Is Heaven A Planet Like Earth?

[victoryword]

Finis Dake taught that Heaven (where God dwells) is a planet just like Earth is:

The third Heaven here is called the paradise where God lives. The other two heavens are: the clouds (Gen.1:8; 7:23; 8:2; Job 38:9, 34; Isa. 14:14; Jer.51:16) and the starry space between the Earth and the planet Heaven (Gen. 1:15-20; 22:17; Isa.14:12-14; Ps. 8:3). 4. HEAVEN IS THE CAPITOL OF THE UNIVERSE, for God has His capitol city, the New Jerusalem, His capitol building, the Heavenly Temple or Tabernacle, and His throne in the Temple in Heaven. This city is described by John in Rev.21-22. This capital city will continue to be in Heaven until the end of the Millenium and then it will be moved from the planet Heaven to the planet Earth (Rev.21:2, 9-21). (Taken from the book GODS PLAN FOR MAN By Finis Jennings Dake).


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In a tape series that was transcribed for me by a good friend, Kenneth Copeland teaches that he made this discovery by revelation from God:

I asked the Lord one time, I said, "Is there life on other planets?" and He said, "Well, I'm out here." Laughter. I said, "Whaa - what?" He said, "Well, I'm out here, and I'm on another planet." I said, "You are?" "Yes," He said, "You don't think I just live around in smoke or clouds or something, do you?" I said, "God, I'm ashamed to tell you I never really thought about it." Well, that didn't surprise Him any. Laughter. You know, the little peanut way we've been thinking. But you see, the Bible said heaven has a north. It also has an east, isn't that right? Doesn't it tell you about the eastern gate? Doesn't it tell you about the sides of the north? Well, if you've got a north, you've got to have a south. If you've got an east, you've got to have a west. That means it's round. Does that sound familiar?


You don't think earth was first, do you? Huh? Well, you don't think that God made man in His image and then made earth in some other image. There's not anything under this whole sun that's new. [Eccl. 1:9] Are you hearing what I'm saying? This is all a copy. It's a copy of home. It's a copy of the mother planet. Where God lives, He made a little one just like His and put us on it. (Following the Faith of Abraham I, Tape 01-3001 - Side 1)

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I have read Dake's position onn this years ago and did not think much of it at the time. However, the thought has occurred to me reently, perhaps due to some more recent debates. I don't take a position on this one way or another yet because I have to look up those tons of references that dake gives.


However, what do my fellow Word-faithers think? Is Heaven a planet? If not then what is it?

 

[Bobber]

But you see, the Bible said heaven has a north. It also has an east, isn't that right? Doesn't it tell you about the eastern gate? Doesn't it tell you about the sides of the north? Well, if you've got a north, you've got to have a south. If you've got an east, you've got to have a west. That means it's round. Does that sound familiar?

I remember hearing this tape of Ken's years ago....well I guess one would have to ask someone of science is that what this must mean. Yeah is you got a north south east and west.....always found interesting...if you go east you're always going east...but not the same as north and south....Mmmm...
Another thing to consider...what exactly is the kingdom of God? I know the kingdom is within us but scripture does state the kingdom of God is a place....in a way in which it might be difficult to understand....Bible says flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God....and Jesus stated that he came down from above....I don't believe it means physically above our heads....but he's talking about the order of existence....I believe the KOG is another universe, but one of a higher order. If Heaven is a planet, or round...well its not something you can get a telescope of the physical and see.....Anyway....those are my thought

 

[victoryword]

I NEVER imagined Heaven to be a PLANET until reading Dake's book back in 1992. I still don't know for sure, but that is a good suggestion Bobber. Perhaps I will do a scientific investigation based on those directions.

 

[Mark2010]

However, what do my fellow Word-faithers think? Is Heaven a planet? If not then what is it?

No. Heaven is not a PHYSICAL place, like Mars, Jupiter, etc. Heaven is a term we humans for the state of consciousness in the presence of God. God i spirit and all things heavenly are spirit.

