Structure of Heaven and Hell
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May 31, 2015 |
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In the Bible appear many places that belong to Heaven or Hell. We can see each of them is not same. Heaven that saved people enter is divided into several places such as Paradise or New Jerusalem.
Hell also has different places because people enter different places of Hell according to the extent that they committed sins.
The Structure of Heaven and Hell
If we cut a rhombus into two halves horizontally, we have a triangle on top and an inverted triangle below. We can think of the triangle on top as 'Heaven' and the inverted triangle below as 'Hell'.
Saying that the peak of the upper triangle is New Jerusalem, the base of the upper triangle is then the Upper Grave. As it goes to the peak, that is, New Jerusalem, from Paradise, it becomes narrower. This shows that there are fewer people who become holy and perfect and achieve resemblance of God's heart and enter New Jerusalem or the third kingdom of heaven than those who enter Paradise, the first and second kingdoms of heaven.
From the Upper Grave up, it will be Paradise, the first kingdom of heaven, the second kingdom of heaven, the third kingdom of heaven, and New Jerusalem. The 'higher' the position, the better dwelling place it is. Of course, in the spiritual realm we cannot draw a borderline like we do here on earth. Also, since we cannot define the shape of Heaven, this illustration is a way of explanation to be able to understand for those who are bounded by limits of physical comprehension.
As it goes to the vertex of the inverted triangle, the width becomes narrow. This is because there are fewer people who commit grave sins with conscience seared like iron and enter deeper Hell than people who enter Hell because of fewer sins. But we must not think that Heaven looks like a triangle and Hell looks like an inverted triangle.
The two triangles, namely 'Heaven' and 'Hell' are not adjacent to each other. They are a tremendous distance apart from each other, beyond any physical measures. Also there is a great chasm between the Upper Grave and the Lower Grave. But with the special permission of God, as in Luke 16, people can see or talk to one another like the rich man and Abraham talked. It is just as we can now talk with others who are on the other side of the earth while even seeing their faces.
Heaven
New Jerusalem, for Souls Who Are Sanctified and Faithful in All Aspects
New Jerusalem is for people who have faith to please God. They have become sanctified and worked faithfully in all God's household. This is the place where God's throne is, and they are given the special right to see God in person. Their housing is so big and gorgeous that it is like a big castle (Revelation 21:2).
They will have things that they gave up on the earth for the Lord, and the environment is made according to the owner's preference. The beauty and glory are felt from beautiful colors coming from various jewels. They will be given the Crown of Gold and the Crown of Righteousness (Revelation 4:4; 2 Timothy 4:8).
Third Kingdom of Heaven, for Souls Who Are Sanctified
This place is for those who have faith to love God to the utmost degree and obey God's Word and achieved the sanctification of the heart. The mansions are too magnificent to even be compared to those in the second kingdom of heaven. The homes are multi-storied buildings that are equipped with all facilities that the owner wants. They have angels that personally serve the owner and they will be given the Crown of Life (Revelation 2:10).
Second Kingdom of Heaven, for Souls Who Fulfilled Their Duties
This place is for those who live by God's Word through the Holy Spirit's help and fulfill their duty but, have not yet to accomplish sanctification of the heart. The housing is still more beautiful than that in the first kingdom of heaven. They are single story buildings. They will be given the Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4).
First Kingdom of Heaven, for Souls Who Tried to Practice God's Word
The first kingdom of heaven is for those who accepted Jesus Christ and tried to live by God's Word at least a little. God will give them apartment-like multiplex housing considering their tastes and preferences. They will be given imperishable wreaths (1 Corinthians 9:25).
Paradise, for Souls Who Are Barely Saved
They are not worthy to be called God's children, but since they accepted Jesus Christ, God cannot bear to see them in Hell. So He made Paradise (Luke 23:43). And the outskirts of Paradise is used as the waiting place of Heaven from the Lord's resurrection until the Great Judgment of White Throne (Revelation 20:11-12).
Upper Grave, Waiting Place for Saved People during Old Testament times
Upper Grave belongs to Heaven. This place was the waiting place for those people who were saved during the times of the Old Testament (1 Peter 3:19). After Jesus' resurrection, saved souls stay in the Upper Grave for three days, when they have time to adapt themselves to the spiritual world. Then they go to the outskirts of Paradise, the waiting place of Heaven.
Hell
The Lower Grave, Waiting Place of Hell'
The Lower Grave is the waiting place for those who are not saved, before they enter into the Hell of the Lake of Fire or Lake of Burning Sulfur (Luke 16:23). They are punished there, and the punishments are divided into four levels according to their offenses.
The Lake of Fire and the Lake of Sulfur That Unsaved People Will Enter'
After the Great White Throne Judgment, those who are sentenced to Hell will be thrown into the Lake of Fire or the Lake of Sulfur. Those who were receiving the 1st and 2nd level punishments in the Lower Grave will fall into the Lake of Fire, and those receiving 3rd and 4th level punishments, into the Lake of Sulfur (Revelation 20:10). The Lake of Sulfur is 7 times hotter than that of fire.
The Abyss, Prison of Evil Spirits'
The Abyss is the pit where there is no bottom. It is the deepest and the lowest place in Hell. It is where the evil spirits are confined forever after human cultivation is over (Revelation 20:3). The energy of flesh will press one with a tremendous weight and magnitude. For this reason, the evil spirits in the Abyss cannot even move a finger. They cannot even move their eyes.
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