Understanding the general organizational principles about Heaven will help us understand why some things occur:
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why are Christians suffering just as much as non-Christians?
We must find the answers by looking at the Word of God. What does it say about Heaven, Earth, and God.
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead... (Romans 1:20 KJV)
Creation reveals who our Creator is (Romans 1:20). Scientists have discovered that matter is organized and beautifully choreographed far past the atomic level. When we pass from this life to the next, we won’t be set free to wander about, flying through the clouds doing whatever we please. This would be very disorganized and chaotic. God is orderly. In the second verse of the Bible, we learn about our Creator’s opinion on organization.
And the Earth was without form and void… (Genesis 1:2 AKJV)
The Hebrew word translated “without form” is tohuw, which means formless, a place of chaos and confusion. The word “void” in Hebrew is bohuw and means an indistinguishable ruin. Jewish mothers often refer to a messy teenager’s room as a “Tohuw ‘eth bohuw,” meaning a disorderly, chaotic ruin. This state of the Earth referred to in Genesis was not acceptable to God, who began establishing order from the chaos.
The original Greek and Hebrew meaning of the words in the Bible makes it clear that God’s kingdom is organized. God created man in His image and Earth in the image of Heaven. The courts on Earth are comprised of many of the same components as the Courts of Heaven including:
A Court
A Judge
Lawyers
A Prosecutor
There are multiple Bible verses that support the existence and function of a court system in Heaven. Let’s look at some of them now.
The Courts of Heaven
To cite each and every scripture that supports the existence of the courts located in Heaven (CoH) would be overwhelming. However, I can provide a few scriptures that establish this fact in the Bible.
Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts… (Psalm 65:4 KJV)
The Hebrew word for courts is chaster, which can mean “enclosure, abode, or a court.” Jesus is our King. A king’s court is where judgments come from.
God presides over Heaven’s court; He pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: (Psalm 82:1 NLT)
The King James Version of Psalm 82:1 reads:
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods.
The Hebrew word shaphat translates as “judgeth,” meaning to rule, govern, or judge. The Living Bible translates the Hebrew word ‘edah as “heaven’s court” because it depicts, in a physical sense, an assembly of individuals where shaphat happens – a place where rules or legislation come from. This word is used and translated as “judge” more than 170 times in the Bible.
Don’t let the word “gods” throw you off. The Hebrew word ‘elohiym can be translated as “rulers, angels, or divine ones.” We, as children of God, would fall into this category as well. Perhaps, after we die, we will be part of that assembly in the courts. The workings of Heaven’s government are portrayed very clearly throughout the Word of God.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. (Zechariah 3:7 AMPC)
“Have charge of my courts” is the meaning of the Hebrew word diyn, or “to plead a case.” “Standing here” is the meaning of ‘amad, or “to present one before a king.” Combine the two words and this verse says that the reward for faithful service to the Lord yields free access to God and the ability to be present in the King’s court. This is where one would present a case for judgment.
…ten thousand times ten thousand rose up and stood before Him; the Judge was seated [the court was in session] and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:10 AMPC)
“The court was seated,” or diyn has the same meaning in Aramaic. The root of this word is “legal dispute” with causes, pleas, and judgments. That sounds like a court to me!
But the judgment shall be set [by the court of the Most High], and they shall take away his dominion to consume it [gradually] and to destroy it [suddenly] in the end. (Daniel 7:26 AMPC)
These two verses in Daniel are a prophecy given about the coming age. Verse 26 is referring to the works of Satan. The Aramaic word shĕlet translated as “dominion,” also means power to rule over authority, hence judgments set by the CoH will take away the authority of Satan and his minions, first gradually, then suddenly. Understanding how the CoH operates is necessary to keep Satan from having authority over us.
Most books on the CoH will quote the statements made by Jesus, which shows how He operated in the Courts to aid His disciples.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:31-32 ESV)
The word for “demanded” in Greek is exaiteomai. It means to demand a trial. Satan was in the CoH placing charges against the disciple. The Greek word deomai means to pray or petition. Petition often means to make a formal request before a court. Jesus made an appearance requesting strength in faith be given to those who followed Him.
