Authored By :
Bill Kochman
Published On :
May 27, 1997
Last Updated :
November 6, 2012
NOTE: This article or series has not been updated recently. As such, it may possibly contain some outdated information, and/or ideas and beliefs which I no longer embrace, or which have changed to some degree.
Possible Location Of Central Throne Area, Mount Zion And New Jerusalem, Shape Of Heavenly City, Satan Is A Usurper And A Great Imitator, Ancient Pyramids Human Sacrifices And Their False Religions, Famous Modern Pyramid-Shaped Buildings, Las Vegas Sins Of The Flesh And Money, Heavenly City Is Lit By The Light Of God And The Lamb, Our Blessed Hope, Restitution Of All Things And Universal Reconciliation, God's Ways Are Past Finding Out, Do Modern Scientists And Astronomers Tell Us All That They Know?, Extrasolar Planets And Possibility Of Intelligent Life Existing In Other Parts Of Our Galaxy Or The Universe, My Overall Opinion Regarding Urantia Book, Beware Of False Brethren False Doctrines And The Wolves In Sheep's Clothing, Compare The Urantia Book To The Bible And Not The Bible To The Urantia Book, Willful Deception, Dire Consequences Of Promoting The Urantia Book, Apostasy: The Falling Away From The Truth Of God's Word, Deceptions Of New Age, Immerse Yourself In God's Word And Learn The Truth
Continuing our discussion from part three concerning God's Celestial Government, perhaps some of you may be wondering where the Central Throne Area is located within the Heavenly City, which Revelation refers to as New Jerusalem. While I obviously cannot confirm this particular point by quoting from the Scriptures, my personal belief is that the physical location of this wonderful Head of Government may be at the summit or apex of the pyramid-shaped Heavenly City, which is likewise referred to in the Bible as Mount Zion. Consider the following verses which confirm this point:
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
Hebrews 11:13-16, KJV
"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,"
Hebrews 12:22, KJV
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
Revelation 3:12, KJV
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads."
Revelation 14:1, KJV
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband . . . And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."
Revelation 21:2, 16, KJV
While some artists prefer to depict New Jerusalem as a golden cube due to the description that is provided in the previous verse, I am more inclined to believe that what may really be described is a great pyramid. As I point out in a number of my articles, Satan is both a usurper and a great imitator. We clearly see reflections of this truth in some of the ancient structures which dot the planet; from the pyramids of Egypt, to the ziggurats of Mesopotamia and Persia, to the pyramids which are likewise found throughout Mexico, Central America, and other nations of Latin America. It should not escape us that many of these ancient pyramids were the site of violent human sacrifices. In my view, this leaves no doubt regarding who inspired these edifices, as well as the false religions which were associated with them. As we learned in part two of this series, Satan is both a liar, as well as a murderer.
We witness this very same architectural design in a number of modern buildings as well. Following is a partial list of some of the more impressive pyramid-shaped structures in the modern world:
1. Arabian Blade in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (planned)
2. Dubai City Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (planned)
3. Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France
4. Luxor Hotel in the Devil's playground of Las Vegas, Nevada
5. Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee
6. Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea
7. Shimizu TRY 2004 Mega-City Pyramid in Tokyo, Japan (planned)
8. Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, California
9. Walter Pyramid stadium in Long Beach, California
Why is it that modern man is so fascinated by the pyramidal design, and who inspires him to build such structures? If we consider the fact that many of these huge buildings are for the most part devoted to Big Business and making a profit, or else in some way cater to the sinful desires of the flesh, it is not difficult to determine that the entity behind these structures appears to be the false god of this current world, who as we have already seen, is Satan himself. Whenever I am reminded of Las Vegas, I can only think of one thing; and that is the following verses which I shared with you earlier in this series:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
1 John 2:15-17, KJV
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
2 Corinthians 4:4, KJV
On a more positive note, returning to the topic of our future home -- that is, Mount Zion or New Jerusalem -- I can almost imagine how the glorious Light of our Heavenly Father and His beloved Son Jesus Christ will emanate from the summit of this one thousand five hundred mile high Super-Structure which will someday descend to the Earth. Consider these inspiring verses:
"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
Revelation 21:22-23, KJV
Regarding the Heavenly Hierarchy, aside from the descriptions that I provided in the previous paragraphs, other points such as exactly who is who, what their names are, what positions they hold, and what their different responsibilities are, are simply a matter of speculation and imagination, because the Bible simply does not provide detailed information concerning them. For the Urantia Book to state otherwise as it does, is utterly false and unprovable. It is an invention and doctrine of men. We can all only hope that in God's appointed time, we will come to fully understand and experience the realities of the Spirit World; for this is indeed the Blessed Hope which lies within the heart of every Christian. Consider these inspiring verses:
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
1 Corinthians 2:9, KJV
"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
Galatians 5:5, KJV
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"
Ephesians 1:18, KJV
"We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;"
Colossians 1:3-5, KJV
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
