petebeck3, Author at Third Peter

The New Heaven and Earth

Posted December 12, 2025December 15, 2025
by petebeck3

The Bible begins with God’s creation of the heavens and earth and ends with the creation of a new heaven and earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:1–5 (NASB95)

The latter version is far superior to the first, just the New Covenant is far better than the old. Adam and Eve followed the Deceiver into sin and corruption, thus defiling God’s creation. Foreseeing all this, God constructed the initial heavens and earth with a solid firmament, which separates God’s domain from ours. This amazing structure restricts access to the third heaven, the location of God’s throne. It is only via the New Covenant that we gain access to God’s heavenly throne and presence (Hebrews 4:16), where one day we will go bodily after the resurrection.

The new heavens and earth does not seem to have a firmament or separator. The Bible says it will not even have a sun because God’s light and glory, now concealed by the firmament, will provide all the illumination we need. The New Jerusalem will be part of this new creation, but it will not be part of the old order of things. It is not going to be a restoration of the physical Jewish kingdom. That has long since ceased to be significant. The New Jerusalem will be made up of born-again believers, the true Israel of God.

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:22–23 (NASB95)

The purpose of the new heaven and earth will be to provide a perfect habitation for God’s people, one in which God manifestly dwells with us continually.

God’s purpose from the beginning will be finally fulfilled. He will dwell among his people.

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The Temple

Posted December 12, 2025December 16, 2025
by petebeck3

The temple constructed by Solomon was made of stone, a departure from God’s heaven-earth complex that was fashioned like a tent. If Andy Hoy is correct, the tabernacle in the wilderness was a very good likeness of what God made in the beginning. He believes it was a dome-type tent, similar to a yurt. According to his research, it is the only model that works without making adjustments to the exact materials spelled out in the biblical text.

The temple, however, conforms to the rectangular design most people have always assumed for the tent in the wilderness. The first stone temple was indeed glorious, as no doubt heaven is. Like the tabernacle in the wilderness, it also had the dividing veil or curtain decorated with cherubim and the other furniture in the inner court. The Ark of God’s presence was in the Holy of Holies.

The Jews defiled this stone temple, just as Adam and Eve defiled God’s first temple, the earth.

The temple of Solomon started well, as did that great king. However, just as King Solomon soon became corrupt and began worshiping other gods, God’s temple eventually was corrupted as well. As Israel and Judah sank deeper into idolatry, pagan idols were brought into the temple itself.

He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger. 7 Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the LORD said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. 2 Kings 21:4–7 (NASB95)

Ezekiel saw in a vision the extent of this corruption and the impending destruction of the first temple.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, raise your eyes now toward the north.” So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol of jealousy at the entrance. 6 And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations.” 7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, now dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. 9 And He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 11 Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ” 13 And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing.” 14 Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 15 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these.” 16 Then He brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. 17 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. 18 “Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.” Ezekiel 8:5–18 (NASB95)

Eventually God used the Babylonian army to destroy Jerusalem and the temple and take a large number of the remaining people into captivity. After seventy years, the temple was rebuilt at the command of King Cyrus of Persia.

The most detailed contemporary description of this second temple comes from the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (a priest who knew the Temple firsthand) in The Jewish War (5.5.4 §§212–214):

“It was a Babylonian curtain [or tapestry], embroidered with blue, and fine linen, and scarlet, and purple, and of a contexture that was truly wonderful. Nor was this mixture of materials without its mystic meaning… Portrayed on it was a panorama of the heavens [or entire heavens], except for the signs of the zodiac.”

It continued to represent the firmament, but it is notable that it was a “Babylonian” curtain. The Babylonian Talmud, which made up a great deal of the teachings of the Pharisees, led to the Jewish people departing from the faith of Abraham and embracing a works-based religion which Jesus condemned.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:15 (NASB95)

Jesus, the long-promised Messianic King, brought the reality of the kingdom of God to the earth.

He told the Samaritan woman at the well that the day was fast approaching when the temple would no longer be significant. He told his disciples that no stone would remain intact after the coming destruction. This was inconceivable to his followers, but necessary. In 70 AD, the Roman army completely destroyed that temple, which has never been rebuilt. The old order of things, including the temple and its sacrifices, were coming to an end. Something brand new was coming. That will be the subject of the next article.

Part 6: The New Covenant Tabernacle

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The Tabernacle in the Wilderness

Posted December 11, 2025December 16, 2025
by petebeck3

The tabernacle in the wilderness was both a recollection of what God originally created and a foreshadowing of what is to come. It reminded the Israelites of the original earth tabernacle with its tent-like firmament overarching it. This is especially true if Andy Hoy’s theory is correct that the tent of meeting was actually dome-shaped. The wilderness tabernacle consisted of an altar, a basin, an outer court, and inner court, and a Holy of Holies which housed the Ark, symbolic of God’s manifest presence. The top diagram above is a rendering based on the common conception of how this tabernacle appeared. The dome structure is Hoy’s model. Hoy’s dome structure would have contained what is pictured above in the first tabernacle diagram.

A model of the Hebrew (biblical) conception of the earth shows a similar construction.

The earth would be the outer court. Just beneath the firmament represented the inner court, and atop the firmament was God’s throne, the Holy of Holies. The solid firmament is the separator, represented by the curtain in the tabernacle.

This curtain in the tabernacle in the wilderness was decorated with winged cherubim.

You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. Exodus 26:31 (NASB95)

Cherubim were also next to the firmament in Ezekiel’s vision from beneath looking upward toward God’s throne.

And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne. Ezekiel 10:1 (NKJV)

The veil in the tabernacle was supported by pillars, as is the firmament.

You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 32 “You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver. Exodus 26:31–32 (NASB95)

The pillars of heaven tremble And are amazed at His rebuke. Job 26:11 (NASB95)

Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. 2 Samuel 22:8 (NKJV)

A candelabrum lighted the inner court, just as stars light the firmament. The bread of the presence in the same area perhaps signified the manna that fell from heaven (Psalm 78:24) for the sustenance of the Israelites on the desert journey. The true bread, of course, is our Lord Jesus (John 6:51). The altar of incense represented the prayers of God’s people (Revelation 5:8) that penetrate the firmament and come into God’s presence. The Ark represented God’s throne in heaven, the mercy seat where all those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ have the privilege of complete access.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, Hebrews 10:19–21 (NKJV)

Through his death, resurrection, and ascension, our high priest, Jesus, entered through the veil into God’s presence once for all giving us access to God.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:11–15 (NASB95)

It is important to understand that the heavens and earth are one unit.

