Fullness of God: Bringing Together Heaven and Earth
I. THE CENTERPIECE OF GOD’S PURPOSE: BRING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER
A. We cannot dismiss Biblical ideas because they are new to us and because they were not taught by the church or
denomination that we grew up in. We must be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the new ideas
that Paul preached to them were biblical (Acts 17:11).
11 They (Bereans) received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out
whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
B. The centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom rule over all the
earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. This is the interpretive key to understanding the End-Times.
Without this revelation, confusion is inevitable.
9 Made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will…10 that He might gather together in one ALL
things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
C. Heaven speaks of the supernatural realm where God’s presence is openly manifest.
1. It is the place believers go to (last 2,000 years) as a “temporary holding place” for disembodied spirits. The saints
do not have a resurrected body in heaven because they do not need one to relate to the environment of heaven.
2. When the New Jerusalem comes to earth, it is referred to as heaven. Scripture says that our reward is in heaven,
or in the New Jerusalem as “heaven on earth.”
D. Earth speaks of the material physical realm as the place where natural process, human emotion and physical
sensation reach full expression, thus, requiring a resurrected body.
1. The saints will need a resurrected body to relate to the physical environment of the earth.
2. Demons seek greater expression that comes in the natural realm by dwelling in humans.
43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' (Matthew 12:43-44)
E. The Millennial earth as well as the New Earth will consist of physical reality. The spirit realm and the material realm
will come together as the Heavenly Jerusalem descends to just above Jerusalem on the Millennial earth. The New
Jerusalem descending to earth will create a new situation in which the spiritual and physical operate together dynamically.
The New Jerusalem descends to the earth in two stages. Stage one of the descent of the New Jerusalem is partial yet
substantial at the Second Coming. Stage two is total and ultimate after the Millennium.
10 He…showed me…the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God… (Revelation 21:10)
F. The Millennium speaks of a literal 1000-year period (Revelation 20:4-6) in which Jesus rules all the nations on
earth as He rules every sphere of life including political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, etc. (For more on the
Millennium see sessions 5-8 in this teaching series).
G. God has planned a setting for human beings with material yet spiritual bodies to fully experience His fullness.
God’s purpose is not for the saints to float in heaven as a “spirit being” with nothing to do. He has planned a setting for
human beings with material yet spiritual bodies to fully experience His fullness. Jesus ate and drank in His resurrected
body to settle this issue that the resurrection was both a spiritual and a material body.
H. God’s purpose has always been to live together with His people face to face in the natural realm on this earth.
God had determined to make the earth His home forever. In Genesis 2-3, God walked with Adam in face to face fellowship
as spiritual and natural realms operated together. The OT saints understood the final abode for humanity to be on earth.
They believed that God would come to dwell with humans rather than being translated to heaven to live with God.
3 Behold, the Tabernacle (House) of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God
Himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)
I. God dwelling with man in the natural realm is the most difficult yet ultimate reality that God determined to accomplish
through Christ. The dilemma is that God’s blazing holiness consumes all that is unholy and God will not violate man’s free
will to establish this purpose.
J. In the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus’ primary mandate is to prepare the earth for the Father’s coming by bringing the
nations to mature righteousness (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Righteousness will be substantial in the Millennium and perfect
afterwards in the New Earth.
K. God created the universe in two distinct realms with the full intention that Jesus would join them together. The
Kingdom of God has heavenly and earthly dimensions to it. To understand the Kingdom, we must understand God's
purpose for both realms. We are not content to only understand half of the Kingdom.
L. Historically, Israel has focused on the earthly dimension of the Kingdom without the heavenly. The Church has
done just the opposite by focusing on heavenly dimensions without the earthly. Jesus is both King of the nations and
Head of the Church.
M. All things in heaven and earth were created for Jesus. He was under a mandate from the Father to unite heaven
and earth. Jesus will take everything (good) in heaven and earth and bring them fully together. The physical properties
of the earth will continue to consist of tangible substances (gold, steel, wood, food, animals, etc.).
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…ALL things were
created through Him and for Him…19 For it pleased (delighted) the Father that in Him ALL the fullness should dwell, 20
and by Him to reconcile ALL things to Himself…whether things on earth or things in heaven...(Colossians 1:16, 19-20)
N. A veil was created between these two realms when Adam sinned. Today, there is a separation between things in
heaven and on earth. This veil will be lifted at Jesus’ Second Coming as all things both in heaven and on earth will be
brought together.
