See With New Eyes – Heaven is for Now!

Heaven is like many ideas and concepts described in the Bible, both a physical place and also a spiritual place or reality. The reality that is observable with the eye is the starry firmament that is above us. This is the visible heavens where we see the infinite universe and the phenomena of the planets, stars, moon and sun. The spiritual reality of Heaven is described as the ‘abode of God.’ It is in this sense of understanding, the place where God resides. From our study up to now, we Know this to be in the Mature Believer. We are Created to be the Abode of the Father and the Son. John 14.

Comprehending God as both infinite and personal, we know that God is residing both in all the universe and within us. He is the Law or the Expression of Divine Truth and this Truth is written on our heart. Jeremiah 31 describes God as Knowable by everyone during the time of the New Covenant (the era of ‘today’ initiated by Jesus’ Atonement) because His Law — or the Full Expression of who He is, the Way, the Truth, Life and Light — will be ‘written on their heart.’ This Law, Scripture tells us, is written by God Himself and comes with a Promise, that He will be their/our God and they/we shall be His people. The Promise is Actualized by the Covenant Keeper — that’s you and me.

It is important to realize that what was written as Truth for previous generations is both a description of what God has said and a Reality for us to Know. We are the Recipients of the Promise of God’s Spiritual Revelation within us, as the Lovingkindness of God is everlasting (Thanks Be To God) and His Faithfulness is to all generations! God is Building us into Hosts of His Spirit to Know the Reality of Heaven.

As Jesus spoke of Heaven, He described it as a Kingdom within us and among us. Yet He said the gate is small and the way narrow that leads to Life and few are those that find it (Matthew 7 : 13-14). He went on to warn that not everyone who says to Him, Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but it would be those who ‘Do’ the Will of the Father (Matthew 7 : 21-23).

Active participation with the Spirit of the living God and the Son would then be the Best Way to Ensure you Know God and that you are a Host of the LORD of Heaven. As we Learn to Hear and Obey God, Living in a Spiritual Relationship, we Know we have ‘Entered the Kingdom.’ In this, you Realize God with you as a Present Reality and Understand the many ways He is building you and us together as His Temple.

Considering Heaven is an expanded explanation of this Truth and is in Bonus Content.

Heaven is for Now — It Is Eternal Life is hosted within the ‘All In’ section of the website. This will have numerous links to the Scriptures that illuminate this Truth while still being presented in an easy to read and comprehend format.

When Paul referred to himself as being received as an ‘Angel of God’ (Galatians 4 : 14) he was helping us realize our Potential is to Be an Ambassador of God Speaking the Truth that He gives us to Speak. This is what Jesus did as He Overcame the world (John 16) and Modeled the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Matthew 10-11.

As Jesus Taught on Truth, He was Testifying to the Father God with Him which caused those who did not Know God with them to react with anger. They wanted to Kill Him. Here is a brief explanation Jesus offered.
And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12 : 44-50

Paul having Realized Christ within himself is like Jesus, Calling all people to Realize they can Be Children of the Promise or Children of God Living as Truth. Making this Potential clear by Living as one who Models God with them and in them is to Live as Light, or to Live as an Expression of Christ Jesus, who was the Perfect Expression of the living LORD God.

In Galatian 3-4, Paul takes us all the way back to Abraham and demonstrates Abraham’s Trusting Belief in God and then points out that God’s Covenant was made with Abraham and extended to ‘his seed.’ The ‘seed of Abraham is Christ’ and while it can be somewhat complicated to think through, it is those who Know Christ with them and Live Responsively who will Be Ambassadors of the Promise. God with us, and the Kingdom Expressed through us is God’s Hope for all. He seeks for all to ‘Be His Glory.’ Ultimately the Promise of Full Faith, Abundant Kingdom Life with God was perfectly Fulfilled in Jesus, God’s Christ. Through Jesus an Invitation to Know God was extended to all world. Both the Gentiles and Jews now can Know God and Be Covenant Keepers!

As we have faith in Jesus Christ and Know Him as God’s Covenant Fulfilling Human and we Comprehend the Gift of Atonement, we Know it is a Blessing to us as we Journey on to Fulfill the Covenant ourselves. God’s Objective is a world where Covenant Keepers Make Truth and His Presence Known in this world. God with us, our Father in us, Leading, Guiding and Directing all of who we are is the Promise or the Perfect Faith Jesus demonstrated.

Jesus modeled what it is to Be an Overcomer, or to Overcome the world. (John 16 : 33). He modeled Life in the Spirit of God and He taught about it. John 14. As He taught, He let us know that God would send the Spirit of Truth after He left and that He (the Spirit of Truth) would teach us all things. Then He talked much about Abiding in Him.

To Abide in the Spirit that He was, or in the Unity of the Father and Son, is to Rest in the Leading, Guiding Presence of the living God or in the Word who is God. This could be confusing but at its simplest it means — Rest in Trusting Belief Doing All that the Spirit of God within you directs. This is what Jesus did. He Knew the Spirit of the Father God with Him (Christ in Him) and He Trusted the Father to Teach, Guide and Direct Him. He Learned to walk with Christ or with the Spirit of the LORD Leading and Guiding all that He did. He Chose to ‘die to the flesh’ and ‘Live to the Spirit.’ He was Alive by and Living in Union with the Holy God.
Scripture says this: If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14 : 7
This was because Jesus was the Manifest Presence of the Spirit of God on earth. He made Known the Holy God’s Name and Character and the Word of the LORD was heard through Him. By God’s Grace, Jesus was the Model of Salvation. He was ‘Adam’ Restored. He was the Son of Heaven. 1 Corinthians 15.

