Charts 9-12: Third order – from the fall of man until the flood
Chart 9
(chart 9)
REFLECTS A DIVIDED HEAVEN AND EARTH; EARTH IS STILL A NEAR PARADISE
We just noted that at the end of the second order man was banned from the Garden of Eden (heaven) and restricted to a three dimensional earth. This began the extended period of the divided heaven and earth. The third order of the heavens and earth encompassed the time frame from man’s banishment from the Garden of Eden up until the time of the flood of Noah.
Chart 10
(chart 10)
THE THIRD ORDER IN HEAVEN; MAJOR CHANGES
Apparently the fall of man resulted in major changes in heaven. Man was no longer there and could not return there, even as a spirit until he would ultimately be redeemed by Jesus at the cross. Also Satan and his angels lost some level of their access to God. As noted in the commentary for chart 2, I interpret Satan’s fall as occurring in stages. He had full access to heaven and to God in the beginning. After he tempted man to sin in Eden he was banned from Eden and the Mount of God (Ezek 28:16). He apparently still had some access to God and to the higher levels of heaven but in a more limited fashion. This is apparent from the book of Job (see Job 1:6-8). I suspect that heaven has multiple dimensions just as earth does and Satan and his angels were banned from free access to the higher levels where God’s throne room and the temple resided. It seems that their access was now restricted to an invitation only basis. Their principal residence was now the lower levels of heaven. See Categories of Angels for more discussion of this.
Rulers, authorities, powers and dominions are titles given to angels in heaven and also men on earth. Eph 1:19-21 tells us that God’s throne in heaven is far above these angels in position as well as in power. Eph 3:10 makes it clear that these categories of angels are in heaven. In the least sense, it seems that these are titles given in an organizational sense. We have an example of a staff meeting in heaven in 1 Kings 22:19-23 where we see angels standing on both sides of the Throne of God. God is asking them for suggestions about how to deal with a situation of earth. They come forward with a number of suggestions and God picks one for execution. These provide some insight into heavenly activities and organization/
Chart 11
(chart 11)
THE THIRD ORDER ON EARTH; ACCELERATED ENTROPY, THE CURSE BEGINS
In this order the earth was cursed by God, Gen 3:17, and entropy accelerates. Things began to decay as disease, weeds and poisons of various kinds, poisonous insects, vicious animals, etc. all began to gradually populate the earth. The destructive forces of nature gradually came into play as did Satanic influence on the earth. Earth was still a haven compared to the earth that we live in today, as men lived to an average age of over 900 years. Near the end of this order, Satan gained an increased access to the earth and created a hybrid of man and angels called the Nephilim. Man became very wicked and God chose to put an end to this order, possibly because of the wickedness of men and also to rid the earth of Satan’s wicked creation.
Chart 12
(chart 12)
THE STATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH IN THE THIRD ORDER
2. UNREDEEMED MAN
THIRD THROUGH SIXTH ORDERS: All unredeemed men, those who do not know or who have not accepted Jesus as Savior, will be sent to the “torments” section of Hades awaiting their final judgment. This judgment will take place at the end of the sixth order. Hades and its two sections are depicted in Luke 16:19-31. You might ask how those living before Jesus could possibly have known and accepted him. The first time God is mentioned in the Bible, Gen 1:1, he is referred to as Elohim. This is a plural noun and it is always used with a singular verb. From the beginning man knew that there was more than one person in the Godhead. Whenever God revealed himself to mankind he did it through Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the messenger from God, was the one who walked with and made the covenants with Abraham, he was the one who met with Joshua at Jericho, he was the voice in the burning bush who spoke to Moses, etc. When the Jews called upon God in the Old Testament they were calling on Jesus. When Jesus came to earth as a man they did not recognize him as the one who had spoken and visited with their forefathers. Jesus did reveal this to the Pharisees in symbolic language but they refused to accept it. They called this blasphemy. Those Jews who accepted and worshipped God before Jesus came to earth as a man were in essence accepting Jesus. They were therefore saved and went to Abraham’s Bosom when they died. They are referred to as saints in the Bible. After Jesus death and resurrection, the only way a Jew or anyone else can get to heaven is by accepting the finished work of Jesus. All of these references to Jesus in the Old Testament can be proven through quotes in the New Testament and in various other ways.
2. REDEEMED MAN
THIRD AND FOURTH ORDERS: The third order was the time from the fall of Adam and Eve until the flood. The fourth order was the time from the flood until the resurrection of Jesus after his death. During this time those who belonged to God and Jesus had their spirits sent to Abraham’s Bosom awaiting the time when Jesus would buy their pardons with his death. His shed blood covered their sins and allowed their spirits to be taken to heaven. A description of Hades and Abraham’s Bosom is found in Luke 16:19-31.