4 Heavens

By Guy Humphries

Many of God’s-children have no interest in discovering details about heaven as presented in God’s-word thus depriving themselves of a present joyful anticipation of an eternity in the presence of God.

But, Many of God’s-children ARE eager to learn about the information included in His-Word that reveals our future destination, present 3rd Heaven, Paradise, the Millennial interlude on this Eden-like earth AND the 4th and final heaven coming down from God.

D.L. Moody said, “Surely it is not wrong for us to think and talk about Heaven. I like to find out all I can about it. I expect to live there through all eternity. If I were going to dwell in any place in this country, if I were going to make it my home, I would inquire about its climate, about the neighbors I would have – about everything, in fact, that I could learn concerning it. If soon you were going to emigrate, you would feel that way. Well, we are all going to emigrate in a very little while. We are going to spend eternity in another world. Is it not natural that we should not look and listen and try to discover who are already there and what is the route to take?”

The objective of this study is an attempt to stimulate an urgent desire for more knowledge of paradise, the present 3rd heaven followed by the 1000 years reign of Christ on this cleansed-of-sin earth, the final destruction of satan and the 4th and final New Heaven on the New Earth by truly-born-again-children-of-God that Jesus clearly defined in John 3. Since satans followers have perverted the name “Christian,” saved believers are identified as children-of-God.

In an effort to motivate you to think about and search God’s-Word for knowledge of the destination of our eternal spirit at physical death, the purpose of this study is to share the results of my study of the Bible that may well differ from yours. That will not alter our fellowship as children-of-God.

But, the primary purpose is an attempt to stimulate an urgent desire to spend eternity in heaven by Jesus-rejecting-children-of-satan that He clearly defined in John 3:18b “...He that (chooses to) believeth not IS condenmed already, (why?) because he hath NOT believed in (trusted in/exercised faith in) the name of the only begotton Son of God.” Heaven or hell, your choice.

Love, joy and peace -- in heaven. We will experience these things the way God meant them to be. Now, we can only experience them in part. While it is true we can love and have joy and peace on earth, we do not fully experience them because we also know what it is to hate, grieve and endure trouble. In heaven, when those things are removed, we will love, rejoice, and be at complete peace.

Ch 1-Heaven, Home of God’s-children, Ch2-Where-What 4 Heavens Ch 3-Paradise, Present 3rd Heaven. Ch 4-New 4th Heaven on Earth. Ch 5-Who is in Paradise? Ch 6- Know Who? And What? In Paradise? Ch 7-What will we Do. h 8-When will we get to Heaven? Ch 9-The Millennium Ch10-How to get to Heaven. Ch 11- What to do after salvation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Guy Humphries
• Release date: Mar 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310920042

Guy Humphries

From a bare-foot 6 year old Ozark Foothills farm boy who was blessed with a 1st teacher that convinced us that "YOU CAN", to officer of a Memphis bank at age 22, to president of a small town bank at 32, to Senior Lending Officer of a Little Rock bank, to rescuing "failing" small banks. That made for an exciting 46-year career in banking with real estate as a sideline. Operating a one-man real estate brokerage brought joy for 17 years. No college education but constant study through industry related schools, the last at age 62, resulting in the equivalent of a banking degree. Born in the depths of the Great Depression, I am grateful that my very poor small-farm parents were not pro-choice murderers; else, I would not be here since they could ill afford another child. During my early years, mother was the sole caregiver for her mother who was dying an excruciation death with cancer. We had no phone, automobile, running water and luxuries but we cherished God and each other. We were grateful to God for clothing and food (mostly, homemade, home grown or bartered.) Neighbors who had no food or warm clothing were the poor. I did not realize that we qualified as poor until President Johnson defined it in the 1960's. Married at age 18. Remain married to the same sweet lady 70+ years later. Grandpa at 39. GreatGrandpa at 63. GreatGreatGrandpa at 88. At age 13, trusted in/exercised faith in/believed in Jesus to become a truly-born-again-child-of-God like He clearly defined in John 3. After intense conviction by God's Holy Spirit, Jesus saved my inner man, my spirit, when I trusted Him and prayed, "God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 16:13b) Baptist deacon over 60 years. Sunday school teacher over 40 years. Student of God's Word for 80+ years. Enjoy sharing how Jesus loved me, pursued me and saved my spirit, my inner-man, making me eager for Him to Rapture God's-children into His presence at any moment. There we will enjoy paradise, the 3rd Heaven, with all of the truly-born-again-children-of-God. Or He may welcome me upon my approaching death. I eagerly await either event. I do NOT claim to be a "Christian" since I define that as being Christ-like. That word is miss-used and abused by many professed "Christians" and by the freethinking media. I enjoy the study of God's Word and the commentary of other students. I enjoy discussing specific points of interpretation with thinkers whose...

