Defining the Secret Place

VIDEO: Defining the Secret Place

Defining Heaven

People who have had a near-death experience (NDE) or have been taken to Heaven, explain it as vivid beyond description. This is one part or one aspect of Heaven. To fully understand experiencing Heaven in this way, we must look to the Word of God.

The Old Testament is written in Hebrew and the New Testament was originally written in Greek. If we look to the language of God’s people, the Hebrew word most often used for Heaven is shamayim. It refers to the “unseen” or “invisible” realm and is both singular and plural. Most Christians agree that Heaven is a “spirit realm” because Jesus declared that God is a spirit being:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24 AKJV)

Since Jesus is God’s Son, He knows exactly what God is. Since God is a spirit being and we know that He lives in shamayim or Heaven, the logical assumption is that Heaven is a spirit realm or dimension. It is a place we cannot contact by means of our natural physical senses.

God is a tripartite: a three-part being – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We were created in the “image of” or “likeness of” God. (Genesis 1:26) We have three parts to our being: 

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 AKJV)

If we did not have three parts, Paul would not have mentioned each part specifically in this scripture. Each part of our being has a function:

• Spirit – our inner being that is like God. Most of the time we cannot see nor feel this part of our being with our natural bodies 
• Soul – our mind, will, and emotions
• Body – our physical selves

When we read the Bible, we need to be aware of the two separate languages we are reading: Hebrew and Greek. Ruwach is a Hebrew word meaning spirit, and is translated as “spirit.” Often in the New Testament, our spirit is often referred to as our “inner man” or our “heart.” God is a spirit, and like Him, this is the part of a man that lives forever. It is through our spirit that we can connect with Heaven. 

Heaven is mentioned as God’s dwelling place, in the books of Amos, Genesis, Corinthians, and Matthew. The New Testament establishes Heaven as a place where God rules from:

“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 AMPC) 

Two scriptures that help us establish Heaven as an actual place are here:

It is He Who builds His upper chambers in the heavens and Who founds His vault over the earth, Who calls to the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth—The Lord is His name. (Amos 9:6 AMPC)

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up to the Third Heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2 AMPC)

Paul mentions the “Third Heaven.” The Bible doesn’t mention the First or Second Heaven, but it is logical to assume that if there is a Third Heaven there is a First and a Second.

The First Heaven is widely accepted as being the part of Heaven that surrounds the planet. I like to think of it as the part of Heaven that actually touches Earth. Since nothing is actually written in the Bible about the Second Heaven we have to surmise that it is from what we do know. The First Heaven is where earth connects with the realm of the spirit, the Third Heaven is where God lives, so we can surmise that the Second Heaven is somewhere in between. I believe, based on the following verses, that it is where Satan and his minions currently reside.

Now war arose in Heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in Heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:7-9 ESV)

This war in Heaven is due to take place before Jesus’ second coming and during the Tribulation. This chapter in Revelation is a chronological list of events. The verse prior to this reveals the timing of expelling Satan from Heaven:

And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three-and one-half years). (Revelation 12:6 AMPC)

Before Satan is kicked out, the Jewish nation once again must flee into the desert for three and one-half years during the final Tribulation period. Since this hasn’t happened yet, Satan still remains somewhere in Heaven. Jesus told His followers: 

...I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from Heaven. (Luke 10:18 AMPC)

There are two possibilities here. Either Jesus was talking about a future event or Satan was kicked out of the Third Heaven, God’s primary residence. The truth is that it doesn’t really matter. Heaven operates under a set of rules we aren’t fully aware of. Satan rules the Earth, but still resides in the spiritual realm. He isn’t on Earth yet, so he is still in Heaven, therefore, the Second Heaven is one possibility. 

The important thing to remember when discussing visits to Heaven is that Satan loves to imitate God (Isaiah 14:14): He is called the deceiver (Revelation 12:9), and even tried to fool Jesus by quoting scripture (Matthew 4). He often appears as an “Angel of Light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).  He can appear in a form we usually recognize as God or Jesus. We must learn to test the spirits as John told us to do (1 John 4). That is a topic covered in the many of the courses at the Courts of Heaven Academy focused on the Courts of Heaven.

