In the Bible the directions of up and down and positions of above and below have great theological significance. God’s creation is a physical reality as described in the Bible which consists of an earth and heavens above it. Below the earth is a place called Sheol in Hebrew and Hades in Greek. Surrounding it all are waters. A solid structure called the firmament divides the waters above it from the waters below it. Contrary to the opinion of some, the Bible says that these waters above the firmament are still there. (Psalm 148:4)
The earth realm has been given to mankind. The heaven of heavens belongs to God. (Psalm 115:16 LXX)
Satan seeks to separate people from God’s physical reality through mysticism and an imaginary false version of reality and the universe in order to draw us away from truth and God himself. Satan cannot dwell in the truth because that is God’s realm.
The Bible is our ultimate source of truth. Anything that contradicts the Bible is false by definition. It is vital that we stick to what the Bible teaches and not allow ourselves to drift into satanic speculation that draws us away from God’s truth.
Jesus is a real person who came from a real heaven to earth. He became a human man who died for us on a real cross, shedding real blood. His real body was buried in a real grave. He descended into a real Hades, and after three real days he rose bodily from the dead. He revealed himself to his disciples who saw, heard, and touched him. After that he ascended bodily into a real heaven where he now sits on a real throne waiting for his real enemies to be destroyed. He will return bodily to the earth to judge all peoples. We will ascend to meet him. The current real heavens and earth will be destroyed and replaced by a new heaven and earth. All of this is part of an historical reality.
Satan works to make everything mystical and wants us to deny the physical reality of Christ and his work.
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22–23 (NKJV)
The devil seeks to alter God’s truth about creation with his imaginary version of a Big Bang – Heliocentric universe. As always the goal of his deceptions is to lead us away from God and cast doubt on the truth of the Bible.
It is impossible to understand God’s theology of up and down unless heaven is really “up” above us and Hades or Sheol is “down” below us. Otherwise we are left to the satanic mystical realm of no absolute truth or direction that is required on a globe earth..
Below is an artist’s rendering found in Logos bible software notes.
This physical reality is first presented in Genesis Chapter One and continues throughout the Bible. Rejecting biblical cosmology is not simply a matter of reinterpreting Genesis Chapter One as a poetic metaphor. Doing so requires us to render the theology of up and down as an outdated and incorrect way of looking at some very fundamental things that are essential to the gospel.
One cannot properly understand the gospel without accepting the biblical model of heaven, earth, and Sheol or Hades.
Below are some clear examples.
Down
The Bible states that God is enthroned above the earth, from where he looks down upon the inhabitants of the earth.
22 He is the one who holds the circle (Hebrew:chug - to draw round or make a circle; Greek Septuagint: gyro = circle or ring, not ball or sphere) of the earth fast, and those who dwell in it are like locusts. He is the one who set up heaven like a canopy and stretched it out like a tent to be inhabited. Isaiah 40:22 (LES2)
It is from this heavenly abode of God that Christ descended to the earth.
No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. John 3:13 (NASB95)
In order to descend from heaven, Christ had to be there first. The Bible gives us evidence of this. Isaiah saw the pre-incarnate Christ seated on God’s throne above the firmament.
And this happened in the year when Uzziah the king died: I saw the Lord seated on a high and raised throne, and the building was full of his glory. 2 And seraphim stood around him; each one had six wings, and with two they were covering their face, and with two they were covering their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And one cried aloud to the other, and they were saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Sabaoth; the whole land is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:1–3 (LES2-LXX)
John informed us that this was a vision of Christ. (John 12:41) Ezekiel also was privileged to see the Lord seated upon his heavenly throne.
There was a likeness of a chair upon it, and above the likeness of the chair was a likeness as the appearance of a human from above. 27 And I saw what looked like an appearance of amber from the vision of the loins and up, and from the vision of the loins and down I saw what looked like fire and its splendor around about. 28 As the appearance of a bow when it is in the cloud on rainy days, such was the standing of the light from all around. Ezekiel 1:26–28 (LES2-LXX)
Jesus descended from heaven to the earth to be the “ladder, door, bridge, or gate” to heaven for us through his sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension.