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4 HEAVENS, a study

By Guy Humphries

Copyright 2013 Guy Humphries

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase another copy for each person with which you are sharing. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. Guy Humphries

DISCLAIMER: 4 Heavens is the result of my study of God’s-Word. It reflects my understanding of God’s descriptions in His-book, the Bible. Permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute up to one chapter.

Guy Humphries, Author

4 HEAVENS, a study

FORWARD:

Many of God’s-children have little interest in discovering details about heaven from God’s Word thus depriving themselves of the enhanced present joyful anticipation of an eternity in the presence of God.

Surely it is not wrong for us to think and talk about Heaven. I like to find out all I can about it. I expect to live there through all eternity. If I were going to dwell in any place in this country, if I were going to make it my home, I would inquire about its climate, about the neighbors I would have – about everything, in fact, that I could learn concerning it. If soon you were going to emigrate, you would feel that way. Well, we are all going to emigrate in a very little while. We are going to spend eternity in another world. Is it not natural that we should not look and listen and try to discover who are already there and what is the route to take? D.L. Moody

But, many of God’s-children ARE eager to learn the information in His-Word that He reveals about our future destination.

The objective of this study is an effort to stimulate an urgent desire for more knowledge of paradise, the present 3rd heaven, that, after an earthly interlude, the Millennium, is followed by the 4th and final NEW HEAVEN on the NEW EARTH by truly-born-again-children-of-God that Jesus clearly defined in John 3. Since satans followers have perverted the name Christian, saved believers are identified as children-of-God.

In an effort to motivate you to think about and search God’s-Word for knowledge of the destination of your eternal spirit at physical death, the primary purpose of this study is to share the results of my study of God’s-word that may differ from yours. That will not alter our fellowship as children-of-God.

Another purpose is an attempt to stimulate an urgent desire by Jesus-rejecting-children-of-satan that Jesus clearly defined in John 3:18b to enjoy eternity in heaven …He that (chooses to) believeth not IS CONDEMNED already, (why?) because he hath NOT BELIEVED in (trusted in/exercised faith in) the name of the only begotton Son of God. Heaven or hell, your choice.

Knowing What I know about Heaven by Billy Austin, Dave Robbins and Sarah Darling is a Gospel song that inspired this study. It expanded my anticipation of going there.

"I bet the trumpets played and the angels sang

Every sweet refrain of Amazing Grace

And the heavens’ hand opened up the gate,

And the children danced when they saw your face.

As happy as they were to see you coming,

I was just as sad to have to watch you go.

CHORUS:

Oh, but knowing what I know about heaven.

Believing that you’re all the way home,

Knowing that you’re somewhere better

Is all I need to let you go

I could hope that I could pray you back,

But why on earth would I do that,

When you’re somewhere life and love never ends?

Oh, knowing what I know about Heaven…

VERSE 2

Where every single voice makes a joyful noise,

How sweet the sound when the saints rejoice,

To every broken heart and every wounded soul,

New life begins on the streets of gold.