The earth serves as a foundation for heaven. What happens on earth affects heaven, and vice versa. Both have been defiled to some degree by Satan, who has now been cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:9, Luke 10:18), and both will be destroyed and replaced at the end.

Just as the curtain prevented anyone but the high priest from entering once a year, the firmament acts as a separator between the third heaven and the earth. The people alive at the time of the tower of Babel tried to penetrate the firmament into God’s realm. Tradition says that Nimrod wished to ascend into heaven and shoot God with his arrows, but just as God thwarted Satan’s coup attempt, he crushed the Babelic one, too.

Man continues his quest to leave our assigned earthly habitation and pierce the realm reserved by God.

Now we do it by launching rockets to try to penetrate the firmament. In 1962, the US was audacious enough to launch and detonate atomic bombs in the heavens, apparently to test the strength of the firmament.

Those that go straight up invariably strike the firmament.

Most however appear to take a curved arc into the ocean. The Bermuda Triangle mystery began about the same time we began our missile launches. If the Bible is correct, and it is, what is called outer space is imaginary. The only thing comparable in Scripture is “outer darkness,” a place of judgment.

My opinion is that Satan has so duped mankind that we have joined him in his rebellion against the true God and wish to go with him to the place of judgment.

The complete irony of it all is that so many Christians passionately defend the heliocentric deception rather than believe the clear words of the Bible. We have been programmed from early childhood to believe that the earth is a “planet,” which in Greek means wanderer or deceiver. All the other so-called planets or wandering stars, as the Bible calls them, are named after pagan gods, which is no accident, as are NASA’s space missions. We have been taught to believe that the earth, the stable, motionless habitation created by God for man, is now wandering in outer space at incredible speeds toward an unknown destination.

We have joined Satan’s fallen angels in wandering away from God and his plan for us.

...wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Jude 13 (NKJV)

My prayer is that the church will awaken to this blasphemy and repent for believing the occult religion of heliocentrism that teaches us that mankind and the earth are nothing special.

After Jesus arose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, passing through the firmament into God’s presence where he is now enthroned at God’s right hand. Heaven is a real, physical location where Jesus’ resurrected body dwells. Occasionally God opens the heavens and gives people a glimpse of this glorious scene. The Book of Acts records the following as Stephen preached his last sermon just prior to being stoned to death at the hands of the Jews.

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. Acts 7:55–57 (NASB95)

Heaven is a real place created along with the earth during those six days recorded in Genesis Chapter One. It is separated from earth by the firmament, above which sits God’s throne. The tabernacle in the wilderness modeled this reality. God foresaw man’s fall and constructed the original tabernacle of the heaven and earth with this dividing barrier. That was never God’s final intent, as we shall see at the end of this series.

Part 5: The Temple

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God’s Reclamation Project

Posted December 11, 2025December 16, 2025
by petebeck3

After the Fall of man in the garden, the Lord immediately announced his reclamation project, which began with a promise.

God informed the serpent, the defiler, that one of Eve’s descendants would crush his head.

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NASB95)

Today we might say that God “trolled” Satan. How disappointed this fallen angel must have been after hearing that announcement! The Lord understood that he would insanely determine then and there to do everything within his power to defeat this purpose. We see this played out over the centuries in the devil’s doomed attempts to thwart God’s promise of a coming Messiah.

God chose Abraham as the man through whose progeny he would eventually birth this Savior into the world.

And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed [singular] all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; Genesis 26:4 (NKJV)

Paul let us know that this singular “seed” is none other than our Lord Jesus.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. Galatians 3:16 (NASB95)

Abraham’s biological progeny grew to a large number but were eventually enslaved in Egypt, a picture of the condition of all humanity under the tyrannical rule of Satan.

After 400 years, the Lord raised up Moses to confront and defeat the power of Pharaoh (a picture of Satan) and lead Abraham’s descendants out of bondage. In the process of leading them to the land God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants, God took Moses to the top of Mt. Sinai where he was given a heavenly vision of how to build a temporary tabernacle for God that would accompany the Israelites on the their journeys. God promised to dwell in the tabernacle which was called a “tent of meeting.” God’s manifest presence filled this tent, which Moses and Aaron were able to enjoy while the rest of the nation looked on from afar.

And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. 9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. 11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. Exodus 33:8–11 (NASB95)

This must have been much like it was when God spent time with Adam and Eve in the Garden before the Fall. What a privileged access they enjoyed! It presaged the New Covenant access given to every born-again believer!

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

The tabernacle in the wilderness was a picture of what God planned to do to restore the earth as a fit tabernacle for him and his people.

I will have more to say about this tabernacle in the next article.

After entering and conquering much of Canaan, eventually God established Saul as king. At one point, at the end of King Saul’s corrupt reign, upon his defeat at the hands of the Philistine army, the Ark of God’s presence was captured and placed in the pagan temple of Dagon. This defeat seemed to mirror what happened in the Garden. Perhaps Satan rejoiced, thinking he had once again turned away God’s purpose. However, God demonstrated his superiority and power over that false god and Satan’s power by knocking the Dagon idol to the ground and shattering it.

But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 1 Samuel 5:4 (NASB95)

This showed that God has the power single-handedly to defeat Satan, no matter how things might appear.

Eventually, after many years, David desired to construct what he considered would be a proper dwelling place for his God, perhaps not completely understanding that no structure formed by a human could contain his glory. Nevertheless, God used this as an opportunity to promise David that he would raise up one of his descendants to rule on God’s throne perpetually. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) The promised one would end up being the very same person that God promised Abraham would be a blessing to the entire earth – Jesus!

David’s son, Solomon, eventually constructed the temple. It was glorious by man’s standards, but nothing compared to the one God made at creation. It was not very long by God’s standards before this sanctuary or tabernacle was defiled utterly and destroyed by the Babylonians as a judgment for Israel’s infidelity. It was rebuilt during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, but once again it was defiled and later destroyed by the Romans, never to be rebuilt. This destruction was a picture of what is coming to the entire heavens and earth. (2 Peter 3:10-12)

Eventually the promised one arrived. John the apostle wrote that he was and is the eternal Word or Logos who became a human and “tabernacled” among us.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt [literally: tabernacled] among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NKJV)

The English word “dwelt” is the translation of the Greek word skenosen, which means to pitch or spread one’s tent. It is reminiscent of God’s pitching his tent with regard to creating the heavens, including the firmament.

Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; 4 He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers. 5 He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever. Psalm 104:2–5 (NASB95)

God’s reclamation of humanity and his tabernacle went into overdrive when the Word become flesh arrived on the fallen and corrupted earth.

