I used to think that heaven was some sort of strange place floating in the sky. In fact, we often use the words sky and heaven as synonyms. Many people still think that. But as I've matured in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have come to understand that the heaven the righteous will inherit after all is done will actually be this new and sanctified earth as John describes it in Revelation 21 and 22.I have also come to understand that there is more than one kingdom of glory for God's children. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian saints:
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1st Corinthians 15: 30-42)
This hints of three degrees of glory: that of the sun, of the moon, and of the stars, and that even among the stars, there are differences in degree of glory. What are the celestial and the terrestrial glories of which Paul wrote?
I talked about theophany - a prophet seeing and conversing with God - when I first began my study of the Book of Revelation. John experienced a theophany as had other prophets before him - Ezekiel, Isaiah, and so forth. A prophet called in these last days also experienced theophanies. One of these occurred in 1832, when he and his scribe were working on a translation of the New Testament and came upon these verses from John, chapter 5:
Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man: And shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust. (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 16-17; John 5:29)
As they prayed and meditated, they received a glorious theophany and saw the Savior on the right hand of the Father. In this vision, they saw and understood what John and Paul saw. They recorded this in what became known as Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants:
And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.
And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one.
And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world; (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 96-98)
This is what they learned - in their own words - about the celestial glory of which Paul wrote and which John saw and recorded as the new earth - and of those who will inherit it:
These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.
These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 70, 64-65. 69)
These, then, will inherit the new heaven and the new earth spoken of by John. If the celestian glory is that of the sun, then it is easy to see why John wrote that there would be no need for the sun or moon that we have come to know. God the Father and Christ, the Son, shall dwell with those who inherit this kingdom. No other glory or light can come close to theirs!
Jesus taught His disciples that there are many mansions in His Father's house (see John 14:2.) Joseph and his companion also saw the terrestrial and telestial glories during this same theophany and I shall share those in other posts. Those who experience such a theophany become powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ, for they no longer have faith that He lives, but knowledge that He lives, for they have seen Him. I will close this morning's post with their testimony:
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 22-23)
How grateful I am for the prophets, living and dead.
Text copyright Gebara Education April 2013
Picture of heaven from www.picturesofheaven.net
Picture of Jesus from www.ellenwhite.info
Picture of sun from www.blippit.com
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