Infinite Fellowship Ministries

The Cryptogram Of The Superlative Arcadia AKA Heaven – Part 2: Sermon By Apostle Gobanga

Then I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband; Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).

Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a vast and lofty mountain and exhibited to me the holy (hallowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, Clothed in God’s glory [in all its splendor and radiance]. The luster of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal. It had a massive and high wall with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [there were stationed] twelve angels, and [on the gates] the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written: I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb [Himself] are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations shall walk by its light and the rulers and leaders of the earth shall bring into it their glory. And its gates shall never be closed by day, and there shall be no night there. 

Revelation 21:1-5, 10-12, 22-25 AMP

Heaven is a place of grand felicity. It is a facet of God’s absolute perfection.

Heaven is a created reality that subsists beyond the earth. It denotes the presence of God as well as His person.

God does not need heaven to exist. Heaven and earth are created so they will pass away. They are not eternal.

God decided to create heaven to serve as a place of meeting between Himself and His creatures, that is angels and humanity. God existed before heaven and He is above heaven.

Heaven is an invisible dimension where God rules earth. Earth is the arena for the manifestation of God’s rulership. Nothing happens on earth without heaven. The earth exists because heaven exists. If there was no earth, heaven would serve no purpose. You cannot have a king without a kingdom or subjects.

Whatsoever is established in heaven is supposed to be executed on earth. God’s desire is that the earth may be transmuted to be in line with heaven.

Heaven is not just about the earth but also the celestial dimension (solar system).

To the carnal mind, everything spiritual is unfathomable. If you want to understand spiritual things, understand the natural – things made visible in the naked eye. He uses that which is natural to communicate the heavenly e.g. Jesus using parables in His teachings. These symbols are shadows of a spiritual reality.

There is a certain aspect of your physical existence that is in the spirit. The reality is that which is spiritual. Each one of us has a star – an embodiment of the future e.g. Jesus was depicted as a star that the Maggi recognized.

The symbols that we read in Scripture are supposed to illuminate the eyes of spiritual people. They also conceal the truth from them that are carnal. The language of symbolism reveals His purpose for His Church. Without the Spirit of God, you cannot be shown spiritual realities.

Our human language is limited. That is why God in His infinite wisdom speaks to us metaphorically.

Heaven is not up neither is it down. It’s not in the East or West, North or South. It cannot be located on a 3- dimensional map of reality. God lives in a multi-dimensional realm (the spiritual realm) in eternity. 

Many people have a simplistic comprehension of heaven. Then there are those that act as though they have a sophisticated focus and understanding of heaven, far more than the Creator. God is understanding. He knows that we are limited so He inspired the writers of the Bible to use words that elucidate what heaven is all about.

Heaven refers to the fullness of the glory of God, the fullness of His power and holiness. There are certain things that are difficult to explain. The love of God, the peace of God or the joy of the Lord.

[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

 Ephesians 3:19 (AMP)

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:7 (AMP)

Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy. 

1 Peter 1:8 (AMP)

The joy of the Lord, the peace of God and the love of God cannot be defined in terms of the heights, breadth and depth. This is the same with heaven.

The human language was designed to explain that which is in the natural dimension. When God introduced Himself to Moses, He said, “I AM that I AM.” There is no one name that can be used to define God.

We need to realize that the language of humanity cannot cope with spiritual reality. We live in a limited world. Whatever we see is a fragment of reality. We cannot investigate the spiritual realm with our natural mind and eyes.

But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (AMP)

We need the Holy Spirit to be able to know what pertains to the spiritual dimension and spiritual realities.

God wants us to see so much of the spiritual realm so that we don’t take notice of much of the physical realm. Sin will blind you to the dimension of the Spirit such that you look for things to fix your state. God has not called us to fix things. He has called us to relationship.

God’s Kingdom derives its power and authority from heaven. Without heaven, there is no Kingdom. The earth is supposed to be the place of visibility as far as heaven is concerned.

Heaven is a dimension higher than the earth but the traditions of men have created a heaven that is up there, far away and unreachable.

But I tell you, Do not bind yourselves by an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is the throne of God. 

Matthew 5:34 (AMP)

Jesus defines heaven as the throne of God.

If we are to experience heaven, we are to be under God’s government and authority. God reigns within the context of His presence which is the expression of His person. You can be in His presence but miss out on His person.

