Bible Metrics of God’s Abode and Man’s Inheritance

“For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,” Isaiah 57:15

Consider for a moment a universe of concentric rings; let’s say ten spans. The innermost circle is the smallest, least dynamic and consists of a single dimension. Let’s say it only consists of depth and time. We live in the third concentric circle or ring, which consists of length, width, height and time. As for how to describe the dimensional composition of the successive circles that comprise four through ten, only a few could speculate using their finite abilities in science and mathematics. However, the Bible tells us that God inhabits eternity and dwells in the high and holy place. Holy, which means set apart, indicates that God exists in a temple, high and lifted up beyond the tenth circle, which consists of created beings. (Isaiah 6) God’s throne exists in an unbounded space, outside of time, full of love and light and without measure. This is the place that Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father. (Heb. 8:1)

Between the fourth and tenth rings is where we read of Jacob’s ladder (Gen. 28:12), and God shared with us Jacob’s vision of angelic movements between heaven and earth. These are the domains that angels pass; good and evil… those very powers and principalities exist there, seen and unseen; most ministering for good (Heb. 1:14), while fewer foment rebellion and influence for evil. In the innermost rings; closest to God, we find the seraphim and cherubim hovering seemingly over and under the throne, but in a manner encircling the temple of God. It is also there that the Devil approached God, among the sons of God, to accuse Job. (Job 1) As for the fallen angels, Jude refers to the “angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”  Upon which and thereafter, it is written, “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mat. 8:12) Presumably, this location is within the first circle; the furthest from God, and as I offered before, it is the lowest, darkest and loneliest place, possibly a single spacial  dimension: that is, of depth and endless time. Named hell or simply ‘here,’ this place is sustained by God for eternity; where the only visitor is one’s enlivened and accusatory conscience; the nagging wife to the reconstituted flesh; where the worm never dies and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:44)

However, for those in Christ, what are we told? We are told “Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:39) This is true because our Father is “…one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all,” (Eph. 4:6) which tells us that God’s presence and eternal attributes from His dwelling place envelopes and sustains all His creation, and we are a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17) As for us today? As a member of the body of Christ, we are mystically with Him, seated at the right hand of the Father. (Eph. 2:6)  However while yet alive, we are said to be a little lower than the angels, but one day we will be in place to judge even them. (1 Cor. 6:3) And where will this place of judgment take place? We, in Him, from the throne!

In summary, the Bible has long given us such insights into what was, is and will be within our own universe but what exists beyond. What matters is not the physics, or science necessary to prove it (although much has been found by man along that way), but the Bible provides us a simple cure: it is only by grace through faith that our names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20) Knowledge, without grace and faith, can only seal our condemnation just as the Spirit, through our faith, seals our inheritance. (Eph.1:13,14) Therefore, let us pray that by God’s grace, we might find His favor in Christ and forgiveness for the most important metric of all is the multitude of our sins, which were covered by the blood of Christ.