Just how great is Heaven?

[Davy]

Just how great is Heaven?

Everyone is told how wonderful heaven is. But while reading the book of Revelation, although it does describes heaven as a fabulous awe inspiring place, where everyone is happy. But it also says it has had its own problems, like here on earth.

Revelation 12:7-9, (NASB) says: "And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."

Clearly, a great war broke out in heaven, in which much unhappiness and dissatisfaction must have existed before hand to prompt this conflict. Because Revelation 12:4, (NASB) reveals: "And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth." Some bible scholars agree this refers to Satan's rebellion in heaven and his influencing up to a third of God's angels to follow him in his rebellion against God and his standards in heaven so that they became demons. They would only have gone along with this if they were unhappy with their lot in life in heaven. A heaven that is supposed to be wonderful and full of bliss! So just what were these once perfect obedient angels unhappy about and why did they join a renegade like Satan.

Furthermore, angels have freewill as we do here on earth, to choose to serve God or as many did back then rebel and side with a renegade like Satan. Freewill will always remain, so when people go to heaven to rule as kings over the earth during the 1000 year reign, they will also have Freewill. (Revelation 20:4) What is to stop another rebellion starting in heaven and coming to the earth again, because God will not take away freewill? Don't just say, "because they love God!" Because Satan and all those who rebelled with him also at one time loved God!!!

 

[Chad]

Bible Questions Answered

Question: "Is the war in heaven in Revelation 12 describing Satan's original fall or an end times angelic battle?"

Answer: The last great angelic battle and Satan’s ultimate expulsion from heaven is described in Revelation 12:7-12. In this passage, John sees a great war between Michael and the angels of God and the dragon (Satan) and his fallen angels or demons that will take place in the end times. Satan, in his great pride and delusion that he can be like God, will lead a final rebellion against God. It will be a cosmic mismatch. Thus, the dragon and his demons will lose the battle and be thrown out of Heaven forever.

A common misconception is that Satan and his demons were locked away in hell after the fall of Satan. It is clear from many Bible passages that Satan was not barred from heaven or the earth after his first rebellion, which predated the creation. In Job 1:1–2:8, he appears before God to accuse Job of ulterior motives in his worship of God. In Zechariah 3, he again appears before God to accuse Joshua, the High Priest. Indeed, the name Satan means accuser. In Genesis, he visited the Garden of Eden and tempted Eve. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness before Jesus began His ministry, which is recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. The question arises that if Satan had already rebelled and been cast from heaven before the world was created, why is he free to be in heaven and on earth?

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-3, the apostle Paul provides a major revelation that there are three heavens. In this passage, he seemingly talks about himself being taken up to the “third heaven” where God the Father and Jesus dwell. The second heaven is the universe, outer space, and our atmosphere or air. The Bible indicates that Satan and some of his demons are allowed to move in this space (Ephesians 2:1-2, 6:12).

In this age, Satan and his highest ranking angels can still oppose the work of God and hinder the angels of God (Daniel 10:10-14) within the boundaries of the middle or second heaven. The battle recorded in Revelation 12 removes Satan and his minions from this realm.

When Satan is expelled from the middle heaven, there will be great rejoicing in heaven, since the age-old accuser will be forever banned from his mission of accusation and slander against the elect. Satan’s power and freedom will be seriously curtailed. However, the inhabitants of the earth will suffer terribly after this event, because Satan will be enraged. He will also be aware that he only has three and a half more years until he is bound and cast into the bottomless pit. This will usher in a period of intensified suffering on earth (Great Tribulation) during which the Antichrist violates his peace treaty with Israel, desecrates their temple, declares himself as god, and begins to systematically murder all those who refuse to worship him.

 

[Coconut]

What is to stop another rebellion starting in heaven and coming to the earth again?

um..."It is done" is like God saying "Because I said so" :wink:


Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Rev 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Rev 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Rev 21:6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end."