O. In Jesus’ rule on the Millennial earth, the natural human processes will not be suspended, yet significantly
enhanced by the supernatural dimension of the Spirit. We see aspects of this when Jesus appeared to His disciples
for forty days in His resurrected body (John 20-21; Acts 1).
P. There are 3 types of people on earth when Jesus appears in the sky at the Second Coming. The redeemed are
those who will be raptured. The reprobates take the mark of the Beast. The resisters are the unsaved survivors of the
Tribulation who refuse to worship the Antichrist.
Q. The ancient Greek philosophy viewed the spirit realm as good and the material realm as bad. They saw the spirit
realm as God’s solution to the evil earthly (material) realm. This philosophy continues in the Church today. It leads many
to think wrongly about heaven on earth. If we do not think rightly of heaven on earth, we end up not thinking of heaven at
all. I have never met a person who was so heavenly minded that they were of no earthly good. However, I have met many
who were so earthly minded that they were of no earthly good.
R. As Gentiles, we think of worshipping Jesus in the supernatural conditions of heaven emphasizing His deity as the
Son of God. The Jewish paradigm focuses on reigning with the Messiah in the natural conditions of the earth emphasizing
His humanity as the Son of David (Son of Man).
II. THE FULLNESS OF GOD: MAY ONLY OCCUR AS HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE JOINED
A. God created the universe in two distinct realms. The material or natural world is dynamic yet inferior to the spirit
world (Hebrews 11:3). God requires both realms to come together to express His fulness, that is, to express the fullness
of His purpose and personality.
19 It pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself…
whether things on earth or things in heaven... (Colossians 1:19-20)
B. Jesus is the first human to experience God’s fullness by living in the fullness of both realms.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily… (Colossians 2:9)
C. Jesus is both God and man; therefore, He has authority on both heaven and earth. His authority in heaven is
based on the fact that He is God. His authority on earth is based on the fact that He is a man. He has a dual nature with
dual authority.
18 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)
D. God’s Being is spirit not material. He lives in heaven or the spirit realm. (John 5:37).
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
E. The connecting point of earth and heaven is humanity. The point that God chose for heaven and earth to come
together is humanity in His image and filled with His Spirit. The resurrected saints work together with Jesus, the angels
and the Millennial inhabitants in this environment to fully transform the earth through a process.
F. God has determined that we will experience the fullness of His personality and purpose (Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:19;
4:13; Colossians 1:19-20; 2:9-10; John 1:16; Romans 11:12, 15).
19 To know the love of Christ...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)
13 Until we all come...to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ... (Ephesians 4:13)
G. The Father gave all authority to Jesus then gave Jesus to the Church as God’s chosen vehicle to release His
fullness throughout the earth and beyond.
22 He (Father) put all things under His (Jesus’) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is
His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
19 He (Melchizedek)…said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth. (Genesis 14:19)
III. JESUS’ THRONE OF GLORY: 2 DIMENSIONS (EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY)
A. At Jesus’ Second Coming, He sets up His Throne of Glory to judge all nations.
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory...then He will sit on the Throne of His glory. 32 All the nations (currently on
earth) will be gathered before Him... (Matthew 25:31-32)
B. Jesus will establish His earthly Throne of glory in Jerusalem to judge all earthly nations. This clearly refers to the
Millennial Jerusalem which is called the Throne of God.
17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name
of the LORD, to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 3:17)
C. Jesus’ Throne will be in the Millennial Temple that He builds in Jerusalem.
12 Thus says the LORD..."Behold, the Man (Jesus) whose name is the BRANCH! from His place He shall branch out
(progressively increase), and He shall build the Temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the Temple of the LORD. He
shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His Throne; so He shall be a priest on His Throne.” (Zechariah 6:12-13)
D. Jesus’ Throne of Glory will be connected to the Holy of Holies in the Millennial Temple.
4 The glory of the LORD came into the Temple (Millennial Temple)...6 I heard Him speaking to me from the Temple...7 He
said, "This is the place of My Throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of
Israel forever.” (Ezekiel 43:4-7)
E. Jesus’ Throne will also be established in the heavenly New Jerusalem that descends to earth.
3 The Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it (New Jerusalem). (Revelation 22:3)
IV. HEAVENLY JERUSALEM AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM BROUGHT TOGETHER
2 I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God..(Revelation 21:2)
10 He...showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God (Revelation 21:10)
12 The New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. (Revelation 3:12)
A. Jesus’ Throne is in both the New Jerusalem and in the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem will
descend to the Millennial Jerusalem connecting the two Jerusalems.
