I. THE TWO WORLDS (I Tim. 3:16):

The two worlds - SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL - exist together and are closely interrelated:

[1]. God created them both. (Gen. 1:1)
[2]. Man was created for both. (I Thess. 5:23)
[3]. The spiritual is constantly influencing the physical. (Eph. 2:2;Heb. 1:14)

(a). Cherubim (Spr.) placed at gate of Eden (Phy.) Gen. 3:24
(b). Two angels (Spr.) were sent to deliver Lot (Phy.) Gen. 19
(c). Jacob (Phy.) saw angels (Spr.) on the ladder. Gen. 28:10-19
(d). David's army stood still while angelic army (Spr.) defeated the Philistines (Phy.) I Chron. 14:13-17.
(e). Angels (Spr.) closed lions' mouths (Phy.) for Daniel. Dan 6:22
(f). The Star of Bethlehem was either physical under spiritual direction to lead the Wise Men, or the Star could have been an angel leading men.
(g). Angel warned (Spr.) Joseph (Phys.) to go to Egypt (Matt. 2)
(h). An angel (Spr.) announced birth of John the Baptist (Phy.) Luke 1:11-17;announced birth of Jesus to Mary - Luke 1:26-35; and announced birth of Jesus to shepherds (Luke 2).
(i). After Jesus (Phy.) fasted 40 days, angels (Spr.) ministered to Him (Matt. 4:11).
(j). Angels (Spr.) delivered apostles (Phy.) from prison (Acts 5:19; 12:5-10).
(k). Other references: Josh. 5:13; I Kings 19:4-8; II Kings 6:13-18; 19:32-39;Acts 27:21-24; Matt. 13:47-50; 24:31; II Thess. 1:7-8, etc.

II. IN THE BEGINNING - GOD'S PLAN:

(Psa. 33:6; John 4:24; 5:26; Ex. 3:14; Gen. 21:33; Isa. 40:28; Psa. 90:2,4; 102:24-27; Hab. 1:12)

Before the spiritual world and the physical world there was God. He created them both for a purpose:

[1]. Before the foundation of whole universe the Godhead (Trinity) existed (Gen. 1:26; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; II Cor. 13:14).
[2]. Before the foundation of the physical world God created the angelic host (Job 38:4,7; Psa. 148:2,5).
[3]. Before the foundation of the physical world God ordained salvation for man (Rev. 13:8; 17:8; Eph. 1:4,5; Titus 1:2; II Tim. 1:9).
[4]. Before the foundation of the physical world the Son was willing to carry out the work of redemption (Heb. 9:14).
[5]. Before the foundation of the physical world God conceived the church and its mission (Eph. 3:6,9).
[6]. Before the foundation of the physical world God prepared the kingdom for His own (Matt. 25:34; I Cor. 2:7).
[7]. Before the foundation of the physical world God appointed His Son as the Mediator of both the spiritual and the physical worlds:

(a). Mediator of Creation (Col. 1:16; Rev. 3:14; John 1:3)
(b). Mediator of Preservation (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17)
(c). Mediator of Redemption (Col. 1:19,20; Eph. 3:11
(d). Mediator of Judgment (John 5:22)

 

III. CREATION OF THE TWO WORLDS - SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL:

[1]. The Spiritual World (Gen. 1:1)

(a). The Angelic Host (Job 38:4,7; Psa. 148:2,5; Ezek. 28:12-17)
(b). The Rebellion of Lucifer (Isa. 14:12-17; Eph. 2:2)

[2]. The Physical World

(a). The Original Creation (Gen. 1:1)
(b). Chaos (Lucifer's rebellion) to the earth (Gen. 1:2)
(c). The Restored Earth (seven days) (Gen. 1:3-27)
(d). Creation of Man (Gen. 1:26)
(e). The Fall of Man (Gen. 3) - Satan's supremacy
(f). The Battle for Souls (Eph. 6:11-18)
(g). The Redeemed Earth (Rev. 21:1,2)

[3]. The Three Heavens

(a). The heaven of earth's atmosphere (first) (Acts 14:17)
(b). The heaven of the stars (second) (Job 38:4,7; Eph. 6:12;)

(1). Satan's kingdom and realm (Matt. 12:24-30; I Tim. 4:1-3; Eph. 2:2)

(c). The heaven where God dwells (third) (II Cor. 12:1-4; Rev. 4:1-11).

(1).The Accuser comes to throne (Job 1:6,7; Rev. 12:9)
(2). Paradise is now here (Phil. 1:23; II Cor. 12:1-4)
(3). War in Heaven (Rev. 12:7-12)
(4). The city of New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1)

[4]. The Underworld - (Phil. 2:10,11; Eph. 4:9; Rev. 5:13)

(a). The Grave - abode for the body (II Cor. 5:6,8; I Thess 4:13; Eccl. 9:10).
(b). No Purgatory - not taught in the Scriptures
(c). Prison of the fallen angels (II Pet. 2:4-10; Jude 6,7; Gen. 6:1-4).
(d). Paradise - abode of 0ld Testament redeemed - now empty (Luke 16:22; Eph. 4:8-10; Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:23).

IMPASSABLE GULF - Luke 16:26 (between Paradise and Hell).

(e). Hell - abode of the unsaved dead (Old and New Testament) (Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:5).
(f). Bottomless Pit - The prison house of demons, where Satan is to be bound for the Millennial reign of Christ (Rev. 9:1-11; 20:1-3).
(g). Lake of Fire - prepared for the Devil and his angels, final hell for unsaved (Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:12-15).

[5]. Judgment (John 5:22)

(a). Of sin - at the cross (II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:13; Gen. 3:15).
(b). Judgment Seat of Christ - five crowns of rewards for the saved (Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3:10-15).
(c). Great White Throne judgment - for unsaved men, Satan, fallen angels, and demon host of the Satanic kingdom (Rev. 20:7-15).
(d). Of the Earth - renovated by fire (II Pet. 3:10-13: Rev. 21:1-4).