August 23, 2022
by Rick Combs
In our last post, we look briefly at the Kingdom of God on Earth. Now, we are going to consider the Kingdom of God in Heaven, or to be more accurate in the heavenlies.
Before talking about some specifics, it is important to present some foundational information.
God has a two-fold purpose which is stated at the beginning of the Bible.
Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”.
Think of the Kingdom of God as a big house with two rooms. One room is the earth, and the other room is heaven. As a result of the rebellion of Lucifer, God’s desire is that both be reconciled unto Him.
There is a separate purpose for heaven and a separate purpose for the earth. The entire Bible is centered around these two Divine purposes and plans. God’s purpose for the earth is associated with the Nation of Israel and His purpose for heaven is presented in the Apostle Paul’s thirteen epistles to the Body of Christ.
As there is a governmental structure in the Kingdom of God on earth, there is also a similar governmental structure in the heavenlies. We must understand some basic realities from the heavenly side of things. Heaven and earth work together. The powers in the heavenlies are reflective upon and affect the powers on earth.
For example, Daniel 10 shows us this reality. Verse 12-13 says, “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
We see the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” and the “kings of Persia” hindering the archangel Michael in the heavens from delivering to Daniel the interpretation of the vision in verses 1-9 of chapter 10. Yet verse one makes reference to the “third year of Cyrus King of Persia”, the earthly king. So, we see the heavenly king of Persia and the earthly King of Persia.
This same reality is also mentioned in verses 20-21 of Daniel 10.
The third heaven where God lives is located in an altogether different fourth dimension than our present three-dimensional existence. Along with our physical three-dimensional creation is an invisible realm. It is this realm that fell at Satan’s rebellion and is controlled by him yet today. The invisible realm of our three-dimensional existence is what affects our world.
Ephesians 2:2-3 presents this same reality, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
This world operates according to the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. Notice the influence of the powers of the air upon the people of earth.
Also, Ephesians 6:12 says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”Those high places are in the heavenlies surrounding the earth. Right now, this is Satan’s domain.
Let’s look at one more scripture. Colossians 1:16 reveals that Jesus created all things “that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Verse 20 goes on to say that through the blood of his cross, by him God will reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
Ephesians 1:20-23 gives the glorious news that these principalities, powers, might, and dominions have been given “to the church which is His body” as our inheritance.
In our next post, we will explore some of the details as to what the inheritance of the body of Christ will be like.
Until then, the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.