Quote:
Originally Posted by coksiw
Brother the word "heaven" is use abstractly in greek to mean anything above the earth, as “cielo” in Spanish.
It can refer to the place where God is as in several verses you described, but also, the place were the stars are as in:
"[1Co 15:40 NASB] 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the [glory] of the earthly is another."
Eph 6:12 is referring to the place where the clouds are (the atmosphere), as we know in what level the devil moves: “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
EPHESIANS 2:2 NASB
This can be described as the three heavens as suggested in "[2Co 12:2 NASB] 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven." If the third is the one where God is, then the first is where the clouds are (or atmosphere) and the second where the heavenly bodies are (stars, sun, moon). |
All of what you describe is the cosmos, of which heaven and earth are the main features, but also includes outer-space, the celestial bodies, etc. Having a correct Biblical cosmology is essential to the discussion. The sky realm and above were seen as one continuous whole, levels to be sure but all part of the whole.
For example, prophets in the OT are said to stand in the council of the Almighty. Adam and Eve walked with God in paradise. The High Priest could transcend earth at the foot of the Ark. Jacob saw a stairway that went from earth to heaven, with YHVH at top, angels ascending and descending. We sit with Christ in heavenly places. It's not talking about the final frontier, but a different reality or way of existing and perceiving the world.
I recommend Dr. Heiser on this:
http://drmsh.com/
The Bible Project has some really good videos, too, that explain this:
https://thebibleproject.com/