 

[chilifrankplate]

I've read some of what Finnis Dake has written on it,and I have heard similar teachings by Copeland, and one or two others as well. They make a very good argument for it. I think I'd have to hear an equally impressive argument (backed with scripture mind you) to believe the other way. At best this is a loosly held belief anyway, as it has no bearing on my salvation, or any of the things I'm doing while I'm here. Kinda like the gap theory, I believe it, but it doesn't really matter to me either.

 

[Trish1947]

When Paul was caught up into the third Heaven, where ever that is, he saw things that he couldn't even mention, and he didn't. If it looks just exactly as the Earth, but perfect and glorifed, what did he see that he couldn't mention? It might be spherical like the Earth, but if God said that it has not entered our minds what He has prepared for us, I'm not sure it looks identical as the Earth.

My mind can comprehend that. Things a bit greener, smog free, God's glorious light being the light, because there will be no need for the sun.
Personally I think it might be just a bit different, but might be, what it was like before the fall. Who knows what it looked like before that, He is going to create a new heaven and earth.

 

[LittleRocketBoy]

Think about this...
The physical body of Jesus went into heaven with His own physical blood that He sprinkled on.... what???

 

[riverpastor]

it has not entered our minds what He has prepared for us...

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.
1 Corinthians 2:10 - But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.​

Just for clarification, Trish...


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LRB,

I believe in the physicality of the glorified Body of Christ entering Heaven to sprinkle His Own Blood...

I believe this is the reason that He tells Mary Magdelene:

John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.​

The high priest would not allow himself to be touched by a woman when preparing to enter the Holy of Holies to perform the sprinkling of the blood lest he be defiled.

I believe He told Mary this and was stating His intentions to enter the Holy of Holies in Heaven.

Heaven may very well be a "planet". Yet, is it a glorified planet?

Jesus, after the resurrection, suddenly appeared to the disciples while they were waiting in an upper room. Did He do this "at will"?

If He could appear and disappear, could it be that this heavenly planet is also "invisible"???

 

[victoryword]

I enjoyed most of the answers I have read so far.

Mark2010, could you clarify what you mean by "state of consciousness."

Chilifrankplate, I hold to the gap theory as well. I first read about it in Benny Hinn's book, War In The Heavenlies when I first got saved back in 1984. It has just stuck with me. This belief was reaffirmed to me later by authors such as Watchman Nee, G. H. Pember, and later, Finis Dake. Watchman Nee has the most interesting teaching on the subject as he relates the seven day "recreation" to dispensational theology.

Arthur C. Custance has written a book (supposed to be the most academic defense of the Gap theory) that is supposed to prove that some of the church fathers believed in the Gap between Genesis 1 verses 1 and 2. The book was out of print for many years but is now online here.

Trish1947, I think I understand your basic thought and its kind of one of the things that has kept me from strongly advocating the position. However, I think that Dake and Copeland may be thinking that earth was patterned after the things of Heaven like the tabernacle of Moses was (Heb. 9:24). This is my guess anyway.

LittleRocketboy and RiverPastor, those are some good thoughts to consider concerning Jesus. I believe that He went to Heaven in His glorified body, but obviously that body was able to hang out on earth or in Heaven. Add to the fact that Elijah and Enoch both went to Heaven in their physical unredeemed bodies. This is something to consider.

 

[fwGod]

just throwing in my 2cents -

from other scriptures, i believe that enoch and elijah at some point before leaving the atmosphere of the earth got their glorified bodies.

what hard and fast rule is there to God that such things can only happen when its time for the rapture?

i mean, how could the physical man endure space without something like that happening? and i dont believe that God would just wisk them up.. expose them to pressures and no oxygen so they'd die then give them a glorified body.

no one can be in their natural-flesh&blood body in heaven. because its drenched with sin, right?
and hb says that 'the spirits of just men' are in heaven.
plus what Paul taught about the differences with 'earthly and heavenly bodies'

so i think that thats one of the things that God let him talk about of what he saw when he was in heaven.

somehow i think that Paul sprinkled what he saw in heaven throughout his letters. its not that he was forbidden to talk about it.. but that he didnt just want to tell the stuff without having the release from God and teaching to do it. that way it wouldnt just be spectacular heavenly sights like someone telling about what they did on their vacation.. but it would be founded in God's truth.