Eventually, after Jesus died on the cross as his Father’s obedient Son and servant – the Lamb of God, God raised him from the dead and elevated him, as a resurrected man and the governmental head of a new humanity. He rose in power as the Lord of Lords, who will bring God’s elect into obedience and establish God’s rule. Eventually this glorious Jesus will return as the Son of Man to crush Satan completely and replace the corrupted tabernacle of the earth with a brand new version. At that point, God’s reclamation project will be complete.

Part 4: The Tabernacle in the Wilderness

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The Defilement of the Earth

Posted December 11, 2025December 15, 2025
by petebeck3

As I covered in the first article in this series, God created the earth and enclosed it with the firmament like a tent to create a tabernacle in which to fellowship with his people. It served God’s purpose at the beginning when the Lord met with Adam and Eve and walked with them in the cool of the day. This is recorded in Genesis.

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8–9 (NASB95)

More than likely this was in the evening when breezes would cool the temperatures. It is likely that God regularly strolled with Adam and Eve at this time of day. They were familiar with the sound he made as he moved through the garden. Sadly, by the third chapter of Genesis, the earthly tabernacle had already been defiled by sin and betrayal.

Adam’s sin not only brought death and loss to him and Eve and all future descendants, but it also subjected the entire creation to satanic bondage and disfigurement.

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. 18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17–19 (NASB95)

Contrary to the Copernican Principle affirmed by modern astrophysics, the earth is central in God’s creation and was created for mankind. According to Scripture, everything in the heavens revolves around this earthly tabernacle, just as Genesis tells us. When man sinned, it negatively impacted the earthly dwelling or tabernacle, our general well-being, our ability to reason, and our spiritual capacities.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:20–22 (NASB95)

Isaiah recorded that Satan desired to ascend all the way past the firmament into the third heaven and usurp God’s throne (Isaiah 14:12-18). He failed and apparently thought it second best to defile God’s creation below the firmament.

God’s beautiful tent of meeting or tabernacle called the earth was defiled by mankind’s agreement with and surrender to Satan, making it unfit for God and man.

After the crown of creation, the man and woman, sold themselves into bondage and death in their misguided quest for godhood, the wonder of God’s magnificent creation was marred and corrupted to the point that it no longer properly represented the glory and the genius of its Creator. To Satan, the victory must have seemed complete, but God, the ultimate Creative, had a plan that no one ever would have imagined.

Part 3: God’s Reclamation Project

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God’s First Tabernacle

Posted December 10, 2025December 15, 2025
by petebeck3

God instructed Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle or “tent of meeting” in the wilderness using a heavenly pattern God revealed to him.

See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40 (NASB95)

The author of Hebrews reveals that during Moses’ mountain top experience he was shown things that exist in heaven of which God told him to make a copy on the earth.

...who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” Hebrews 8:5 (NASB95)

Is there an actual ark and tabernacle or temple in heaven? The Book of Revelation speaks of a temple and ark in heaven, but we know from other scriptures that the New Covenant temple is composed of people, whom Peter calls “living stones (1 Peter 2:5),” in whom dwells God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). Therefore, it is my opinion that what John saw in his heavenly vision was a visionary representation of this New Covenant reality. Interpreting such books as Revelation is a challenge because it is composed of visions which often represent other things. Visions communicate a great deal very quickly but sometimes are difficult to understand in detail. However we come to interpret this passage, I am not sure it is what Moses saw originally when he spent those forty days with God. Of course, I was not there, but I think perhaps that God showed him something far more significant.

If we accept, as did the authors of Scripture and our Lord Jesus himself, that the Genesis account of creation is literally true, it seems reasonable that God showed Moses his original tent of meeting or tabernacle, the earth itself, from a heavenly perspective. The image above is an artist’s representation of what the early Hebrews believed to be the shape and nature of the heavens and earth. This tiered conception of the heavens, earth, and underworld surrounded by water is repeated throughout the Bible.

I recommend Brandon Ezzo's YouTube series on the Firmament, if you wish to verify my last statement.

When God created the heavens and the earth, he constructed or “pitched” his tent or tabernacle, a place where he intended to meet and fellowship with the humans he created.

In Genesis Chapter One, the Bible says that God founded the earth upon the seas and erected a domed vault called the firmament over it. He “spread” or “stretched out” the firmament like a tent over the earth.

It is He who sits above the circle (inscribed as with a compass, not a "ball" or sphere) of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22 (NASB95)

Tents are erected over level and stable surfaces, which serves as their foundation.

The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, Zechariah 12:1 (NASB95)

The ninth video in Brandon Ezzo's YouTube series specifically focuses on how the firmament and the tabernacle in the wilderness relate.

The firmament God erected over the earth is a crystalline-like vault or dome that covers the entire earth.

Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Genesis 1:7–8 (NKJV)

Below the firmament, two heavens exist. The first one consists of the air we breathe below the crystalline dome. It is where birds fly and clouds exist.

Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” Genesis 1:20 (NKJV)

The second heaven appears to be actual vault of the firmament, where God put the sun, moon, and stars. Obviously there remains a great deal of intended mystery as to how all this works. God said that we will never be able to measure the heights of the heavens or the depths of the earth. (Jeremiah 31:37)

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. Genesis 1:14–19 (NKJV)

God keeps some things from our being able to thoroughly understand them as a test regarding whether we will believe his words just because he said them. Adam and Eve failed this test, preferring to rely on their own wits. Most modern Christians have similarly failed to take God at his Word, believing that the above passage cannot be regarded as factual. We must ask ourselves: do we put our faith in God’s Word or man’s? We dare not fail God in this area, as did Adam and Eve.

The human mind is not the measure of truth. God designed us to believe him and his words. If we believe, understanding may follow.

Above the vault of the firmament is what Paul called the “third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) where God’s throne sits. The Lord graciously gave Moses and his elders, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Paul, and John the Revelator glimpses of this glorious place.

Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank. Exodus 24:9–11 (NASB95)

It stands to reason that, in this instance, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders saw something that Moses saw at other times – the glory of God in heaven itself. Based on what God showed Ezekiel, this scene must have been atop the firmament in the third heaven.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Isaiah 6:1–3 (NKJV)

We are not told exactly where this scene took place. It seems that Isaiah saw God in heaven and the vision included the temple. I suppose the temple could have represented the entire earth, since “the whole earth is full of his glory.” That would certainly fit with the theme of this article. Another possibility is that the heavenly reality reached down to the earthly temple that still existed in Isaiah’s day.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Isaiah 40:21–23 (NASB95)

Here Isaiah sees the Creator and Judge sitting atop the firmament on his throne observing his creation, which he has enclosed under this heavenly tent.