B. The New Jerusalem will descend to the Millennial earth (Revelation 21:10). Where does it go? To Jesus’ Throne of
Glory, which is in the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:17; Ezekiel 43:4-7; Zechariah 6:12-13; Matthew 19:28;
25:31-32).
C. Does Jesus have one Throne or two? Is it on the Millennial earth or in the New Jerusalem? The answer to both
questions is YES. I suggest that Jesus’ Throne of glory is a vast governmental complex with the “far north end” of it
extending into the New Jerusalem and the “far south end” of it based in the Millennial Jerusalem with what I refer to as a
“Corridor of Glory” between the two ends. The “Corridor of Glory” is based on the concept that the Throne of God is
both in the Holy of Holies in the Millennial Jerusalem Temple and in the New Jerusalem. Jesus’ Throne is clearly on
earth and clearly in Heaven and thus, it is clearly one Throne.
D. Jesus rules in heaven as the Son of God (New Jerusalem) and He rules on the earth as the Son of David (earthly
Jerusalem). He is the only one with authority to bring both realms together (Matthew 28:18). The government of heaven
and of earth come fully together at the Second Coming.
1 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?” (Isaiah 66:1)
E. The heavenly Jerusalem and earthly Jerusalem will be brought together by Jesus as King of both cities. Jesus is
the King of the two Jerusalems. He brings the fullness of heaven and earth together as the New Jerusalem descends to
the Millennial earth.
F. The battle of Armageddon is for control of Jerusalem as the place Jesus returns to rule the earth.
G. Millennial Jerusalem and the Heavenly New Jerusalem are closely connected in many Scriptures. The Scripture
refers to Jerusalem below and Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26) or Zion below and Zion above (also called the third
heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2 and the continuing city in Hebrews 13:14).
H. Jerusalem has a supernatural dimension and it exists forever (Psalm 37:29; 78:68-69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2;.
1 Kings 8:13; 9:1-3; 2 Kings 21:7; 1 Chronicles 15:2; 23:25; 28:8; 2 Chronicles 7:16; 20:7; 30:8; 33:4, 7; Isaiah 60:20-21;
Ezekiel 37:25).
V. THE NEW JERUSALEM WILL DESCEND TO THE EARTH IN TWO STAGES
A. The spirit realm and the material realm come together as the New Jerusalem will descend to the earth in two
stages. In stage one, the New Jerusalem will descend to earth at the time of Jesus’ Second Coming to begin the Millennial
Kingdom (Revelation 21:10). In stage two, the New Jerusalem will descend to the New Earth after the Millennium
(Revelation 21:2).
B. The New Jerusalem will not rest on the Millennial earth but will be above it. However, it will be close enough to be
connected to Millennial Jerusalem in a dynamic way.
C. There are at least five reasons that we know that the New Jerusalem is distinct from the Millennial Jerusalem. We
must account for the specific details of prophetic Scriptures.
1. First, the Kings of the earth come into the New Jerusalem during the Millennium to bring their glory (Revelation
21:24; 22:14).
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through
the gates into the City. (Revelation 22:14)
24 The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
(Revelation 21:24)
2. Second, the New Jerusalem lights up the saved nations on the Millennial earth, not unsaved ones (Revelation 21:24;
20:7-9).
3. Third, the leaves are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
2 The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)
4. Fourth, the angels guard sinners from entry (Revelation 21:12, 22:14-15; Genesis 3:22-24).
12 She had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates… (Revelation 21:12)
5. Fifth, the size of the Millennial Jerusalem is approximately 10 square miles (4,500 rods x 4,500 rods) (Ezekiel
48:30-35; 45:6; 48:15-19) whereas, the New Jerusalem is 1,380 miles (Revelation 21:16).
D. The New Jerusalem is the permanent abode of the saints. The resurrected saints who have governmental
leadership on the Millennial earth will live in the New Jerusalem. It is like Senators who rule in a government office in
Washington, DC yet they live in their home state. The saints will easily travel from the New Jerusalem to the Millennial
earth as angels do now. Angels appear on earth infrequently. We will come much more frequently because the veil
between the two realms will be lifted.