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i hadnt heard from Dake about heaven as a planet.. just Copeland. to me.. since all space bodies are sperical its faith-logic to consider that heaven is. God is being consistant in that.

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[Trish1947]

Victoryword....Trish1947, I think I understand your basic thought and its kind of one of the things that has kept me from strongly advocating the position. However, I think that Dake and Copeland may be thinking that earth was patterned after the things of Heaven like the tabernacle of Moses was (Heb. 9:24). This is my guess anyway.

Was it the Earth that is patterned after the Heavenly? Or was it the temple, worship practices, the veil, the sin offering, the mercy seat, the Holy of Holies, the court, the Priests that were patterned after the Heavenly. I do believe that there is the Blood of Christ on the Mercy Seat, and His glorified body is in Heaven. But is the Earth patterned after the Heavenly? I thought only the Holy worship places were. I may be mistaken, and was reading in Hebrews those discriptions.

 

[victoryword]

Was it the Earth that is patterned after the Heavenly? Or was it the temple, worship practices, the veil, the sin offering, the mercy seat, the Holy of Holies, the court, the Priests that were patterned after the Heavenly. I do believe that there is the Blood of Christ on the Mercy Seat, and His glorified body is in Heaven. But is the Earth patterned after the Heavenly? I thought only the Holy worship places were. I may be mistaken, and was reading in Hebrews those discriptions.

No, you are right. What I was thinking was that perhaps since those things mentioned in hebrews were patterned after heavenly things, perhaps this is why Copeland and Dake believed that the whole earth was patterned this way as well. Perhaps they believed that God ALWAYS wanted His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matt. 6:10). I am only guessing.

That's why I talk to people like YOU to keep my guessing straight

 

[Bobber]

Is it possible that Elijah and Enoch did not go to heaven that is the third heaven but rather taken to the future to become the two prophets in the book of Revelations? All it would take is for God to take them up to the speed of light and time of the physical stops....then God brings them back to under the speed of light, and here they are in our present....to them it would seem only a split second had passed since they were taken.....so they become the two prophets. Im not sure that they could have went to the third heaven in the Old Testament times for all righteous saints then had to go down to Abrahams bosom....then when Jesus went down to this place he led captivity captive....Jesus went into heaven first with the Old Testament saints following....so could this different thing have happened to Enoch and Elijah....and isn't it interesting that there is only a record of two people this ever occured to in the history of mankind? Any we have the mystery of the two unknown witnesses in the Book of Revelations?

 

[victoryword]

just throwing in my 2cents -

from other scriptures, i believe that enoch and elijah at some point before leaving the atmosphere of the earth got their glorified bodies.
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The good thing about these forums is that we can throw out our thoughts on these subjects and get input from one another about them. What you are saying is ossibly true. There is no way to prove it to be not true. However, consider a couple of things:

We are not told much about Enoch. The only thing we are told is that he was taken (Gen. 5:24) or translated (Heb. 11:5). Since Enoch's case seems to depict the soon rapture of the church. You may have something to support your point here. On the other hand, we get a more avid description of what happened to Elijah. He was taken up in a whirlwind into Heaven. NO real indication that he received His glorified body then, though this can be disputed based on the silence of the text in this area.

Nonetheless, Christ is said to be the FIRSTFRUITS of our own ressurection which includes the receiving of our spiritual bodies (1 Cor. 15:20-23). If Elijah and Enoch received their bodies before Christ did then don't you think that this somehow might diminish the fact that Christ is the firstfruits of all of this?

