“the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
(2 Cor. 4:18, NKJV)
In the previous teaching we came to the conclusion that there is no Scripture which suggests that Jesus went to the realm of the dead once He had been crucified.
The question is then – what happened to Him in that time, before the resurrection occurred?
In Day 1142-1144 we pointed out that the expression “three days and three nights” does not point to a particular unit of time (and that all the endless arguments about whether it was really three days and three nights that Jesus was in the realm of the dead, are totally irrelevant). This expression is thus used to point to the power of the resurrection in the symbolic third day! The prophetic Scripture that it points out, in no uncertain terms, is Hos. 6:1-2: “Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.” This time span needs to be understood in spiritual terms, and it confirms the idea that the space should also be interpreted spiritually. The fact that it is spiritual, does not however render it any less real.
In the very important teaching of Day 665-667 (please go read it again!) we pointed out that there clearly exists two realities – the one is the natural realm, visible and discernible through our senses. This is a temporary realm, which we, based on Rom. 8:20 (WNT) referred to as “unreality”. The events in 2 Kings 6:15-17, regarding Elisha and Gehazi, offered a lot of insight into this mystery. Gehazi found himself in threatening circumstances, beside himself with fear, as he could only see the visible dangers of his “unreality”. “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Gehazi looked with his physical, carnal eyes, and feared the enemy. The other realm, which Elisha could see, was only visible to the spiritual eye. The interesting thing is that Elisha then prayed and asked God to open Gehazi’s spiritual eyes. What he then saw in the true reality of the spiritual realm is the presence of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha!
Four important concluding remarks:
- In the spiritual realm we find ‘things’ that are transcendent, in other words ‘things’ that are not discernible through our physical senses, that thus transgress the boundaries of sensory experience.
- These ‘things’ resemble things in the sensory realm. Gehazi could recognize their resemblance to horses and chariots. But the ‘things’ found in the spiritual realm are of a different kind, a different substance. These ‘things’ do not exist within space and time (Col. 1:16), they function in an eternal spiritual realm that is not part of our visible world, which is bound by time and space (because “the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” – 2 Cor. 4:18).
- The spiritual realm was organised around the “son of God” who functions in that realm.
- Physical senses cannot function in that realm, but the spiritual senses can, specifically the enlightened eyes of understanding (Eph. 1:18). Take note – these are eyes of understanding.
If you understand and accept this truth, you will come to a greater understanding of many things in the spiritual realm – if something is visible, it is temporary, as it is transient. That which is eternal is by definition invisible, because it cannot exist in the physical realm. The entire argument concerning heaven and hell was pivoted around this point, although it was spelled out in slightly different terms.
It would then for instance also imply that the garden of Eden, as well as the first two created beings, Man and Woman, were invisible! This of course corresponds to Gen. 2:8 – “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.” A few important remarks concerning this:
- The word paradise is not found anywhere in the KJV in the Old Testament, but occurs three times in the New Testament. (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7).
- The word Eden is not found in the KJV in the entire New Testament, but occurs 20 times in the Old Testament.
- It might initially then seem as if the two concepts have nothing in common, as if “the garden of Eden” and “the paradise” cannot be likened to one another.
- The Bible often speaks of “the garden of Eden” (Gen. 2:15; 3:23-24; Ezek. 35:36; Joel 2:3), which creates the impression that Eden was the garden. This is however not the case! The ABP-translation makes this clear: “And God planted paradise in Eden …” (‘paradise’ merely means ‘garden’ in Hebrew).
- 2:8 specifies that there was a garden/paradise planted in Eden, in the East.
- From the previous teaching we know that the word “east” here is not an indication of direction; the Hebrew “qedem/qêdmâh” could also, in other contexts, point to the concept of “before time”. This notion of “before time” is however a contradictory term, as something that exists before time necessarily exists outside of time. Therefore we would rather refer to it as “another reality”, “outside chronos time”, which is clearly nestled in eternity.
Keeping this in mind it is very important to realise that Jesus made a promise to the murderer on the cross (and gave us an understanding of where He will be directly after His death, in answering the man’s request): “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” (Luke 23:42-43). From our explanation earlier, it then becomes very clear: paradise < in Eden < in the East/before time/ other realities outside time! In 2 Cor. 12:14 Paul is brought to the third dimension, which he also refers to as “paradise”, where he hears the rhema-words of God. And in Rev. 2:7 it reads: “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”, which then equates “paradise” and “garden of Eden”. After His death Jesus again took up his position as the Tree of Life in paradise < in Eden < in the East/other realities outside our realm of time and space!
- Selah: Try to now come to an understanding of Rev. 22:2 & 14.
- Read: 1 John 1-5; 2 John 1 – 3; John 1.
- Memorise: As much of John 1 as possible.