With every tear that’s raining here from my eyes,

I know the sun is shining where you are.

CHORUS

I could hope that I could pray you back,

But why on earth would I do that,

When you’re somewhere life and love never ends?

Oh, knowing what I know about Heaven….."

All scriptures are from the King James translation except where identified. Italics & CAPS are for emphasis. Portions of scripture are interwoven into comments. Planned redundancy is to emphasize important points. Readers are urged to study the context of every excerpt quoted.

Love, joy and peace -- in heaven. We will experience these things the way God meant them to be. We can only experience them in part now. While it is true we can love and have some joy and peace on earth, we do not fully experience them because we also know what it is to hate, grieve and endure trouble. In heaven, when those things are removed, we will love, rejoice, and be at complete peace.

CONTENT

1 - 4th HEAVEN, ETERNAL HOME OF GOD’S-CHILDREN

2 - WHERE-WHAT 4 HEAVENS?

We will study the location of the present and prophesied heavens.

3 - PARADISE - PRESENT 3rd HEAVEN

We will explore Paradise, the present heaven. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9 Human minds simply cannot comprehend the glory that awaits us immediately after leaving this planet.

4 - NEW 4TH HEAVEN ON NEW EARTH

We will study the capital city and the final fire cleansed recreated heaven on earth as we thrill to its brilliant color, light and the glory of God.

5 - WHO IS IN PARADISE?

We will study the inhabitants of the present 3rd heaven..

6 - KNOW WHO? AND WHAT? IN PARADISE?

We will study about HOW and WHAT we will KNOW about other saints in heaven.

7 - WHAT WILL WE DO IN PARADISE, THE PRESENT HEAVEN?

We will study about our activities when we get there.

8 - WHEN WILL WE GET TO PARADISE AND NEW HEAVEN

We will study a timeline of end time events leading up to and following the rapture of God’s-children from this planet.

9 - THE MILLENNIUM

We will study the peaceful 1,000 years reign of Christ on this fire cleansed earth. An interlude between the 3rd Heaven, Paradise and the eternal.4th Heaven

10 - HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN

We will address how to obtain salvation Gospel. The death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

11- WHAT TO DO AFTER SALVATION

We will study some of God’s instructions in His book to learn some of His commands about the conduct of His-children in this present age as we eagerly await the Rapture.

Chapter 1 - 4th HEAVEN, ETERNAL HOME OF GOD’S-CHILDREN

Will we need a church house in the 4th heaven? No. Rev 21:22 The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

Like earth’s, can heavens power grid break resulting in darkness? No! Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun...for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof. Rev 22:5 There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light...

PARADISE AND FINAL HEAVEN ON EARTH (see those chapters)

To help understand some of what God’s-Word tells us about heaven, readers are urged to study the context in which any scripture speaks of the present residence of God, Paradise the 3rd heaven OR the future final NEW 4th heaven including the NEW Jerusalem on the NEW, cleansed and renovated earth which will be forever NEW, perfect as the Eden that God described as good.

NOT LIKE ANGELS

Writing to the members of that church and all children-of-God in 1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? … 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels?… God’s-children will NOT be angels. We will govern them.

HOW DO WE PASS OVER TO PARADISE?

At the death of the physical body, that is, unless Jesus raptures us to Him first. Even so, come, LORD Jesus. Rev 22:20

Souls of children-of-God when absent from the body are immediately present with the Lord. That is an explicit declaration of 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 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.

Acts 1:9 And when He (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this SAME Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. This SAME Jesus that dined in His glorified resurrected body is the same Jesus who ...shall so come in like manner... A cloud received Him. At the Rapture, …we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess 4:17

Paul was transported into the 3rd heaven to the presence of God …to the third heaven. 2 Cor 12:2 …he was caught up into paradise… 2 Cor 12:4 For now we see through a glass, darkly (understanding is limited by incomplete understanding); but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. I Cor 13:12

HEAVEN WATCHES US?