Just some thoughts to throw at you.

 

[victoryword]

Is it possible that Elijah and Enoch did not go to heaven that is the third heaven but rather taken to the future to become the two prophets in the book of Revelations?

I have heard this theory before but I personally find that to be quite impossible. Sounds like the makings of great science fiction though. Hey, I also heard that the two witnesses were supposed to be Moses and Elijah because they both appeared to jesus on a mountain to talk with Him (Matt. 17:3). That right there disproves the theory that ELIJAH was transferred into the future.

Anyway, the Bible is clear that Elijah went to heaven:

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)
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Add this to the fact that the two witnesses are left unnamed so making them Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah is, as far as I'm concerned, good fun guesses, but something that cannot be factually proven.

The Bible does not say a whole lot about Enoch. he is only mentioned in three places in Scripture. There is an apocryphal book that I read some years ago but after reading it I could see why the church fathers rejected it as part of the canon of Scripture. They had poor Enoch flying to about seven or eight heavens.

 

[Bobber]

Add this to the fact that the two witnesses are left unnamed so making them Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah is, as far as I'm concerned, good fun guesses, but something that cannot be factually proven.

O for sure Victory....hey about this book of Enoch...totally agree it should never be thought of as canon....but you know there is an element where that writing was a popular writ in the time of Christ among the Jews...many Christian leaders veiw that writing that one thing is did do was kind of set forth to our day how the verses from Genesis 6 "Sons Of God" were meant to be understood, as being fallen angels....Chuck Missler has an interesting themes on the net about the subject....might make for an intereting topic.

 

[J0nDaFr3aK]

i like this discussion topic guys, though i must admit i've never heard of heaven being considered as a planet. actually, i've never thought of it as physical place even though often i have imagined it as it is described in the book of Revelation. well, i think, as someone else has already said, that noone has received yet the glorified body Christ had. the bible speaks about the last resurrection of all men. those who have done well will receive the prize, which means, i guess, they'll also receive their glorified bodies. on the other hand, those who havent lived according to God's will and commands will raise from the dead to be judged and thrown to hell. may God have mercy on us.
then i think Heaven is not a physical place, you know. it cant be physical because it is not earthly, thats why we'll need spiritual bodies once we get to heaven i guess...apart from the fact that noone can see God with natural eyes and still be alive.
i also tried to throw my thoughts at you. lol
blessings

 

[KingZzub]

I think it is clear from the Biblical evidence that heaven is a planet. God has made it clear that as man in the image of God we are created as a peer for God to fellowship with. As earth is the domain of man it must in some way be a reflection (an image and a likeness) of the direct domain of God, i.e. heaven.

I do not consider however that heaven is a physical planet, it is a spiritual planet. This doesn't mean that it is ethereal or in some way unreal, it is more real than earth.

Secondly, I do not consider that it is a "planet like earth" to reference the original question. Earth is fallen, satan is still the god of this world, and hence earth cannot be used in any way as a point of reference to determine what heaven is like. For that we have to rely on the Word and the Spirit.

However, part of our task as redeemed humanity is to rule in righteousness (Romans 5.17, Rev. 1.6) and enforce the will of God on earth, as it is in heaven. This takes a number of forms, and is probably a new discussion.

That's my tuppence worth...

Cheers,
Zzub

 

[Bobber]

I do not consider however that heaven is a physical planet, it is a spiritual planet. This doesn't mean that it is ethereal or in some way unreal, it is more real than earth.

I agree Zub...to say the word Spiritual does not mean that its like a vapor or something....one scriptures in the New Testament describes how angels came and picked up the spirit of a poor man and took him to Abrahams bosom...the poor mans physical body was buried in the ground....but his spirit was carried to another place.....spirit is another order of existence....that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is spirit....not non-substantial but just different.....

 

[KingZzub]

And the highest order of reality for God is spirit, and it came first.