The universe was created for man. In science this is called the “anthropic principle.” It is
also evident from the opening chapters of the Bible. An empty universe inhabited only by God
and the angels makes little sense to most of us. God does not “need” a universe, nor does he need
man to add to his Being. He is fully sufficient and complete in all his attributes so our creation
adds nothing to his essential nature. The universe was made as a home for man, and man was
made for fellowship with God (see Isaiah 45:18). Man was placed in charge of the creation as
Hebrews Chapter 2 recalls. God pronounced nature “good” and valuable to him before he placed
man on earth. Intuitively it is unattractive to imagine that the universe sat empty for aeons before
man arrived on the scene–as evolutionary thought teaches was the case. According to Genesis,
God proceeded to create the universe step by step in an orderly way, and when he had the
ecosystem prepared, he made man (last of all) and placed him squarely in the center of things to
understand and to rule over what had been created. (Man has since lost his dominion over the
creation–but that is another story. God has a restoration plan underway).
The notion of an originally upright, unflawed universe also suggests that the moon and
planets may have once been more beautiful, more pristine, and more “inhabitable” than they are
now. I myself happen to believe that some sort of cosmic disaster has already occurred
throughout the solar system and that there is ample evidence now of destructive forces at work in
the physical universe that were not put there by God. The biblical view also contradicts the
notion that man is improving and society is advancing morally and socially. Rather, it is the
grace of God, which makes life bearable and prevents mankind from self-destruction.
The original creation was “good” (unmarred, flawless) at the end of creation week. Then
the angels fell and later man fell. The fall of man resulted in a “curse” on the physical world, a
curse that has not yet been lifted. [Actually there are at least five significant curses named in
Genesis that effect the world we live in today]. The fall of man and the fall of Satan seem to have
made fundamental changes in certain laws of physics and biology as well. The nature of
subjective time, i.e., the “quality” of time as we experience it has changed since creation. Also,
man in his present condition is constrained to a rather limited “one-dimensional” time frame
whereas before the fall, our first parents enjoyed a multidimensional quality of time much richer
than we can even begin to imagine.
Before the fall, our first parents in their innocence and purity were in a very real sense
enjoying a quality of life moment by moment that is unknown to us at the present time.
Incidentally the role of the angels in the government of the physical universe as well as in the
affairs of men is confirmed in Hebrews 2:1-5. The implication of this passage is that the age in which we now live is governed by the angels, but the age that is to come will not be governed by
angels, but by the redeemed of mankind who are in Christ the Lord.
A Glimpse into Eternity
The biblical view of time found in the New Testament is that time in the heavenly places,
that is in the spiritual world, is multidimensional. For example, in the book of Revelation we see
scenes taking place on earth in human history and scenes in the heavenly places going on at the
same time. Time in heaven apparently moves in the forward direction as it does on earth. For
example Revelation 8:1 describes a period of silence in heaven lasting “about half an hour.” But
time in heaven has a quality and a pace different from time on earth.
A good example of an event occurring in “eternity” is found in the Gospels: one day
Jesus stepped up to the top of Mount Mizar, a minor peak on the slopes of Mount Hermon, above
Banias (ancient Caesarea Philippi) in northern Israel, and was transfigured before his frightened
disciples–Peter, James, and John. Appearing with him (about AD 30) were Moses (from about
1400 BC) and Elijah, (who was translated into heaven without seeing death about 850 BC). All
were alive and well, as if they were contemporaries, oblivious to the years that had separated
them by our way of reckoning time.
This incident (recorded in Luke 9:23-36; Matthew 17:1-8; and Mark 9:2-8) shows that all
the usual rules and constraints of time (as we commonly think of them) were momentarily lifted.
Thus, it was not only possible for men from ancient times to appear alive in the presence of the
disciples of Jesus, but also for Jesus to assume his glorified body all at the same “time.”
Another example of the multiple dimensions of time and eternity will be helpful to the
reader. Consider the various time frames that are involved in the writing, printing, and reading of
a book, for example, a mystery novel. Perhaps the author took a year to write the manuscript, but
drew from many years of personal experience and from his own reading of history. Suppose six
months elapse before the book is on the market and reaches the reader. The reader then begins
the book, and after a period time of intermittent reading, finishes it. (The reader can even skip
ahead to the end, if he wishes, to see how it all turns out). Internal to the book is the time frame
of the story, which may include flashbacks in the lives of some of the characters. After reading
the book, it goes on the library shelf, but the reader retains a summary version, condensed in his
memory. He is free to recall the book, or read it again. In this example one can count half a
dozen, or more, different time frames all co-existing!