A throne is a representation of God’s unlimited power and unlimited authority. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne. A throne is not a seat.

What does it mean when we say God is seated on the throne? It describes the position of Jesus reigning. It shows rulership that is not dormant but active. God is actively administering His rulership. His rulership has a direct impact in your life. That means, a throne means nothing if there is no activity.

The Kingdom of heaven is God in Christ through the saints doing the will of God. The reason you do the will of God is because heaven is impacting you and because you have experienced the weight of the rule of God in your life.

Heaven is not a place. It is a state of being based on the relationship we have with God and His people. We serve a God of relationship.

You cannot fellowship with God without heaven as it is the only place where He meets you. You need to be in God’s presence to meet His person.

Heaven is not an empty paradise. It has inhabitants – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, angels and 24 elders. Heaven is not a mansion with many rooms. What makes heaven become an emblem of authority is the presence and person of God and because it is a place where God communes with His people.

The beauty of heaven denotes the beauty of the Holiness of God as well as the saints. Apart from the person of God and humanity, heaven has no purpose in the lives of human beings. It is a special dimension where He transacts business with His created beings.

In Revelation we read that John saw a new heaven and new earth. New does not mean recent in times of time. It comes from the word kainos which means new in terms of form and quality. It has no comparison to the old heaven. It is not a heaven concocted by man but it is as a result of revelation.

The new heaven and earth John saw were not physical but spiritual. The things of God are spiritual. This dimension was new to John as opposed to what he was used to.

The new heaven and the new earth symbolize the new nature of man in Christ. 

Something that is new is not a mixture of the old. It is something that is created out of nothing. It needs a new revelation and perception.

In Revelation 21, the new earth was characterized by the absence of the sea. Preceding that chapter, the sea was characterized by restlessness and turbulence of the nations that do not know God. The beast coming out of the sea represented the living dead that died from their trespasses. What does the absence of the sea in Revelation 21 indicate? It indicates that there is no place for the old reality in heaven. That which was Adamic was not found in it.

Heaven is a dimension of the spirit. 

May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! 

Ephesians 1:3 (AMP)

Our blessings are not in the physical. These are not futuristic or past blessings. They are in present continuous tense. The blessings which are spiritual are right here and now.

And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 

Ephesians 2:6 (AMP)

We are seated at a particular segment of dimensions far above principalities and powers meaning satan has no control over us. Our existence is no longer past tense but present continuous.

When you are in Christ, you can enter heaven before you die.

Your entrance in heaven is not via physical transport but by the innermost person of the soul. It is through your heart. It is a movement of the spirit not of the body. It is a change of attitude not altitude. Your change of attitude will enable you to apprehend heaven.

Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus. 

Hebrews 10:19 (AMP)

The most Holy place is heaven. You don’t need to wait to die before you go to heaven. You can start going to heaven now. People who have had an encounter with heaven are not fearful or afraid of death. When God exposes you to that dimension, you will not fear man. That which is physical or persecution will not matter. When God makes visible the spiritual dimension, everything that is physical will cease to matter. The vision of heaven will make you disregard your reputation.

God wants you to attain to a certain level of perfection in Christ registered in you internally. This will qualify you to enter heaven.

Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (a leader, an authority) among the Jews, Who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know and are certain that You have come from God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonderworks, these miracles – and produce the proofs) that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born? Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.  What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). 

John 3:1-7 (AMP)

Jesus told Nicodemus that the Kingdom of heaven must be first perceived (a change of mindset) and that which you see you must be able to apprehend. It is also one thing to see but you must also enter. You must be born of water (the word) and Spirit (through the Holy Spirit). Them that enter the dimension of heaven need to be spiritual. You must allow the Holy Spirit to change your condition.

There are many believers that are not born again. To be born again is not about being saved but it means having your mind being renewed to the mind of Christ. It needs you to be sanctified by God’s truth (the word of God). Heaven is a high level of sanctification. Ask yourself, has the truth of God affected you to change your mindset, to influence the things you say and do? In heaven, your old mindset will not be acceptable.

The highest place of a person that is carnal is the mind, not heaven. In the mind, conceptions, deceptions come forth and truth is received.