Ezekiel was uniquely offered one view from beneath the firmament and another from above it.

The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:22–28 (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit also privileged Daniel to glimpse the heavenly scene when Jesus as the glorious Son of Man is being given everlasting dominion.

I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13–14 (NKJV)

Paul likewise was granted access to the third heaven; although, he was not permitted to say much about it.

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 12:2–4 (NKJV)

John the Revelator was granted several visions of the third heaven, which corresponded to what Moses and Ezekiel saw.

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. Revelation 4:2–6 (NKJV)

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Revelation 15:2 (NKJV)

Paul wrote that, if something is mentioned two or three times in the Bible, it confirms it as true. This agrees with Jesus’ words (Matthew 18:16) and Moses’ (Deuteronomy 19:15).

...EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 2 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB95)

The verses quoted above are witnesses to the reality of the firmament and God’s throne above it. Whether you accept God’s testimony as true is up to you. I conclude that God spread the firmament out over the earth like a tent to create a tabernacle in which to fellowship with his people.

Part 2: The Defilement of the Earth

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Heliocentrism Opposes the Entire Bible

Posted December 3, 2025December 5, 2025
by petebeck3

The severe error of heliocentrism not only undermines the first chapter of the Bible, but it also opposes the entirety of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation.

The account of creation in Genesis Chapter One leaves no room for heliocentrism or its necessary antecedent, the Big Bang. The unified tiered creation of the heavens, firmament, the earth and sea, what is under the earth, and the waters above and below are either mentioned or assumed throughout the Bible.

We must either accept biblical cosmology or admit that heliocentrism proves that the Word of God is filled with “scientific” errors which render it untrustworthy as a whole. There is no middle ground.

Either God knows the truth but lied to accommodate the scientific ignorance of the biblical authors, or he spoke the truth and our “science” is built on a satanic lie. A third possibility, the one the devil prefers, is that God does not exist, making the Bible a man-made fable.

“Christian heliocentrism” is an oxymoron – a contradiction of terms. Heliocentrism is a pagan belief that was cunningly injected into our thinking in the guise of science. Since the time of Copernicus, this theory, like all the devil’s “scientific truths,” has morphed into being deemed a fact, thus proving the propagandist’s claim that any lie repeated often enough is eventually accepted as the truth. The reason a majority of Christians hold that heliocentrism is true is because our minds have been programmed to see reality in that way. We accept as true what a host of “experts” with all sorts of degrees have told us about the “universe.”

To our shame, we have accommodated God’s Word to a bold lie, forgetting that anything that contradicts God’s Word is by definition false.

God created us to believe in him and his words.

If we refuse to believe God’s Word, we will fall for anything.

Most heliocentrists who call themselves Christians unwittingly hold to their beliefs without realizing that by doing so they dishonor God by more highly esteeming the words of mere men than his. That was my case before the Holy Spirit saw fit to lift the veil of deception from my mind. Since then I have done my best to help others see. Either I am sharing the truth or I am a false teacher. No one, however, has refuted this teaching based on Scripture. My critics have rejected my teaching based on their assumption that current “science” is right and that the Bible must be interpreted in a way that makes room for the “science.” The question naturally arises, if Genesis Chapter One is not actually true, then when does the Bible become more than a poetic metaphor? When we go down this road, we discover that we can call anything into question that does not seem logical to us, making us judges of God’s Word. This is an idolatry of the mind, which is exactly what the Scientific Revolution of the 17th Century set out to achieve.

Beginning in Genesis, the Bible tells us in many places that God created the heavens, the earth, the sea, what is under the earth. This description continues unchanged throughout the pages of Scripture. Below is a sample of verses.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Exodus 20:4 (NKJV)

Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Deuteronomy 4:39 (NKJV)

For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard. Deuteronomy 4:32 (NKJV)

And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Joshua 2:11 (NKJV)

He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters At the boundary of light and darkness. 11 “The pillars of heaven tremble And are amazed at His rebuke. Job 26:10–11 (NASB95)

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, 4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. 5 You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever, Psalm 104:2–5 (NKJV)

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Psalm 150:1 (NKJV)

When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, Proverbs 8:27–29 (NKJV)

All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree. Isaiah 34:4 (NKJV)

Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together. Isaiah 48:13 (NKJV)

Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1–2 (NKJV)

A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Ezekiel 1:25–26 (NKJV)

The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Daniel 4:11 (NKJV)

The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 9:6 (NASB95)

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation... Habakkuk 3:11 (NKJV)

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16–17 (NKJV)

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool... Matthew 5:34–35 (NKJV)

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Mark 16:19 (NKJV)

He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:31 (NKJV)

(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 4:9–10 (NKJV)

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!” Acts 7:55–56 (NKJV)

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11 (NASB95)

And: “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Hebrews 1:10–11 (NKJV)

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. Hebrews 8:1–2 (NKJV)

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:13–14 (NASB95)

If you wish to do a deeper dive into what the entire Bible has to say about the heavens, earth, and firmament, try Brandon Ezzo’s series of videos.

The last book of the Bible agrees with what comes before. God created a unified, tiered heaven and earth consisting of the earth, the firmament which divides heaven from earth, three heavens – the highest being the abode of God where his throne sits, the sea, and what resides under the earth, described as Sheol. We are also told that there are waters above the firmament as well as in the great deep under the earth. In God’s creation, there is an “up” and a “down.” Directions and locations are absolute, not relative as in satanic cosmology with a sphere for our habitation, where heaven’s location must be metaphorical at best.

With Satan, nothing is fixed. God’s Word, on the other hand, is sure and steadfast, just like the earth and heavens he created to reveal his nature.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NASB95)

The illustration above is an artist’s rendering of the biblical cosmos found in Logos Bible software. This was the understanding of the authors of Scripture, whose words were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Surely God would not have inspired the biblical authors to lie about something as fundamental as the shape and nature of the earth upon which we live!

When we hold the heliocentric view, we maintain that we have more understanding than God!

But this is untenable, as revealed to Job. We were not there at creation; so, how do we truly know anything unless God tells us?

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? 6 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, Job 38:4–6 (NASB95)

Everything God creates has a foundation; otherwise, it would be unstable. Jesus confirmed this principle in his parables. The firmament, that enormous crystalline structure that acts as a vault over the entire earth, has its foundation on the earth.

Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. 2 Samuel 22:8 (NASB95)

Above the firmament sits God’s throne.

Heaven is a physical location created by God when he made the earth.

The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 9:6 (NASB95)

Like the earth, heaven is also set upon pillars, which connect heaven to the earth upon which it rests.