In Heaven

The most difficult thing for us to comprehend as human beings living in a physical world, is how we can be located in more than one place at the same time. We are both on Earth and in Heaven. The spiritual part of our beings that we cannot see is actually in the spirit world. This is addressed in both the Old and New Testaments:

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word (1 Kings 17:1 KJV)

Elijah is saying that he is standing before God, at that present moment, as he is speaking. He further claims that as he speaks words in the presence of God, they will come to pass. This means our spirit-being exists in Heaven and what we do here can be seen and heard in Heaven. 

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in Heaven. (John 3:13 KJV) 

This is Jesus speaking. He is saying that He is in Heaven as He is speaking to them. The Lord is referring to Himself as the “Son of man” indicating that He is doing this as a man, not because He is God. 

Jesus also told us that as He is in this world, so are we (1 John 4:17). He is our example of what we should be doing. Jesus was aware that while He was here on Earth, He was also in Heaven. 

Think of it like an echo. What we do here is echoed in the spirit realm. When I am in the Secret Place, what I am feeling is played out in vivid scenes before my eyes: If I am upset, I storm around and if I am happy, I laugh out loud. 

With part of our being existing in Heaven, what rights do we have there? The Bible has much to say about that.

Your Rights in Heaven

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:18-19 KJV)

And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven… (Hebrews 12:23 AMPC)

An ambassador is a citizen of another country who acts as a representative of that country. Since every Christian is an ambassador of Heaven, it means they are a citizen of Heaven. 

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us... (2 Corinthians 5:20 AMPC)

Should not a citizen of a country be allowed to visit the said country? How can an ambassador accurately represent a country if they have never visited? Paul had previously written to the Corinthians:

But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:7-8 AMPC)

Before Jesus died, the full purpose of that imminent death was hidden, but it is now revealed. God has released the wisdom that through the death of Jesus we can be lifted up into His presence. In the King James Version of the Bible, the Greek word doxa, translates as “glory” and in the Amplified version of the Bible “glorification.” According to the “Thayer’s Greek Lexicon of the New Testament,” it means “of that condition with God the Father in Heaven to which Christ was raised after He had achieved his work on earth.” 

The additional verse 1 Corinthians 2:8 is included so that one could see that if  the enemy had known the outcome of crucifying Jesus, he wouldn’t have done it. Likewise, Satan thought he was getting rid of Him and did not realize that Jesus would go to Heaven for council with God and enforce God’s will on Earth. Satan is not all-knowing like God and had no idea that by crucifying the Son of God, it would open up the way for all of God’s children to visit with Him, and allow thousands to enforce the will of God on the earth!

Don’t Seek Heaven?

Satan would love for people not to seek meetings with God in Heaven. Perhaps, you have heard this verse quoted about visiting Heaven: 

But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) (Romans 10:6 ESV)

In this verse, there are two things we must examine. First, what is this topic of the surrounding verses? The previous chapter is dedicated to explaining why Jews were not going to go to Heaven because they were obeying the Law of Moses and were trying to become righteous through their own works instead of becoming righteous through faith. 

Second, there are quotes within the text around the words “Do not say…” indicating that the writer is quoting another source. This is a direct quote from Deuteronomy. 

It is not in Heaven that you should say, “Who will ascend to Heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” (Deuteronomy 30:12 ESV)

When you research the rest of that chapter, you will find that this is explaining that the Law of Moses is enough and the Hebrew people shouldn’t be asking for someone new to go to Heaven and bring back a new law from God. The Jewish audience to whom Paul was writing would have known that the quote was referring to the desire for new laws to come. This is why Paul pointed out that this would “bring Christ down.” A new law or way to Heaven would undo what Jesus did with his death, resurrection, and ascension. 

Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. (John 14:6 AMPC)

Jesus is the way into Heaven and into the Father’s presence. This is why Paul quoted scripture from the Old Testament telling them not to look for someone else to ascend and provide another way. With this information we can see that instructions in the Book of Romans are clearly about looking for someone other than Jesus, to bring a new law for the Jewish people. They were trying to find a way around Jesus’ fulfillment of the scripture. This must have been an issue many were having because Paul reiterated the point to the Galatians:

But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 KJV)  

The word “gospel” means good news. Visiting Heaven isn’t about getting a “new” message. It is about fully defining the message we already have. Furthermore, angelic visitation and visits to Heaven should always line up with the scriptures put forth in the Bible. This is one of the safeguards we will discuss later in greater detail.

