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Proposition: To discuss the way we relate to the third heaven and the use of "glory" of heaven. To present the relationship of glory and heaven who considers heaven in this life in anticipation of the future.
Introduction
A. The Popularity of Identifying Heaven as Glory
1. In General Conversation
2. In Christian Music
B. The Problem with Names People Use to Refer to the Third Heaven
1. New Jerusalem
2. Paradise
3. Abraham's Bosom
4. One's Reward
5. Canaan Land
6. Heavenly Country [Heb. 11:13-16]
7. Mount Zion
8. Beulah Land
C. The Problem with the Amount of Revelation Concerning the Third Heaven
D. The Presentation of the Descriptions of the Third Heaven in Scripture
{examples}
1. The Heaven (articular singular)
2. The Dwelling Place of the Most High - Isa. 57:15; 63:15
KJV Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
KJV Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of
thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the
sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
3. The Place "Above" - Col. 3:1, 2; Jn. 8:23
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth.
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye
are of this world; I am not of this world.
4. The Father's House - Jn. 14:2, 3
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 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.
5. The Throne Room - 1 Ki. 22:19; Psa. 103:19; Dan. 7:9; Rev. 4:2
1 Kings 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw
the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him
on his right hand and on his left.
Psalm 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his
kingdom ruleth over all.
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days
did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the
pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning
fire.
Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne
was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
6. With the Lord - Phil. 1:23; 1 Th. 4:17; 2 Cor. 5:6
KJV Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 then we which 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.
7. At Home - 2 Cor. 5:6
2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we
are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
8. The Temple - Rev. 15:5, 8
Revelation 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Revelation 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God,
and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the
seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
E. The Possibilities Presented by the Word "Glory" in Relationship to
the Third Heaven
1. The Definition of the Term:
2. The Distinctions Concerning Glory
a. Manifestation of God's Opinion of Himself
b. Manifestation of That Which Shows God's Opinion of His Provision
c. Manifestation of the Light of the "Shekinah" Glory
TRANS: The death of a saint often causes grace believers to think of heaven. This is being "heaven minded" which is different than being "heavenly minded." Often saints will say someone went to "Glory" rather than to say that they went to heaven.
I. WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY SOMEONE WENT TO GLORY? - THE CONCEPTS OF
THE USE OF THE WORD "GLORY" OF THE THIRD HEAVEN
A. As a Place Name for the Third Heaven
B. As the Place of the Manifestation of God's "Shekinah" Glory
C. As the Place Where a Believer Shares Glory in Christ
D. As the Place of the Believer's Future Hope (Col. 1:27)
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory:
E. As the Place to Which the Grace Believer Is Called (2 Pet. 1:3;
1 Th. 2:12)
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath
called us to glory and virtue:
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you
unto his kingdom and glory.
TRANS: Jesus Christ's ascension provided for His being the heavenly Mediator between God and man. Through this He is directly involved with present tense salvation.
II. WHY DOES SCRIPTURE LINK GLORY TO PERSONS RATHER THAN A PLACE? -
THE CONNECTION OF PERSONS TO THE THIRD
A. The Manifestation of the Glory of the Father in the Third Heaven
- Rev. 15:8; 19:1 (7:12)
Revelation 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God,
and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the
seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people
in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power,
unto the Lord our God:
Revelation 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen.
B. The Manifestation of the Glory of the Son in the Third Heaven
1. Isaiah 6:1-4 (cf. Jn. 12:41)
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting
upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above
it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his
face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And
one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at
the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
John 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of
him.
2. Rev. 1:6
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
C. The Recognition and Presentation of Glory
1. To the Father and the Son - Rev. 5:13
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and
under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard
I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
2. To the Father - Rev. 7:12
Revelation 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen.
D. The Continuation of God's Glory in the New Jerusalem - Rev. 21:11, 23
Revelation 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a
stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,
to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the
light thereof.
TRANS: The next crucial question is concerning the link of glory to the third heaven. Glory is there only because the Persons of the Godhead are there. They provide glory for the church through grace salvation and its future tense.
III. HOW DOES GLORY RELATE TO HEAVEN? - THE CHARACTER OF GLORY RELATED
TO THE THIRD HEAVEN
A. It Is a Place Where the Glory of God Our Savior Jesus Christ Is
Manifested - Jude 24, 25
Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the
only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen.
1. The Anticipation of Standing Before His Glory
a.Without Stain
b. With Great Joy
2. The Appreciation of the Son Now and Into the Ages
B. It Is a Place Where the Glory of the Father Is Manifested - Rev. 15:8
Revelation 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God,
and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the
seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
C. It Is a Place Where Believer's Will Behold Jesus Christ's Glory
- Jn. 17:24
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for
thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
D. It Is a Place Characterized by Glory - Phil. 4:19, 20
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
1. The Riches of God the Father in Christ Jesus - Vs. 19
2. The Realm of Glory Existing with God the Father - Vs. 20
E. It Is a Part of the Believer's Hope in Time and Eternity - Col. 1:27
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory:
1. In Present Tense Salvation - 2 Cor. 4
2. In Future Tense Salvation
F. It Is the Place to Which Jesus Christ Ascended - 1 Tim. 3:16
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.
1. The Question of Location or Instrument
2. The Ascension of the God-Man
G. It Is the Place Where Saints Are Sharers of Glory About to Be
- 1 Pet. 5:1
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory
that shall be revealed:
1. Sharing in Common the Glory
2. About to Be Revealed
H. It Is the Place Where a Believer Is Called in Salvation Into God's
Eternal Glory - 1 Pet. 5:10
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1. Future Tense Salvation
2. Present Tense Salvation
I. It Is a Part of the Glory That Will Be Revealed to Us
- Rom. 8:18 (Col. 3:4)
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye
also appear with him in glory.
TRANS: This all leads us to ask why we might call heaven glory. Do these verses give us some idea concerning the validity of calling heaven glory?
IV. WHY MIGHT WE CALL THE THIRD HEAVEN "GLORY?" - THE CONCEPTS OF GLORY
AND THE THIRD HEAVEN
A. The Third Heaven Is Not Called "Glory" in Scripture
B. The Question Concerning the Concept of Glory in Heaven
1. Physical = the Place of the Shekinah Clouds of Glory?
2. Spiritual = the Manifestation of the Character of God?
C. The Contribution of Beings That Can Make Heaven "Glory"
1. The Persons of the Godhead
2. Created Spirit Beings = Give Glory
3. Created Human Beings = the Church Glorified
D. The Projection of the Full Weight of the Godhead
1. Concerning the Persons
2. Concerning Their Provisions
3. Concerning Their Perfections
TRANS: Heaven is all about the Persons of the Godhead. It is designed to provide a "residence" that is accessible for created beings to meet with the immense God of the universe. The presence of the Three Persons of the Godhead makes the third heaven glory. To God is the glory forever and ever. Amen!
Conclusion
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