The pillars of heaven tremble And are amazed at His rebuke. Job 26:11 (NASB95)

Heliocentrism not only denies the truth of creation found in Genesis Chapter One, but it also undermines Revelation, the prophets, and every single place the Word of God describes his unified creation of the heavens and earth separated by the firmament.

Those who agree with this satanic cosmology called heliocentrism believe that the Bible is incorrect in its description of God’s creation. The inescapable conclusion is that the Bible cannot be trusted at all.

If we claim to be followers of Christ and hold to the error of heliocentrism, it is because we have been so thoroughly “brainwashed” or “programmed” by our education system and media that we now believe Satan’s version of cosmology more than God’s truth in the Bible. For those steeped for years in a lie, the truth seems absurd. This is nothing short of idolatry.

We cannot have it both ways. Either the Bible is all true or none of it is.

The lie of heliocentrism was designed to strip us of everything divine. The Copernican Principle teaches us that the earth and humanity are insignificant accidents in a chaotic ever-expanding universe filled with uncertainty and danger and where God is nowhere present.

The following video wonderfully describes the Copernican Principle, but does not go the full way to endorse a biblical cosmology. Nevertheless, I recommend watching it.

The truth, however, is that God fashioned the earth and heavens to provide us with a perfect habitation under his watchful eye. He is indeed the “Most High.”

It is He who sits above the circle [not ball or sphere, but a circle as inscribed by a compass] of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22 (NASB95)

One day, according to Scripture and contrary to the heliocentric view, God will “roll back” or “dissolve” the firmament, atop of which sits God’s throne. At that point, Jesus in all his glory will be seen by the entire earth at once, something that could never occur on a spherical earth.

All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree. Isaiah 34:4 (NKJV)

The host of heaven, stars, will fall down. If we believe the heliocentric lie, we must conclude that the above verse is an impossibility, since it states that stars are huge suns at impossible distances.

The following video does not reject heliocentrism outright, but make the case that we have been lied to regarding sizes and distances. Once a witness lies to us, the remainder of his or her testimony is suspect.

If we believe that stars are actually far away suns rather than luminaries God placed in the firmament, we may fall in line with Neil deGrasse Tyson, who stated:

You know, one of the signs that the second coming is that the stars will fall out of the sky and land on Earth. To even write that means you don’t know what stars are. (Bill Moyers Journal aired 10/3/2014 at 22 minute mark)

To say that the Bible is wrong about the nature of stars is a direct attack on God’s Word and teaches us to either reject God’s Word outright or to bow to the science idol and reinterpret such passages to make them agree with heliocentrism.

This is exactly what many well-intentioned Christians have done, not realizing that it is the same sin committed by Adam and Eve in the garden! “Did God really say? Did he not mean something different.” It is important that we stick to what God actually said.

Modern astrophysics and heliocentrism places Christians in a crisis of faith. Will we believe the doubtful proclamations of “scientists” or the certainty of God’s Word?

Since God created the stars, he certainly knows what they are. Modern high-zoom cameras, such as the Nikon P-1000, have made it possible for amateur astronomers to discover that stars look nothing at all like we have been told. They are not mere points of light. Instead they are pulsating luminaries, perhaps angelic beings, which often appear to shimmer as if shining through water. I can almost hear God’s rebuke for our audacity to think we know more than he does!

From creation until the second coming of Christ, the Bible presents a consistent unified tiered creation of the heavens and earth.

Jesus ascended (went “up”) to heaven where he sits at God’s right hand on his throne, which is above us, atop the firmament, not somewhere in “outer space.” One day he will descend (come “down”) from heaven to the earth. If these are not true directions and real descriptions of actual places, why bother to trust the Bible at all? When we spiritualize what God meant to be understood as physical reality, haven’t we become rather Gnostic in our thinking? When we regard God’s words as only having spiritual meaning, but modern astrophysics as describing our physical reality, we greatly err. I readily accept the cosmos of Scripture over the infinite confusion of modern astrophysics with its incomprehensible dark energy, dark matter, black holes, and Big Bang. Give me God’s Word over the words of men any day.

...let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.” Romans 3:4 (NASB95)

I encourage you, my reader, to reconsider you view, if you are a heliocentrist. Ask God to show you the truth about this important topic. Let us be among those who glorify God by believing every word in the Bible. Let’s put all our “eggs in one basket,” so to speak. Let’s choose to believe that the Bible is true – period!

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Proverbs 30:5–6 (NASB95)

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Renouncing Allegiance to the Tree of Knowledge

Posted December 2, 2025December 2, 2025
by petebeck3

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve renounced allegiance to God by choosing to follow Satan and ingest the poisonous fruit of the tree of knowledge.

Satan continues to successfully lure many of us into sin and idolatry by convincing us that the delightfulness and desirability of the tree of knowledge is superior to the simplicity of God’s Word.

Genesis tells us that Eve found that forbidden tree to be a “delight” and “desirable.” (Genesis 3:6) According to the First Book of Enoch, the tree of knowledge was “very large, beautiful, glorious, and magnificent.” (1 Enoch 32:3) How much credence we should give to the First Book of Enoch is another subject, but it seems, in this case, to agree with Genesis and, perhaps, add to the suggestion in the Bible that this tree was not just another tree, but one of superior desirability. We are not told anything about how the tree of life looked. Perhaps it was just as wonderful, but, judging by how God’s truth appears next to the devil’s lies today, it might not have impressed Eve. Regardless, we know how things turned out. Eve and Adam were seduced by the devil’s deception and the supposed delightfulness of the forbidden tree so that they were disloyal to God.

Believing a lie is the root of all sin.

Realizing that the church in Corinth was also being lured away from the simplicity of God’s truth, the apostle Paul wrote.

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB95)

Satan is a liar.

According to Jesus, he is the “father of lies,” and no truth resides in him. (John 8:44) It is his habit, as illustrated in Genesis, to contradict God’s words.

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4–5 (NASB95)

He flatly contradicted what God said would be the consequence of disobedience. In addition, he enticed them with the empty promise that through the pursuit of knowledge they would become like God.

The pursuit of godhood status through knowledge and what is called “science” still grips most of humanity.

From a human point of view, godhood status gives us the ability or right to define reality as we see fit and to do whatever we please without reference to God or consequences. This prospect tantalized Satan into rebellion against his Creator and has proved irresistible to countless people since.

Jesus, on the other hand, is God’s eternal truth residing in a resurrected and glorified human body. He is God’s Word, the eternal Logos who became flesh (John 1:14). He once described himself as “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Unlike Satan’s boastful and empty claims, when Jesus spoke it was always the truth and carried God’s authority.

