Biblical Cosmology

First, we will define the word “world” as found in the Bible 186 times, being is transliterated from the Greek ‘kosmos,’ which has following varied meanings as determined by the context of its use.

  1. a suitable and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government – both “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6) and on earth among men.
  2. the universe of outer space
  3. the circle of the earth
  4. the inhabitants of the earth, mankind, the human family
  5. the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
  6. world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly
    1. the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.  (Rom. 12:2 be not conformed to this world…)
  7. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
    1. the Gentiles, as contrasted to the Jews (cf. Rom. 11:12 etc)
  8. of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19
  9. adornment (the verb, Gk. kosmeo, garnished), used once, 1Peter 3:5

Modern physics points to the reality of dimensional existences, demonstrating even the so-call ‘the spirit world.’ This exists not as a seemingly unreal ‘ghostly’ realm, having a series of very real measurable dimensions, such as the extremes of outer space and the subatomic creation.

The Bible challenges the superstitious belief of a purely unearthly spirit world by setting up a literal hierarchy of realms. There is the Earth, the three Heavens, including the very highest heaven called – “the throne and mountain of God.”

The Bible speaks of the ‘Sides of the North’ as being a holy realm, which is above all and as something our human mind cannot understand – a completely transcendent place.  It is far above the physical mountains on earth; in fact, the great mountains of the earth are only limited ‘models’ or facsimiles to heaven’s Zion, like the way a simple paper airplane “models” a greater reality of a jumbo-jet airliner.

Psalm 48:1-2 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion [on] the sides of the north, The city of the great King.

Lucifer, the archangel, while being lower rebelled against God and pledged in his pride to ascend to this realm of “the most High.” These verses are the account of his rebellion and his fall to the lower heavens, as the false “god of this world.” (2Cor 4:4).

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

The Bible has much to say about the scene of the complex hierarchy of the multidimensional realm that is unseen to us, yet it affects nearly everything on this earth, from personal lives to geopolitical realities. Read Daniel 9:1-27 to see how the angel Gabriel was withstood by fallen angelic forced for 21 day in his coming to Daniel until Michael the Archangel of God came to assist Gabriel Thus, we see that today Satan’s fallen angels do rule over cities and countries. One day, Jesus promised His Messianic believers, as servants, they would have authority over 5 (or 10) cities” in the kingdom as seen in Luke 19:15-19 and as promised in Rev 5:10 and 20:6.

Yet, above all this reality of the heavens is God, who sent his son to redeem us lowly humans from being continual victims of the fallen angelic forces of darkness and from the power “Sin and death” itself.

In Biblical cosmology, there are three levels of heaven

“It is he that buildeth his stories (levels) in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” (Amos 9:6)

“His stories,” here above is the Hebrew ‘maʿalâ’ meaning ‘levels’, referring to levels in the government of heaven. Paul in his epistles refers to these levels of rank and authority in the heavenly government as follows.

Colossians 1:16 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible (on earth) and invisible (in the heavens), whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things (levels of rank and authority)  were created by him, and for him:

Romans 8:38 (KJV) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Ephesians 3:10 (KJV) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Job says the heavens were not clean in his day:

Job 15:15 (KJV) Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (‘in the heavenly places’).

Jesus destroyed their power of this the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places that had polluted the heavenly places … by His death of the Cross.

Colossians 2:15 (KJV) And having spoiled (stripped the fallen) principalities and powers, he (Jesus by His cross) made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The First heaven is the atmospheric region, where there is air, wind, and clouds.

 17 And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. Deut/ 11:17
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. Deut. 28:12
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17 (KJV)

The Second heaven is what we call the region of outer space,

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Psalm 19:6 (KJV)
2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the (angelic) host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. Jer. 8:2
10 For the (angelic) stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. Isaiah 13:10

The Third heaven is God's dwelling place.

1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Psalm 8:1

30b   … hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive. 1 Kings 8:30
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psalm 2:4
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Psa. 48:1-2

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:12-14

Summary:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

At the end of all ages, when arrives “…the dispensation of the fulness of times arrives, “he (God) might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” Ephesians 1:10

Then, the church the body of Christ” will have been raptured to co-reign with Christ “in the heavenly places” of rank and authority in the government of heaven. (Philip. 3:20-21, 2Tim. 2:12, 2Cor. 5:1b)

Then also, the believing Nation of Israel will have been established by His 2nd coming and putting down of all enemies on earth unto “the Lake of fire,” to co-reign with Christ on earth forever. (Revelation 5:10, 20:6)