringing suffering to the very character of God as expressed through the Word. A time will come when the Word will present His sheep to the Father for entry into His Kingdom. Before doing so, the lawless ones will be cast out of His kingdom, the last of God's enemies will be place under His feet, and then, the burden of the cross will be lifted.

The Kingdom of Heaven, being a place of learning, is the second of the five ingredients for establishing a school that provides us the opportunity to be molded into the image of God.

And this is the relationship between that which is good and that which is evil concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.

"...So the evening and the morning were the second day." (Gen. 1:8)

copyright 1996 by Dana George Cottrell

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