Jesus chose to submit himself to his heavenly Father in every particular. His willingness to embrace his human status as a dependent being illustrated the kind of humility that God intends for us all.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6–11 (NLT)

A big part of humility is our choice to believe and submit to all of God’s words in the Bible.

Any time that we make the choice to pick and choose which words of God to believe and receive we show the same pride that fills Satan.

If we choose a lie over God’s truth, it is a betrayal and abandonment of God’s Word in general and Jesus, God’s Word incarnate, in particular. This makes it, by definition, idolatry.

Believing what science and mankind’s immense “bank of knowledge” tells us, when it contradicts Scripture, is a sin. By so doing, we elevate man’s words over God’s.

When Copernicus introduced the Bible-defying heliocentric theory, those who adopted his view betrayed God by abandoning the scriptures.

The devil has been able to weave a vast web of deception regarding cosmology for centuries now. He used and uses godless people to introduce clever and immensely attractive lies that flatly contradict the truth found in the Bible. He also has fabricated supporting “evidence” that most people believe is unassailable. This has been done to alienate people from the Scriptures and to further the boastful assertion that man is smarter than God and does not need him to figure things out.

Satan has been so successful that most of the church today embraces and defends pagan heliocentrismover the revealed truth of God’s Word found in the Genesis account.

Just as Eve found Satan’s bold lie to be more desirable than God’s simple words of truth, today a large part of the church has been convinced that the overwhelming “evidence” amassed by the “scientific” community more than outweighs the simple words of Genesis Chapter One. This means that, when it comes to cosmology, most of the church is committing idolatry. The globe might well be the most ubiquitous idol in the world.

Just as God tested Adam’s and Eve’s loyalty in the garden, our Lord is testing the church today regarding whether we will admire and believe his Word more than Satan’s lies.

He has allowed the devil space to create a vast array of supposed “evidence” against Genesis Chapter One to discover what is in our hearts. Many of us have been so intimidated by the scientific world that we have been willing to twist and reinterpret the plain meaning of the text rather than stand by God’s truth regardless of the personal cost. Most of the church seems to be quite comfortable claiming that God’s words in Genesis cannot possibly be a true account of creation because we “know” from “science” that it could not have happened that way. In so doing, we commit Adam’s and Eve’s sin of betrayal of God and his Word.

Paul warned us against doing this.

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. 1 Timothy 6:20–21 (NASB95)

We must conclude that most prefer Satan’s lie to God’s truth.

To illustrate this, think of how many Christians will defend a Star Wars version of space against the Genesis Chapter One account of the earth existing under the protective dome of the firmament, atop which sits God’s throne. Today otherwise Bible believing followers of Christ snicker at the model of the cosmos believed by the authors of the Bible. This is in spite of our affirming that we believe every word was inspired by the Holy Spirit and is infallible. The only way to justify such a betrayal is to claim that God’s Word in Genesis Chapter One does not mean what it says. If that is the case, when does the Bible begin to be true? Doesn’t that make us judges of God’s Word? Does that not elevate us to a sort of godhood status, which allows us to decide which words of the Bible describe reality and which do not?

Those who will stand up for God’s Word in Genesis soon discover that the devil tries to intimidate us with his false “scientific” knowledge. Those who stand by God’s truth found in that old book called the Bible are called ignorant, anti-science, and deceived. I for one cannot conceive of the devil doing anything to make us believe more fully in the truth of the Bible, can you?

It is also claimed by some who love the Lord that we should stay away from such controversial subject matter because it will detract from the gospel, split the church, and make us seem to be fools in the eyes of the unsaved.

Building unity at the expense of the truth was not practiced by Jesus. He split Judaism wide open, requiring people to make a choice between him and the old wineskin of Judaism. The New Covenant makes no room for the sacrificial system, temple worship, and other Jewish practices. The apostle Paul fully understood this, but many even today still love the old wine better than the new. Jesus said:

Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:34–39 (NLT)

Today the choice is different but the underlying issue is the same. Will we choose to side with the truth, even if it alienates us from many? Or will we take the easy path and go along to get along?

Many of the kings of Judah partially followed the Lord but failed to demolish the high places. Was this because they thought the cost would be too high? Would it alienate them from their constituency? Do not modern pastors face the same crisis? The apostle Paul faced a similar choice. He could have backed off from his grace teaching and gone along with the Judaizers, but he knew that would be a betrayal of God’s truth.

But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you. Galatians 2:5 (NLT)

This issue still divides the church because many prefer a lie to God’s truth.

If we stand for truth, it will cost us, just as it did Paul.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. 10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:8–10 (NLT)

Paul’s battle was against the grace defying legalism that sought to keep in place the Old Covenant of law. That battle continues, but today we face a foe unknown to Paul – heliocentrism. I am convinced he would be appalled to see how the church has swallowed that lie “hook, line and sinker.”

Regarding biblical cosmology and the gospel, our failure to stand up for every word of God reveals that we do not take the Bible very seriously, something for which atheists despise us.

Is the resurrection of Christ from the dead and his consequent ascension “up” into heaven any less “unbelievable” than Genesis Chapter One? Science also says that no one can be born of a virgin or rise from the dead. Why are we not intimidated out of declaring these truths?

Is it not because Satan has especially attacked Genesis, knowing that undermining the Bible’s very first chapter casts doubt on its overall veracity?

The essence of what it means to become a Christian is to proclaim allegiance to Christ. This means that we, with God’s help, determine to be steadfastly loyal to him and his words. It is a contradiction to say Jesus is Lord while simultaneously rejecting his words.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Luke 9:23–26 (NLT)

May God awaken us to understand that presently we are in a giant struggle for allegiance.

Satan is doing his best to convince the whole world to follow him, but the church belongs to Jesus. Let’s act like it.

May the church stand up against the intimidation of the tree of knowledge and reaffirm our complete allegiance to Christ and his Word, regardless of the consequences.

To read more articles in biblical cosmology, click here.

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Part 4: Days of Elijah

Posted November 15, 2025November 19, 2025
by petebeck3

One of the most dramatic scenes in Old Testament history is when Elijah the prophet single-handedly confronted over four hundred prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel to demonstrate God’s supremacy over that false god. He challenged the Israelites who were present and had betrayed their God by giving allegiance to another.

So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:20–21 (NASB95)

God proved his supremacy over Baal by consuming Elijah’s water-soaked offering with fire from heaven.

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.” 1 Kings 18:38–39 (NASB95)

It took a dramatic demonstration of God’s power for the Israelites to come to their senses, at least temporarily.

