Today we’ll begin a new and exciting series examining the invisible world or more accurately the spiritual realm. It is a subject many Christians ignore and are happy to evade until the end of their lives.
This is an unfortunate way of thinking because the Bible has much to say about our interaction with the spiritual realm during our existence on the earth. In fact, it says we are spiritual beings living in temporal earthly bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19) and indwelt by God’s Spirit.
The apostle Paul had much revelation and understanding concerning spiritual things and he communicated these truths to the churches he planted and oversaw in his letters. Probably the most controversial group was the churches of Corinth. They were known to be carnal and plagued with strife, immorality, prejudice, and even idolatry.
Therefore, the churches at Corinth were not known to be the most spiritual churches in Paul’s care. However, he still rehearsed and shared many truths about spiritual things that should be understood by every believer.
The first point is, we are living in two realms at the same time. Sadly, though, carnal Christians are only aware of the earthly, physical realm. To them, the things of the Spirit are foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14). They are primarily living for the here and now, and care little about pursuing the things of the Spirit and the eternal Kingdom of God.
Let’s see what the scripture has to say about the spiritual realities around us and those yet to come. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He said, “Our Father, in Heaven.” Right there, we are faced with the reality of another world... one outside the physical world we live in and experience daily.
Heaven, after all, is a spiritual place, made of heavenly substance. It is other worldly, if I can use that term. Paul the apostle said, “the Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
That means the Kingdom, although tangible in the heavenly realm, is invisible and imperceptible to our naked eye and physical senses. The Kingdom of God is made up of spiritual material that is eternal. It will never suffer decline, decay, rust, or corruption. It will never be abolished or overthrown. It is eternal and will never cease being. It is God’s home, and the eternal resting place of the redeemed.
22) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24) to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24
There is nothing on the earth to compare with the wonder of this place. Yet, people often treat the thought of heaven as some ethereal cloud bank with chubby little angles floating around with harps. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Heaven is God’s city. It is where God’s throne room is located. It is His masterpiece of unparalleled and exquisite beauty, eternal bliss, and unending glory. We are citizens of this Kingdom. How amazing!
Look at the description given by Isaiah the prophet, when his eyes were opened to the throne room of God.
1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2) Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3) And one cried to 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 were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5) So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
6) Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7) And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." Isaiah 6:1-7
Here the prophet’s eyes were opened to the spiritual reality of the throne room of God. He was undone by the encounter and recognized spiritual realities that had escaped his insight and understanding previously.
This heavenly realm had existed all along, but Isaiah previously only had a partial grasp of its power, majesty, and glory. Up until that point, much of what he saw in this encounter had been hidden from his senses. Now his spiritual eyes were enlightened to see and experience the court of heaven and God’s magnificent and glorious sovereignty.
The apostle John had a similar experience when Jesus appeared to him and gave them the book of Revelation. He was caught up to heaven and saw unimaginable things that boggled his mind. Some of what he saw was given to him in symbolic form, but still, of spiritual substance and realities. Nothing was just a dream. His encounter with Jesus was real, and the things the Lord showed him were things to come.
1) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3) And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
4) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6) Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
7) The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8) The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"
9) Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10) the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11) "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." Revelation 4:1-11
The apostle describes a door in heaven, God’s throne, God sitting upon His throne, a sea of glass, cherubim, angels, elders, 24 thrones, lightning, thunder, lamps of fire, and many other marvels. These are spiritual things that are more real than the ground we walk on though invisible to our natural senses.
This is a fascinating study, and we’ll discover more next time. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, continually bless and keep you.
James Brown
CST 07/03/2024
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