The old earth passing away is the carnal man and carnal nature passing away. The carnal mind is where we have cogitation of thoughts and actions. The first earth consists of the dust that the serpent feeds on. The serpents feeds on 3 aspects of bondage – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. When Adam and Eve fed on the forbidden fruit, these 3 aspects of bondage registered in their persona.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate. 

Genesis 3:6 (AMP)

Eve saw that the fruit was good to eat (lust of the flesh) pleasing to the eye (lust of the eyes) and that it would make her wise (pride of life). Jesus was also confronted with these three aspects of bondage when fasting in the wilderness for 40 days but He overcame. In Christ, we too can overcome.

God wants you to come out of the jurisdiction of the natural man (mind, heart and will) which controls you and limits you from perceiving heaven, so He can give you a new mind in Christ, the mind of Christ connects you to the new heaven. The old mind connects you to the old heaven. It has to pass away.

But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. 

2 Peter 3:13 (AMP)

Enoch walked with God until he was no more. He did not wait for Jesus to be translated to heaven. Elijah too. Each of them had a revelation of Christ but did not have to wait for Christ to be manifested on earth. God wants you to live so much in the spirit and less in the physical.

God wants us to transact matters pertaining to our personal lives, the church and country according to the pattern of heaven.

God is calling us to a higher place in as far as our thinking is concerned. When you have the mind of Christ, the new earth and new heaven will burst forth from you. This way, the sons of God will be manifested.

Before Christ was reigning in humanity, self was reigning in humanity. Self must be dethroned for Christ to reign in your heart. Rhema 2nd March 2014 elucidates on Christ being enthroned in our hearts.

The new Jerusalem represents the Church (the Bride of Christ). It was not populated by people with the old mindset (of the old Jerusalem).

Now all this is an allegory; these [two women] represent two covenants. One covenant originated from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] and bears [children destined] for slavery; this is Hagar. Now Hagar is (stands for) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to and belongs in the same category with the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage together with her children. But the Jerusalem above (the Messianic kingdom of Christ) is free, and she is our mother. For it is written in the Scriptures, Rejoice, O barren woman, who has not given birth to children; break forth into a joyful shout, you who are not feeling birth pangs, for the desolate woman has many more children than she who has a husband.

But we, brethren, are children [not by physical descent, as was Ishmael, but] like Isaac, born in virtue of promise. Yet [just] as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him [who was born remarkably] according to [the promise and the working of] the [Holy] Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall the son of the slave woman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. So, brethren, we [who are born again] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free [the supernatural]. 

Galatians 4:24-31 (AMP)

The two Jerusalems represent two covenants. The new Jerusalem is the New Covenant setting people free from the bondage of sin. It delivers people from the law of sin and death.

This new Jerusalem is the picture of the Bride of Christ and the Church that is at the epitome of perfection, not the current Church. The new Jerusalem is not a physical place. It is symbolic of God’s spiritual eternal abode of Divinity as well as humanity. It typifies the eternal consummation of God’s work in humanity for all ages forming a dwelling place for God’s people and Himself for all eternity.

The new Jerusalem never came from earth but heaven. This means that there are certain things that can never be cogitated based on the foundations we set here on earth.

The solutions for Kenya will not be given by the IMF but by a people that have the pattern of heaven for this country. That is the only way we will see this country progress.

Jesus Himself as much as He was man, had a spiritual bloodline. Everything Jesus spoke came from heaven. When you are born of the spirit, you will have continuous transaction with heaven deprograming all that is not from heaven here on earth.

The inhabitants of the city of the new Jerusalem inhabit it by God’s choice because they were chosen by God and prepared to become inhabitants of that city. God chose us in Christ. It is His desire that we become inhabitants of that city.

When you are heaven bound, you cease becoming independent and become corporate desiring unity in diversity. You end up looking for contexts where you supply so that only God takes the glory not you.

The new Jerusalem (the Bride of Christ) is the complement of Christ. She has a joint ownership of all the possessions of Christ. That which is of the Father is given to Christ. Jesus wants to share this power with the church. Once we are positioned with Christ, we share in these things.

Heaven is not far. It is in your heart. It is within. You will only see heaven through the eyes of faith. When the Spirit of God comes into your life, heaven will be introduced to you.

The genesis of your journey to heaven begins in your heart. When you die, heaven will not be a culture shock. You will have been conditioned on earth to live according to the principles of heaven.