Today I believe we are in such a time as in the days of Elijah. God is calling us Christians all over the world to come to our senses and throw off the web of deception that engulfs the earth.

In Elijah’s day, the people were divided in their opinion regarding whether the God of the Bible was supreme or was Baal. Today we Christians are divided over whether God’s Word has supreme authority regarding what is true or does the combined testimony of those who claim to be scientists.

One question before us today is, “Will we believe the Bible’s cosmology or the world system’s?”

Elijah’s bold move at Mt. Carmel was certainly impressive, but even he was not prepared for the push back he immediately received from Queen Jezebel. She was not about to let him get away unchallenged for having destroyed her prophets. She issued a threat against Elijah’s life that so unnerved him that he fled for refuge in the wilderness.

Unflinching allegiance to God always comes at a cost.

The price of allegiance to God can sometimes be more than we are willing to pay at the moment, but just as God challenged Elijah in the wilderness to act the man and return to carry out his responsibilities as a prophet of the Lord, he is challenging his people to rise up.

I think the US Marines have got it right. Their motto is “Semper Fi” – always faithful. When they go into battle, retreat is not an option. If a comrade is wounded, he will never be left behind. I have come to believe that loyalty is one of the highest expressions of love. Loyalty can also be described as faithfulness and allegiance. Our faith-full-ness proves we have faith. People who are full of faith are loyal. This is true in marriage, battle, and the kingdom of God.

Allegiance to Christ is one important way we prove our love for him.

Our allegiance to Christ includes being loyal to his Word. Jesus is the Word of God become flesh. (John 1:14) Our Lord said that those who show allegiance to him and his Word will be honored. Those who are ashamed of him or his Word will suffer loss in God’s eyes.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:24–26 (NASB95)

Usually we think of this as applying to our willingness to be counted as followers of Christ and boldly share the gospel.

However, our allegiance to his Word and to him as Creator includes standing for what Genesis says about creation and the world in which we live.

We cannot abandon God’s clear words about the creation and the nature of the heavens and earth when challenged by the satanic giant of modern astrophysics and still claim that we are being faithful to God in this area.

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? 7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. Proverbs 20:6–7 (NLT)

In Roman times, during the early history of Christianity, there were times when any who refused to worship the pagan gods of the empire or call Caesar “Lord” were persecuted and killed because they were regarded as enemies of the state and a danger to society in general. It was believed that their refusal to bow the knee incurred the wrath of the “gods.”

Probably no one was martyred for making the non-threatening claim that Jesus is our personal savior. They were put to death for declaring his lordship over all things, including Caesar.

The same kind of thinking emerged with regard to obedience to the state, most recently with regard to medicine during the Covid scare. Those who refused to obey the government’s dictate to be injected with their experimental “vaccine” were denigrated and even sometimes hated for being “science deniers” and threats to the well-being and health of those who went along with the government’s demand.

We were told to “trust the science,” which meant we were supposed to believe whatever its high priests told us. Without proof, we were expected to trust that we were being told the truth. Rather than being tested completely and proven safe, we were told to “Trust the Science.”

Such “science” has become a religion whose tenets must be believed without evidence.

Trusting in God is not sufficient for these “science” devotees. “Science” was given a place above even the Creator. This was evident because the premise for the mRNA injection was that our immune systems, which “science” says evolved instead of being God-given, are deficient and need to receive an upgrade from scientists. Well-meaning physicians trusted their journals and proclamations from the AMA, FDA, Big Pharma, CDC, et. al. They certainly did not do their own independent research or they would have discovered, as did many of us, that the entire operation was faux science.

We now know that a large part of what the “science” claimed about Covid and the so-called “vaccine” was a well-orchestrated worldwide lie.

What we do not yet know for sure is how much damage has been done to those who surrendered their bodies to “science.” Many of our citizens were ordered to take the jab under pain of censure, ridicule, job termination, or refusal of medical treatment. Some self-righteous devotees of “science” suggested that disobedient subjects even deserved to die. (Shades of Rome!) We found that many of us did not have the courage to stand against the lie.

Those who refuse to bow their knee to the true God are bold in their defiance. In his 2006 book The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins wrote:

“The temptation [to attribute the origin of life to a supernatural designer] is a false one, because the designer hypothesis immediately raises the larger problem of who designed the designer. The one thing that makes me dislike the God hypothesis even more than spontaneous generation is that spontaneous generation, even if it were true, would be a one-off event, whereas God would have to be infinitely more complex and unexplained.”

A foundational tenet of the religion of science is that, unless we can explain something, it is not worthy of being believed. Never mind that proponents of the Big Bang cannot explain from where the original point derived. There is always the unexplainable in life and death.

God deliberately includes mystery in his being and in creation so that we must operate by faith in something.

We must face the fact that many people in the world system hate God and refuse to give him glory. Those who worship the human mind believe in their own speculations, but those who are loyal to God believe his Word is true, even if it does not always make complete sense to us.

We admit that we do not understand everything and that truth is not measured by our ability to understand.

Mainstream “science” has gained such admiration that many Christians believe that the Bible cannot compete with it; so, we sadly capitulate to its supposed authority by reinterpreting Genesis Chapter One to fit heliocentrism. Such eisegesis is not serious. The early Hebrews did not do this. The early Christians did not do this. The authors of Scripture did not think like this. We only reinterpret the Bible because we feel under pressure to make it agree with “science.” If the truth of such poetic scriptures can be dismissed, what shall we do with the Psalms? If Genesis Chapter One is not literally true, when does the Bible start to become literally true? Chapter Two, Three…?

Perhaps we would rather toss aside the Bible than risk being exposed to shame for believing something contradicted by “science.”

When we do this, the world laughs at us, observing our obvious duplicity and cowardice. Either God’s Word is true because God is true, or why should we bother to serve him at all?

...Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.” Romans 3:4 (NLT)

It seems we are at a moment in history reminiscent of the days of Elijah on Mt. Carmel.

I believe God is challenging us to make a decision for either him or science falsely so-called.

Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 21 Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God’s grace be with you all. 1 Timothy 6:20–21 (NLT)

Paul promised us that…

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20 (NASB95)

I believe that Satan’s attempt to dethrone the God of truth in the hearts of his people is coming to an end.

We can all do our part by renouncing allegiance to everything that contradicts the Bible and return to a childlike trust in the words of the God of truth, Jesus our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord. Will you be one who glorifies God by doing this?

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. John 17:17 (NASB95)

Click here to see other articles in the Cosmic War series.

Click here to go to Biblical Cosmology home page.

Click here to see Biblical Cosmology Resource Page.