This shows that Jesus operated in the courts. “As He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) Applying this verse, we should be aware of the CoH and be ready to operate there at our Lord’s request. The Book of Revelation shows us when Satan is removed from the CoH:
And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. (Revelation 12:10-12 AKJV)
The Greek word exousia (ex-oo-see’-ah) is translated power, but more precisely means the power of rule or government or jurisdiction of “His Christ” who is Jesus. Our Lord finally gets the legal right to evict Satan from Heaven once and for all! We know this because there are several legal terms used in these scriptures:
Accuser - katēgoros (kat-ay’-gor-os): a complainant at law
Overcame - nikaō (ni-kah’-o): when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one's cause
Testimony - martyria: what one testifies, testimony, i.e. before a judge
This is why the revelation about the CoH has come at this time. The body of Christ must realize how important it is to give testimony in the CoH so that their words can overcome Satan and he can be thrown out of Heaven. This must happen before the Lord returns. Many assume Satan has already been removed from Heaven because of what was said after the 72 returned with joy after casting out demons:
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven.” (Luke 10:18 ESV)
To fully understand this, we need to look at other meanings of the Greek words involve:
Satan: literally means adversary, one who opposes a work being done, not just Lucifer.
Fall: to descend from a higher place to a lower place.
Lightning: The light of a lamp, used in Revelation 4:5, 8:5, 11:19 to describe power coming from God’s Throne.
When we look at the full definition of these words, we see that this verse is about Satan’s power being overcome through the power released in Heaven. Jesus was explaining to His disciples why demons were subject to His name: they were overcome from God’s Throne where the CoH are located. However, the fact remains that all this occurred before Jesus was crucified. I asked God for proof of our ability and need to operate in the Courts from the New Testament after Jesus went to the cross.
One day, I heard a Christian minister quote a verse in Ephesians 3:10. In my mind, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly in a strong, nearly audible voice, “That is not what it means. That verse is about the CoH.”
God urged me to look up the verse in the original language. I looked up the verse in the Blue Letter Bible website that combines “The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible” with six other references. Researching in Greek isn’t an easy task for anyone unfamiliar with the language. The Holy Spirit instilled the basic meaning in my thoughts, but now I had the task of proving that He had done so. There are 13 Greek words, each with a half-dozen definitions...I spent the entire day researching one small paragraph.
Here are the verses in the King James Version numbered where the Greek words occur:
(I.) To the intent (II.) that now (III.) unto the principalities (IV.) and (V.) powers (VI.) in (VII.) heavenly places (VIII.) might be known (IX.) by (X) the church (XI.) the manifold (XII.) wisdom of (XIII.) God (Ephesians 3:10)
The common interpretation is that the magnificent grace of God is now being seen among those in Heaven. It is displayed when He allowed Gentiles (non-Jewish) into a relationship with Him. The way the Greek has been translated into modern English in the current versions of the Bible would seem to make this statement accurate. However, everything inside of me screamed that it was wrong. Those in Heaven already know how wonderful God is, why would the church need to flaunt His goodness? It also didn’t flow with the preceding passages and those following this verse. While keeping the same words in the same place, here is what the Holy Spirit brought me:
(I.) In order that (II.) at this present time (III.) dominion (IV.) and (V.) the power of judicial decisions (VI.) among (VII.) things taking place in Heaven (VIII.) will be known (IX.) through (X.) the church: (XI.) The manifold (XII.) wisdom of (XIII.) God evinced in the forming and executing of His counsels.
Translated this way, it fits seamlessly into the verses before and after this one:
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9 AKJV)
In order that at this present time dominion and the power of judicial decisions among things taking place in Heaven will be known through the church: The manifold wisdom of God evinced in the forming and executing of His counsels. (Revised Verse 10)
According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. (Ephesians 3:11-12 AKJV)
This states that the eternal purpose of what Jesus did was to give us access to the Throne of God where judgments are rendered. The body of Christ has failed to take full advantage of the access our Lord has secured for us. Without using what Christ paid for, only one argument is heard in the CoH: Satan’s accusations.
In addition, judgments from God's Throne are seen in an additional verse in the New Testament:
…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment… (2 Peter 2:9 ESV)
There are decisions that will continue to come from the Throne, after receiving a judgment against us, until the day of judgment. We need to know the individual components of the Courts and the procedures used there if we are going to be of use to our God according to the organization of Heaven.
Access to the Courts
We are citizens of a new kingdom when we take Jesus as our Lord.
The Father has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…(Colossians 1:13 AMPC)
And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in Heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in Heaven) who have been made perfect… (Hebrews 12:23 AMPC)
A citizen has a right to seek justice or defend themselves before the judge of the kingdom they reside in.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 KJV)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14 KJV)
But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name… (John 1:12 KJV)
Citizens have a right to come before a king, but as a child of a king, you are heard by a king because of a place of special privilege. How much more so with our heavenly Father and our King, Jesus? We are sons and daughters of the Judge, children of the Most High. This is what gives us access to the courtroom of Heaven to come before the Judge of Heaven and Earth.
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