Category: HEAVEN-PARADISE

Ask anyone; What does an Angel have above his head? A HALO!
That’s the answer you will get.
But where does that come from?
Traditionally, the halo represents a radiant light around or above the head of a divine or sacred person. The Halo is seen in many paintings of Biblical figures. Since halos are found nowhere in the Bible, what is their origin in Christianity?
Three places in Scripture maybe it looked like a Halo:,
Daniels vision
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
John’s vision of the Lord.
Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

With it not being found in the Bible, the halo is both pagan and non-Christian in its origin. Many centuries before Christ, natives decorated their heads with a crown of feathers to represent their relationship with the sun god.

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look at Paradise:
The thief on a Cross Next to the Lord said to the other thief  “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss”. And because of this: Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Paradise was a place (in the center of the earth) where the souls of believers in God went when they died. (see Luke 16:19-31 and Ephesians 4:9-10).

Apparently, the Lord took Paradise up to Heaven when he arose from the dead. Paul writes of

it being in the third heaven: 2 Corinthians 12:4 How he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

And the ascended Lord Jesus refers to it: Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

Notice also the Tree of Life, first mentioned in Genesis 3:24 is now in Heaven (Revelation 22:14).

For more see: Tree of Life
For more see: Heaven, A New Heaven and Earth, Heaven – What’s it like? 
Heaven – A Place, Heaven-It’s Location, Heaven-It’s Names,
Heaven – It’s Occupants  

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Gabriel is named 4 times in the Scripture. Twice in Daniel and twice in Luke.

Gabriel is instructed to help Daniel understand a vision.
Daniel 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Read all of Chapter 8 to understand the vision.

Then again in Daniel, Gabriel was sent to aid Daniel in understanding what he was seeing.
Daniel 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Read all of Chapter 9 to understand the events.

Gabriel was sent to Zacharias to inform him that he and Elisabeth were to have a child (even thought they were both well stricken in Age).
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Later he went to Mary, the young virgin, to inform her of what was coming in her life.
Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Read about both events in Luke 1.

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A Place of Comfort
Revelation 7:13-17 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

A Place of Worship
Revelation 4:8-11 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

A Place of waiting (for the Tribulation to End)
Revelation 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

A Place of Reunion
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Hebrews 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

A Place of Fellowship
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

A Place for Eternity
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And no matter how glorious or beautiful we want heaven to be, remember:
Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, 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.

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One of three angels Named in the Scriptures.
His name means “like God.”

Mentioned 5 times in Scripture.

Michael one of the chief princes Daniel 10:13
Michael stands guard over Israel Daniel 12:1
Michael battles the patron angels of other nations Daniel 12:1
Michael directly opposes Satan Jude 1:9
Michael is the only one the Bible calls an archangel Jude 1:9
Michael only says four words in the Bible Jude 1:9
Michael is a military commander of some angels Revelation 12:7

Daniel 10:13 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.
Daniel 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Could 1 Thessalonians 4:16 be referring to Michael?
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

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There has been many a sermon, even quoting some scripture, about what Heaven looks like and what it will be! Streets of Gold, Pearly Gates, A river lined with fruit trees, Lion & Lamb laying down together, beautiful Mansions, etc. But upon closer examination we discover that these scriptures are talking about the new Jerusalem and the 1000 year kingdom reign of the Lord Jesus Christ from Jerusalem, promised to the Jew beginning with the call of Abraham.

Why do I say this?
Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, 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.
So, what will heaven be like? According to scripture, while it doesn’t tell, it does say it beyond our wildest thoughts. The apostle Paul gives us just a small glimpse:
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Though we don’t know what it’s like we can rest assured that all believer’s will be there.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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We can’t even imagine what HEAVEN will be like as the Scripture does not tell us about it.

Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, 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.

But it appears music will be part of Heaven.

Revelation 5:8-9 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Revelation 14:1-3 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Revelation 15:2-3 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

The song of Moses is found in Exodus 15. It was song after the LORD delivered the children of Israel (Jews) from the Egyptians and they were on their way to the promise land.

The song of the Lamb is found in the above verses and is sung by the REDEEMED to praise the LORD JESUS.

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YOUR PAST CONDITION: ^“ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you:” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11a)
AND THEN A CHANGE: “but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 
(1 Corinthians 6:11b)
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
(Ephesians 2:1)
PRESENT IDENTITY:  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19) “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:10-11) We “walked according to the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2), in bondage to the world (Galatians 4:3) and blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
YOUR NEW POSITION: “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4) “if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). predestined “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). 
YOUR NEW PURPOSE: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
YOUR NEW NATURE: “. . . that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4) Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 2:15
YOUR NEW AUTHORITY: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:4-8)
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
YOUR NEW CAPABILITIES: “. . . that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” (Ephesians 1:17-18)

• The hope of our calling Romans 15:13-14
• The riches of the glory of our inheritance Romans 11:33-36
• The exceeding greatness of His power exercised on our behalf Ephesians 3:20; 6:10

YOUR NEW EXPECTATIONS: “This I say . . . that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk.” Ephesians 4:17
Romans 1:21-32,  2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Romans 12:1-2,  1 Corinthians 2:16.

The 17 commands that follow in Ephesians 4:25–5:7 check them out!
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

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God dwells in Heaven

Ezekiel 1:1
Isaiah 14:13
Matthew 3:17
Revelation 4:2-3
Revelation 4:4-7
Revelation 4:8

Lord Jesus dwells in Heaven

Genesis 1:26
Daniel 7:13
John 1:1
Acts 1:9
Acts 1:55
Hebrews 4:14

Holy Spirit dwells in Heaven

John 1:32
John 15:26
Romans 8:9,11,15,26,27

Angels dwell in heaven

Luke 1:9
Luke 115:10
Revelation 5:11
Revelation 7:11

Saints (Believers) dwell in Heaven

1 Thessalonians 3:13
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Revelation 7:9-14
Revelation 19:6-9

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