Click here to visit articles devoted to identifying and countering deception.

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Part 3: God’s Throne

Posted November 15, 2025November 27, 2025
by petebeck3

In this article, I hope to show how the devil specifically attacks our belief in the reality of a physical firmament as described in the Bible, which Scripture says is the actual location of God’s throne.

Satan seeks to remove God’s throne from our imagination and replace it with the infinite and hostile vacuum of “outer space.”

The firmament is one of the most important parts of God’s creation. He spent the entire second day fashioning this enormous structure which spans the breadth of the entire earth up to an unknown height. It contains the heavenly bodies – the sun, moon, and stars, above which sits God’s throne. It is impossible for us to even conceive of its size and strength! I have written quite a bit about the firmament in previous articles; so, in this one I will focus on just a few things.

First, the Bible tells us that the firmament (Hebrew raqia) is a solid, crystalline dome-like structure which extends to the ends of the earth and is anchored to the waters upon which the earth is founded.

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, Psalm 104:2–3 (NKJV)

Due to the brevity of this series, I will not attempt to give much scriptural support to my assertions. If you wish to go through virtually all the verses in the Bible that pertain to this topic, I recommend a YouTube series by Brandon Ezzo on the firmament. Here is a link to a brief overview and below is the first in his twelve-part series.

Sadly, the Genesis account has been so thoroughly discredited by the speculations and claims of modern astrophysics that embarrassed Bible commentators and preachers often opt to accommodate their error through eisegesis instead of confronting it.

As a result, very few modern versions of the Bible even use the word “firmament” to describe this vast creation of God and few Christians even believe it really exists. Ambiguous words such as “sky” and “expanse” are usually preferred by translators because they fit the globe earth – heliocentric paradigm, but communicate nothing of the actual characteristics of the firmament.

The Bible makes it clear, however, that this vaulted ceiling over the earth actually exists and is, as Job said, “strong as a molten looking glass.” (Job 37:18) Within this rather mysterious structure God placed the sun, moon, and stars – all that we observe in the heavens. In biblical cosmology, the so-called “planets” or “wanderers” are simply stars.

(It is well-documented that NASA routinely uses CGI to make heavenly bodies appear different from how they actually appear. The video below is a very brief introduction to stars from the perspective of biblical cosmology. I have put other videos on my Resource page, if you are interested in doing more exploration. Note that Google feels the need to post a disclaimer on such videos. Such mild censorship is increased by demoting good “flat earth” content in the algorithm. The casual researcher will only see hostile content.)

The firmament separates the waters above from those below.

Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. Genesis 1:7 (NKJV)

King David affirmed that these waters above the firmament are still there. They did not vanish during the Genesis flood as stated in the so-called “canopy theory.”

Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Psalm 148:4 (NASB95)

According to the Bible, God’s sapphire colored throne sits atop the crystalline firmament.

Those who believe the heliocentric deception will find the previous assertion to be preposterous. How can God’s throne be located anywhere in a physical sense? Surely he fills all creation and is not seated in any particular location! It is easy to understand why people would think that way, especially when we are convinced that the biblical dome-like firmament does not exist.

However, the Bible tells us that God created both the heaven and the earth as real places. The realm in which we live is always presented as a multi-tiered system consisting of three heavens, the earth, Sheol, and the great deep. It also tells us that God sits enthroned above the earth and stars atop the firmament.

It is He who sits above the circle [as inscribed by a compass, not a sphere or ball] of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22 (NASB95)

Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? Isaiah 66:1 (NASB95)

The Bible also says that the heavens have a boundary (Psalm 19:6), just as does the earth. The “ends” of the circular stationary plane earth are created by the firmament, which is anchored or founded upon the waters.

The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded [established, fixed] His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 9:6 (NASB95)

The Bible says the earth is like an inscribed circle having ends or boundaries.

When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, Proverbs 8:27–29 (NKJV)

Imagine how strong must be the foundations of the earth to support a structure of such magnitude! The limit for the seas, therefore, is a massive ice wall the rings the earth. This means that the so-called continent of Antarctica is not real. At one time this seemed to be common knowledge, but today not so much.

Since it is off-limits to private exploration, we cannot prove it so, but must simply accept God’s Word. This would make what we call Antarctica a wall of ice that contains the oceans. Below is what is called the Gleason’s map from 1892, which is a fair description of the stationary plane earth upon which we live.

It is more than interesting that several “global” agencies use this very map as part of their logos.

The map used by cable companies in 1951, before NASA started its propaganda campaign in earnest, is shown in the photo below.

This agrees with a 1945 air map.

While it is true that God cannot be contained in any ultimate sense, it is also correct that he can and does locate himself in a physical place. After all, he also located his presence in the Ark of the Covenant for a period of time and he dwells inside every born-again believer for all eternity (John 14:17-18). It should not be surprising, therefore, that the Bible says that God locates himself atop the firmament above the stars (Isaiah 14:13).

Ezekiel describes God’s throne atop the firmament, which God allowed him to see!

The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads...25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:22–28 (NKJV)

We see here that the firmament acts as a boundary that separates the third heaven from that which is below.

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 12:2–4 (NKJV)

Until we come to believe that God’s Word is literally true, except where it explicitly allows us to take it figuratively, we will suppose that Ezekiel, John the Revelator, Isaiah, Moses, and Paul all saw an imaginary place that has no actual, physical counterpart. If so, then to where did Jesus’ physical resurrected body ascend? And where does Jesus in his resurrected body now sit at God’s right hand? If heaven is merely a spiritual place and has no physical reality, then all the hints God gives us about his being right above us looking down are false.

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Psalm 14:2 (NKJV)

If the firmament does not exist, the second coming of Christ cannot take place as the Bible says it will. How will the heavens split open revealing the glorious Son of Man to the entire earth at once? If Genesis cannot be taken as a true account of creation, then why believe any of the Bible?

By deceiving us into eliminating the actual physical firmament from our thinking, Satan to some degree has removed God’s throne from our imagination.

By so doing, he eliminated our ability to look up and realize that God is very near, right above us looking down upon us. It removes any meaning to the terms “above” and “below.” It takes away some of the significance of Jesus’ physical ascension and enthronement in heaven.

By deceiving the world into accepting his false cosmology, Satan has detracted from God’s glory revealed in his creation.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. Psalm 57:5 (NKJV)

Is it any wonder that today so many feel alone and hopeless? Does not Satan’s false cosmology contribute to people concluding that God does not exist? It is time for the church to arise and reaffirm our faith in the absolute reliability of God’s Word in all matters, including creation and cosmology. That will be the topic for my final article in this series, entitled Days of Elijah.