And he [Jacob] dreamed, and look, a ladder fixed upon the earth, whose top was reaching into the heavens, and the angels of God were ascending and descending upon it. 13 The Lord rested upon it and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. Do not fear! The land on which you are sleeping upon it, I will give it to you and to your offspring. Genesis 28:12–13 (LES2)
Jesus later explained that this dream represented a heavenly reality. He is the ladder by which men are able to be restored to our heavenly Father. The angels ascend and descend. He came down that we might go up.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” John 1:50–51 (NKJV)
Up
At the end of Christ’s earthly ministry, as foretold, Jesus was lifted up upon a cross to die.
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. John 12:31–33 (NKJV)
Down
After being lifted up to die, he went down into the earth in burial. The Bible says that he descended into the lower parts of the earth or Hades. Peter quoted from Psalm 16:10, where David foresaw Christ’s descent into Sheol.
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ Acts 2:26–28 (NKJV)
Up
But God did not leave him there. He raised his body from the dead.
This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts 2:32 (NKJV)
After forty days, Christ ascended into heaven, back to God’s right hand on the throne, where Isaiah and Ezekiel saw him earlier.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ Acts 2:33–35 (NKJV)
The apostles saw this take place.
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, Acts 1:9–10 (NKJV)
Apparently Daniel saw Christ ascending into heaven to receive glory, honor, and authority in a vision long before.
I continued to watch in a vision of the night, and look, upon the clouds of the heavens, a being like a son of man came, and the ancient of days was present, and his attendants were present with him. 14 Authority and royal honor was granted to him, and all the peoples of the earth according to races, and all honor will be directed to him, and his authority is an eternal authority that will not be removed, and his kingdom is one that will not perish. Daniel 7:13–14 (LES2)
Down
After Christ ascended, he sent his Holy Spirit to earth equip and empower the church to be his witnesses.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:33–36 (NKJV)
Jesus also promised that one day he will return as the glorious Son of Man to redeem his people and judge the living and the dead.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2–3 (NKJV)
At the ascension, the angels told the apostles to expect his return in the clouds.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10–11 (NKJV)
The last book of the Bible likewise promises his return.
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7–8 (NKJV)
For every eye to see Jesus at once means the earth must be plane and Jesus must be extremely high and brilliant for this to happen; otherwise on our limited vision and perspective would prohibit it. It certainly could never take place on a globe.
Up
When Jesus comes down, the Bible says we will be caught up to meet him.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 (NKJV)
Conclusion
The three-tiered heaven-earth-sheol complex is first described in Genesis and is referenced as being our reality all the way through Revelation. The directions of up and down are absolute, not mystical or relative. Heaven is described as a physical location above the earth from which Jesus came, went back, and will come again. This reality is only possible if the Bible’s cosmology is a fact. It has no meaning on a globe. A spherical earth hurtling aimlessly through the void of outer space is a satanic construct meant to hide the truth of creation and God and to render the theology referenced in this article invalid.
Therefore, what we think regarding the shape of the earth is extremely important theologically.
When Jesus descends from heaven at the end, we will see him and marvel.
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 (NASB95)
We are told to look up from where our redemption comes.
28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28 (NKJV)
Stephen, the first martyr, looked up to heaven as he was being stoned to death for his testimony regarding Jesus.
54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:54–58 (NKJV)
The prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven at the end of his ministry.
It happened as they were walking, they went along and spoke. Look, a chariot of fire and a horse of fire! And he separated between the two of them. Elijah was taken up in the air as into heaven. 4 Kingdoms 2:11 (LES2)
Paul referenced this up-down theology in Ephesians.
8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:8–10 (NKJV)
This is the same Paul who was privileged to be taken up into the third heaven, God’s realm.
1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 2 Corinthians 12:1–4 (NKJV)
He, like Jesus, knew from experience that this heaven-earth-sheol complex is a reality, not something mystical. As Jesus promised, one day he will rend the heaven and come back to earth, much to our amazement and worship.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10–13 (NKJV)
Until then, we are to encourage one another with this great promise.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 (NKJV)