Dr. Mike Harmon writing in the Baptist Trumpet addresses that question.

"Do our loved ones in Heaven look down upon us? No!!!

All of heaven’s happiness would be wiped out with just one look at the misery they left behind. Some want us to believe that they are the witnesses in Hebrew 12:1, Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses... and that they are witnessing our earthly misery. No. It refers to the witnesses described in that great chapter on faith, the previous chapter 11. Remember, the original had no designated chapter or verse separations.

God announces to those departed saints in paradise about only one event on earth, the salvation of a soul. Not the angels but the saints celebrate, I say unto thee, there is joy in (paradise) the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10 Dr. Mike Harmon.

JESUS DEFINES HEAVEN

Jesus promised, 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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 to prepare a PLACE for you, I will come again, and receive (Rapture) you unto myself; That WHERE I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me. John 14

Heaven’s description: …In my Father’s house are many mansions. Plenty of room for every person that ever lived.

Assurance of it: If it were not so, I would have told you.

Preparation for us: I go to prepare a PLACE for you.

Safe Conduct to it: I will come again and receive (Rapture) you unto myself.

The glory of it: That where I am, there ye may be also.

How to get there: I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.

The Savior says, ‘Heaven with God is the goal; I AM the way." He is the undeniable way, the infallible truth, the endless life. The way out of Sin, the way out of the lake-of-fire, the way through life and the way to Heaven, into the presence of God.

SONGS ABOUT HEAVEN

What is your favorite song about heaven?

Amazing Grace. It sings, When we’ve been there 10,000 years… I’m Going to Heaven. Beulah Land. When we all get to Heaven. I dream of a place that’s called heaven. I feel like traveling on. Go rest high on that mountain. Knowing What I Know About Heaven. Home of the Soul. How beautiful heaven must be, sweet home of the happy & free. Some call it heaven, I call it home. Thinking about going home. There will be a happy meeting in Heaven I know. Those are a small sample of beloved songs about heaven. See the lyrics of Knowing What I Know about Heaven in the Preface.

I’m Going to Heaven When this Life is O’re was written by Brother A. C. Kilcrease that was a fellow deacon at Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church, Hamburg, AR. He is there now.

We Will NOT Sing The following songs in heaven?

When I See Him Face-to-Face,"for I will be in His presence.

When the Roll is called up Yonder, for it has already been called.

When the Saints go Marching In. for I will already be in.

Open Mine Eyes that I May See: for my eyes will be seeing my Savior and heaven as it really is.

Sing the Battle Cry, for my battle is over and my victory is won.

CHILDREN TRY TO DESCRIBE HEAVEN

But, these children try:

There will be no sin in heaven. You can ask Jesus all you want to, and he won’t get annoyed, says Abby, age 8.

I think heaven will be peaceful, says Mackenzie, 8. We will never see darkness again. Also, we will never fight, and everybody will be happy. Nobody will be weak or tired, not even the grandparents. We will see Jesus!

Anna, 9, has seen something of heaven’s glories when she says: Heaven will be like the dream I always wanted to dream. The streets will be paved with gold. I will see my Grandpa running, happy and young. Little children will be playing in fields. The gates will be made of pearls."

And these soldiers of the faith try:

If there were no hell, the loss of heaven would be hell. C.H. Spurgeon

To say that God dwells in heaven is not to say that He is contained there. However, it is uniquely His home, His center of operations, His command post. It is the place where His throne resides. In addition, it is where the most perfect worship of Him occurs. It is in that sense that we say heaven is His dwelling place. John MacArthur

The Christian is the most contented man in the world, but he is the least contented with the world. He is like a traveler in an inn, perfectly satisfied with the inn and its accommodation, considering it as an inn, but putting quite out of all consideration the idea of making it his home. C.H. Spurgeon

Human attempts at describing the indescribable can never come close to