The Old Testament has many people visiting or seeing Heaven. The most notable ones are: 

Old Testament:

• Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17)
• Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1)
• Jacob (Genesis 28:10-19)

Some argue that the time for such visits ended when Christ ascended into Heaven. These are people who visited or saw Heaven in the New Testament:

New Testament:

• John (Revelation)
• Paul (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
• Stephen (Acts 7:55-56)

This is ample proof that Heavenly visits are for the Christian Church. The entire Book of Revelation is about the Apostle John’s Heavenly visit. Paul, who authored two-thirds of the New Testament also visited Heaven and preached about it.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up to the third heaven. And I know that this man—whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into paradise, and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4 AMPC)

Most commentaries on this chapter believe that Paul is referring to his very own visit to Heaven and he is informing the Corinthians that he will be speaking about this matter when he comes. If Paul was speaking about heavenly visits, either his own or another’s, then visiting Heaven must not only be scriptural, but an important matter. 

There are notable contemporary religious figures from various branches of Christianity who have visited Heaven. Over the last two decades more and more people have come forth with stories about miraculous encounters and their travels to Heaven. Well-known ministers who were once silent on the topic have begun to share their testimonies about visits to their home in Heaven. It may be hard to believe some of the stories; perhaps, that is why many of these events are accompanied by miraculous healing. As the number of reports increases, I am sure there is at least one that will seem plausible to you.

The Secret Place

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2-3 ESV)

Most people think these “rooms” Jesus spoke of only apply to what will take place once we pass from this life to the next. I know that these “rooms” are for visitations during our lives here on Earth. The Lord has shown them to me on numerous occasions. They are small areas, attached to God’s Throne in Heaven. A forcefield dome surrounds individual areas that have been created for you to interact with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Trying to describe a “forcefield” bubble dome to people of Biblical times would have been difficult. A “room” or a “mansion” describes a space set aside for each person. It also implies a protected place, sheltered from the outside. 

If you look at the longest recorded prayer of our Lord, you can see that He was trying to reassure His disciples that even though He was leaving, they would still have access to Him. In the first part of the prayer, He states that He is praying not only for His disciples, but also for everyone who will believe in Him based on their words (John 17:20). Then He continues with:

Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory… (John 17:24 AMPC)

Jesus is stating that we should be allowed to be where He is. He is in Heaven. If you have read the other books in the Believers’ Boot Camp series, you know that there is power in the prayer of agreement.

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven. (Matthew 18:19 ESV)

We know that God exists in every moment of time throughout eternity. Jesus asked this when He was on Earth. His prayers were always answered by God. He would not have prayed for something that was against the will of God. We can come into agreement with Jesus’ prayer and we have the power of two agreeing on Earth as touching one thing: our visit to Heaven. Be sure and use the verses above as God loves it when we quote His word to Him.

Visiting with Jesus seemed to be more common in the time of the apostles. The book of Acts speaks about it:

And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached to you:  (Acts 3:20 AKJV)

“Strong’s Concordance” translates the Greek word apostellō as “send.” The full meaning is “to order (one) to go to a place appointed.” Many have interpreted this verse to mean Jesus coming into their hearts. However, if you read the verse prior to it, this is clearly shown not to be the case:

Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And He shall send Jesus Christ... (Acts 3:19-20 AKJV)

This verse is referring to the intangible presence of the Lord and is followed by God sending Christ to you for a visit. The presence of Jesus is great, but visiting with Him is even better! 

There is much in the Old Testament about “The Secret Place of the Most High.” Probably the most well-known is the Psalms:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NKJV)

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me… (Psalm 27:5 AMPC)

What is the difference between visiting Heaven and visiting the Secret Place? The Secret Place is a specific location in Heaven we can occupy while we reside on Earth. It is located inside God’s house. It is a place to “dwell” and “hide in” where we are strengthened by the Lord.

In 2016 the Holy Spirit told me I would write, “Roadmap to Heaven” to explain to others how to visit with Jesus. However, I was given the task of writing the first three books in the Believers’ Boot Camp series first so that readers would have the tools they needed once they too began visiting the Holy Trinity in the Secret Place of the Most High. Little did I know that the Lord wanted an academy developed from these teachings so they could be fully employed by God’s children. If you have not yet started the main body of classes, I would suggest you begin the Foundations classes right away. These classes can and should be done at the same time while we continue learning about how to enter the Secret Place.

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