To lay down ‘your life’ and Overcome the world is to make your ‘flesh will’ subservient to the Will of our Heavenly Father. Ultimately with Practice and Growth, it is possible to Live in Union with God for His Glory. Jesus having made this Choice Demonstrated Perfectly the Presence of the living God with Him. God’s Works through Him and the Word He Spoke Established the Standard against which all humanity is Judged.
Scripture says this:
And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. John 12 : 44-48

To Be an Overcomer is our Objective as Children of the living God. An Overcomer is described in Revelation 2-3. We are optimally here to Know God and Do the Works God intends for us to Do, Glorifying Him in the process. This is so that all the world or ‘all flesh would See the Glory of the living God’ (Isaiah 40 : 1-5) and the Son He sent to Model Glory. This is the Will of God for today. He is Awakening us to a Higher Potential, Revealing Him and Being Light and Glory. Revelation 21-22.

Throughout Scripture we see humanity being judged against the Standard of Justice and Mercy. We are called to Learn the Divine Law of Love and Righteousness from the LORD God Himself and Live it with Mercy and Love for all people.

As Paul teaches us in Romans 5, we see we are called to develop the Perseverance that develops our Character. Oftentimes this comes as we are being persecuted by those who do not yet Know God. We Know that this is what happened as Jesus was persecuted (even unto death) and so, it should not take us by surprise.

From Scripture:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Romans 5 : 1-11

It is of paramount importance that we Learn we move from Justification by Faith in Jesus into a Life Empowered by Grace so that we Model Reconciliation and Love by and through the Presence of the Spirit of the Father and Son with us. Titus 2. We are Saved by the Life of Christ Revealed to us, and then through us, as we Learn to Model the Kingdom Power and Glory of the LORD. The wrath of God is a very real Judgment against those who are not Growing as Modelers of the Righteousness and Kingdom Hope God intends. This is why Paul relates the result of Growing Love to persecution and righteous judgment in 2 Thessalonians 1.

To Grow all Humanity together as One Body under One LORD and God, we all have to Learn the Blameless Way of Christ. By this we Become Living Testimonies of God’s Presence with us, working through us. This is to Be the Body of Christ, or to Be the Children of Glory Freed from corruption. One People Alive in One God Living as His Ambassadors of Reconciliation and Righteousness is the LORD’s Plan.

The idea of being made to walk in a manner worthy of the Kingdom — which is to say worthy of the LORD God being Made Manifest through you as a Host of His Power and Glory — is a refrain of Paul as He was sent to teach the Gospel of God.

God’s Work through us is the Testimony of His Presence among us that the world is yearning to see!

Understanding that we are to turn from idols to serve the Living and True God and to wait for the Revelation of the Son Jesus Made Known through us as Life is Key to Living as a Person, Community, State and Nation under God’s Protection for His Glory.

From Scripture:

For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 1 : 8 – 2 : 13

Scripture tells us when God ‘appears,’ we shall be like Him because we shall see Him just as He is. It goes on to say, that everyone who has this Hope fixed on Him purifies himself just as He is Pure. 1 John 3.

The ‘appearing’ of God to Jesus seems to have been when the Holy Spirit came upon Him with Power. This story is recounted in Luke 2-4 specifically beginning at 3 : 22. We see this encounter changes everything. In fact, the timing indicates this is when Jesus ‘began His Ministry.’ We’ll notice that this experience leads Him right into separation from the crowds and temptation by the devil. Yet, because of His early preparation, He Knew Truth and Knew the Scriptures and was able to pass the test with flying colors. As a Son, His Regard for the Sovereignty of God and the Word He has given as Instruction was very clear. Withstanding temptation with Truth He moved directly into Sharing God’s Word with God’s Power. It was as if He had adequately passed a test, His Abiding Trust in the Word of God was clear. Right from the start He Proclaimed that He was Empowered and Anointed by the Holy God’s Spirit upon Him and from that point on, He spoke often about the Kingdom of God. He said it was His Purpose to preach the Kingdom of God.

We know from the 1 John 3 passage that the appearing of the Son of God was also so that He might destroy the works of the devil. That’s important to consider.

The Truth we can see is. Jesus was upending and defeating the ‘ways of the world.’ He had Overcome. Now we Know we can also think of His Purpose as ‘Restoring the Way of Heaven,’ He taught that the Kingdom of God was to be ‘entered’ on earth inviting us to Follow His Example.

As we are Alive to the Holy Spirit, as we Know the Truth of God with us, and in us, we come to Comprehend that it is by the Grace of God that any of this has happened. God is the Spirit and Truth, the Power and Word who appears in us and to us. He is the Almighty One who Jesus Made Known.

Awakening to God gives us new Understanding about Jesus means as He says, “Take up your cross and Follow after Me.” In practical terms, we are to Be Like Christ, to Model the Salvation Jesus Modeled, to Do the Works and Will of God that Jesus did. In this God Blesses us to be CoHeirs of Kingdom Truth with Christ Jesus and to Be most Fruitful in Ministry!

‘Wait upon the LORD’ is good advice and Study Scripture as you wait — when Christ appears to you and gathers you to Himself, as you Persevere to the end of yourself, you’ll find yourself Made Whole to be a Person of Peace, Joy and Righteousness. As one who Knows God you will be Prosperous, Equipped and Established to do the Works God has for you to do!

2 Thessalonians 1

Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 17

The High Priestly Prayer

17 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; 8 for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. 12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World

13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Their Future Glory

22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Oneness with the Father

7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Role of the Spirit

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

Hebrews 12

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE PUNISHED BY HIM;
6 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that there be no sexually immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not cope with the command, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 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 spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.