Time As Experienced in a Resurrection Body
After his resurrection, Jesus further demonstrated the capacities of his resurrection body
by appearing and disappearing at will among his disciples, in the days between the resurrection
and the ascension. From such records in the Gospels, we can conclude that resurrection bodies
are equipped for multidimensional space and time travel. Jesus ate food and could be touched
and felt, in his resurrection body. He did not return in a ghost-like, shadowy form. In his two
letters to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul clarifies the nature of the resurrection. Physical death
is the point a believer steps out of the time frame of human history. When a person leaves time
and enters eternity. Once in eternity one bypasses intermediate (future) times to arrive at the
resurrection at the exact same instant all other believers do, in fact “in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye.”
First note carefully the wording the Apostle uses in describing the resurrection body as
already in existence in eternity:1Now we know that if the earthly tent [Greek skenos = “tent”] we live in is destroyed, we have
[now] a building [Greek: oikos = building] from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by
human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3
because
when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are
burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very
purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians
5:1-5
The resurrection of Christians who have died during the past two thousand years
immediately precedes the catching up of living believers at a yet-future event called the “rapture
of the Church. See Chapter 6 – The Rapture of the Church. This appearing (parousia) of the
Lord Jesus for his church is an event in eternity that intrudes into our time frame at some
particular date on God’s appointment calendar (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).
In this passage three distinct events occur: (1) a great shout from the Lord Jesus that
summons the dead back to life, (2) the Archangel’s (Michael’s) call to Israel, and the sound of a
trumpet to summon those believers alive at that moment of history. That same trumpet and the
immediate transformation of living Christians at the rapture is described in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-
58.
In the experience of the Christian, one’s personal death corresponds exactly with the
Second Coming of Christ, though this event will also happen on earth at the definite date and
time in recorded human history. This is what Paul meant when he said to be absent from the
body was to be at home with the Lord, not as a spirit, but in a resurrection body along with
everyone else who knows God. This can be seen at the Martyrdom of Stephen in the book of
Acts. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,
58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he fell on
his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell
asleep. – Acts 7:56-60
As Stephen died he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Throughout the New Testament Jesus is ordinarily pictured as seated at the right hand of God.
Evidently he stands to receive his bride, the Church, at the rapture. Thus all Christians get to
heaven at the same moment. In one sense, then, heaven is now empty. There is no value in
praying to the Virgin Mary or St. Jude since they aren’t there yet! But as will be seen shortly,
there is another sense in which all believers are already in heaven.
Who is Presently in Heaven?
Not only has Jesus Christ been raised from the dead, he is now seated in heaven at the
right hand of God in a new resurrection body. All authority and power in the universe has been
placed into his hands (Matthew 28:18). Therefore heaven is certainly not empty. The angels are
there and the splendor and glory of God is unchanged and undiminished.
“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept
looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The
other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with
the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He
was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language
worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his
kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
– Daniel 7:9-14
When an individual enters into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord, he or
she is immediately spiritually regenerated and becomes identified with Jesus Christ in his death,
burial and resurrection. This is the meaning of baptism–being “placed into” Christ, into the Body
of Christ (Romans 6:3-9).
Paul elaborates on this in Ephesians,
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2
in which you used to live when you
followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at
work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by
nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us
alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,-
Ephesians 2:1-6
Although our spirits and souls are made new if we know Jesus Christ personally, our
bodies are not yet redeemed. It is our present mortal physical bodies (connecting us by the five
senses), which link us to the “old creation.” In spirit we already have been “raised” from the
dead, we are dwelling in the heavenly places. We are already seated with Christ at the right hand
of God. If we had our resurrection bodies “put on” instead of our old earth-tents, we would
immediately perceive that we all had arrived in heaven together. Hebrews Chapter 12:18-29
describes our present dwelling in heaven.
So in one sense as all the above passages tell us, all believers are presently dwelling in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. But in another sense the only man who is now in heaven is
Jesus. Mary is not there yet, nor Jude the half-brother of Jesus, nor the Apostle Paul, nor my
grandmother. The resurrection has not yet taken place. And there is no “waiting room” where our loved-ones are now in a holding pattern standing-by for heaven either.
When the resurrection does occur we shall all arrive there at exactly the same time. This
is explained in more detail in a sermon on ―Time and Eternity‖ by Ray C. Stedman.139
Rewards Beyond this Life
Eternal life–which is the free gift of God to all those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord–is
a kind of time dimension characterized not only by endless duration, but by very high quality.
God’s time has richness, variety, freedom from boredom and endless diversity. Living in
fellowship with him who is Life is not only liberating but exciting beyond the power of language
to describe. Eternity does not mean timelessness, except perhaps for those in hell.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34″Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35″Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. – Romans 11:33-36
