INSIDE THE GATES OF HEAVEN

CHAPTER 4

 THE OUTER SUBURBS OF HEAVEN

The City of Heaven is foursquare like a cube; its length and width and height are each about 1500 miles.  But in space the City of Heaven appears large and round -- much larger than 1500 miles.  This is because of what are called environs or suburbs, the outer parameter of Paradise.  The foursquare Holy City is completely surrounded and enclosed by these suburbs.  The outer edge of these suburbs is very large, much larger even than the earth.  In these suburbs or shadowy groves the saints first arrive when they come from the earth; and in this transition from earth to Heaven, they learn many things.  First, they learn that they can still see, hear, smell, taste, touch and remember, and that they have a form like their earth body.  This form is their spirit, now out of their body.  When saints leave their bodies on earth, they have a sense of freedom as birds flying.  They find their thoughts to be clear and their vision able to see both physical and spiritual realms.

The City of Heaven with its suburbs, its Holy Place and its Most Holy is like a planet; it is self sufficient in every way to provide for eternal beings, just as the earth is able to sustain physical life.

"He built His sanctuary in the high heavens,
like the earth which He established for ever."
Psalm 78:69

But the City of Heaven shines much brighter than a planet; it shines like the sun because it is the Kingdom of God.

"Then shall the righteous shine brightly
like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.
If your ears can hear -- hear this."
Matthew 13:43

In order for the Kingdom of God (it is also called the Throne of God) to be seen in the sky, it has to be a very large place.

And speaking of size, Jesus said to His followers:

"Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit to his stature?"
Matthew 6:27

The answer, of course, was that they could not, and therefore should not worry about tomorrow.  But Jesus was revealing a secret that in Heaven we can by thought add one cubit to our height.  In my visits to Heaven I noticed that people appeared to be about five feet tall.  On earth a cubit is 18 inches, but a heavenly cubit is 21 inches.  So a person in Heaven three cubits tall would be 63 inches, or a little over five feet tall.  But when it is their turn to worship God before His Throne, they add one 21-inch cubit to their stature which makes them seven feet tall.

Now these suburbs of the City of Heaven are very much like earth, with grass, flowers, trees, shadows, birds, and animals.  In these suburbs are the country mansions.  This is the place where spiritual principles must be learned by those saints who on earth did not become very spiritually minded.   It is not true that we suddenly know everything when we get to Heaven.  Christians on earth are admonished by Scripture,

"Study to show yourself
approved of God."
2 Timothy 2:15

Some saints arriving in these shadowy groves would like to stay right here, but they are encouraged to move on to higher glories.  And speaking of travel, it is possible in Heaven to go from place to place instantly, by taking thought.  But it is more interesting and enlightening to travel slowly and enjoy the scenery.  There are two methods of slow travel:

1/ We can move through the air as gracefully as a white dove in the sky of earth.  Most slow travel is done in this manner.

2/ Some visitors to Heaven have called its vehicles by the exciting name of chariots.  That's all right, but what I have seen are just seats with no flaming horses or wheels; and they are not so elaborate as to call attention to themselves.  They just serve their purpose and then disappear.  These chariots come in all sizes beginning with a double open-air seat for two companions, up to large bus-type open-air chariots with many double seats.

These chariots travel on land, on water, or in the air, and this is how they are moved:  God's Spirit harmonizes all the activities in Heaven, deciding when and where the action is to be.  When the saints hear the call of God's indwelling Spirit, their emotions respond with a joyful desire to go, and the controlling Spirit of God moves the chariot in which they ride.        

(to Chapter 5)

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