1 Peter 3:15, KJV
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
John 14:2-3, KJV
Concerning the Urantia Book's claim that we belong to a "local universe" which it refers to as "Nebadon", which is supposedly a part of a much larger multi-universe system, I honestly do not know. It would be foolish of me to suggest what God can or cannot do based on the limitations of my own human understanding. I will say, however, that as far as I am concerned, the name "Nebadon" is a piece of fiction. Let me also point out that in one of his sermons that is found in the Book of Acts, the Apostle Peter does speak concerning the restitution of all things through Christ. In reading the verse below, my personal impression is that the scope of the restitution of which Peter speaks is limited to humanity on Planet Earth. After all, this is the very reason why Jesus came to our world. Consider this verse:
"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
Acts 3:21, KJV
In his second Epistle to the brethren at Corinth, the Apostle Paul also broached this particular topic, and likewise seems to indicate that when he speaks of reconciliation, he is not referring to some form of universal reconciliation -- as in the entire Universe -- but rather to reconciliation with the the people who dwell on Planet Earth alone. Consider these verses, and notice how Paul specifically writes "reconciling the world unto himself". In other words, he speaks of this world, and not the entire Universe:
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
2 Corinthians 5:18-19, KJV
Of course, as I noted a moment ago, none of us really knows or understands the Mind of God, the full scope of His Power, or the extent of the excellency of His Will. As such, I think the following verses are very appropriate for this topic:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9, KJV
"Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number."
Job 9:10, KJV
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"
Romans 11:33, KJV
In spite of the current state of science and technology, we still don't know the extent of our physical Universe. Based upon the Creation Account that we find in Genesis, I have a lot of doubts regarding some of the facts and figures which are presented to us by modern-day scientists and astronomers. I sometimes wonder if we are being given the full picture, or if perhaps there may be certain information that they are purposely withholding from us, for whatever their reasons.
As I explain in such articles as the eight-part series called "Alien Life, Extrasolar Planets and Universal Atonement", I have seriously considered the possibility that the account we find in the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis, may have been written from an Earthly perspective, as a way to help us to understand the process of Creation in our own part of the galaxy. It is indeed wonderful and awe-inspiring to imagine that we may just be one small part of the greater story of the Creation of Life in the Universe; but is there any truth to this view?
Even thinking in this fashion provokes some rather profound questions. If there are other planets in our galaxy -- which modern science refers to as extrasolar planets -- or in some other galaxy, or perhaps even in some other universe, which are populated by intelligent beings who are similar to our own species, then God must have His particular reasons for keeping us isolated from each other by such insurmountable distances. In addition, if Planet Earth is but one of many life-inhabited planets, then we should indeed feel greatly honored that the Almighty God -- El Shaddai -- and His Son Jesus Christ have chosen Planet Earth to be the future home of their Supreme Headquarters, as is born out in the Book of Revelation.
These are only a few of the tough questions which challenge our Earth-centric existence when we consider the possibility of intelligent life existing on other planets. Please refer to the aforementioned series if you wish to further explore my personal thoughts regarding this profound issue. While I have personally been willing to consider these possibilities, allow me to remind you that based on the previous Scriptures concerning restitution and reconciliation, I do not dismiss the possibility that the Urantia Book's discussion of other universes may be just another satanic lie and delusion that is being used to exalt that demonic work.
In summarizing my thoughts regarding the Urantia Book, taken as a whole, my overall impression is that it is a New Age lie and deception. As I mentioned earlier in this series, it may contain certain elements of truth, as a lot of Satan's evil propaganda does; but any morsels of truth which it does have, are just the bait to catch a person off-guard, so that they will be spiritually mangled in his mousetrap of deception.
I remain convinced that any person who claims that the Bible is nothing but a book full of myths, or who denies that the only way to Salvation and Eternal Life is through the atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, is both a liar and a tool of Satan. According to the Apostle John, such people are in fact antichrists. If you are wise, you will not spend one minute listening to them, and you will avoid them at all cost as we are commanded to do in the Scriptures.
As I pointed out in part one, these deceivers are just false brethren and wolves in sheep's clothing. These so-called "New Christians" who promote the Urantia Book can talk about God and Jesus Christ all they want; but by criticizing the Bible, and denying the Sacrifice of Christ, they are clearly showing their true colors. They are similar to the false brethren of the First Century who tried to bring the Early Disciples back under the bondage of circumcision and other aspects of the Mosaic Law, just as the Hebraic Roots Movement, the Sacred Name Movement, and related legalistic groups try to do today. Allow me to share a few additional verses with you which I did not include in part one, and be warned:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Matthew 7:15-20, KJV
"Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves."
Luke 10:3, KJV
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
Acts 20:28-30, KJV
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
Romans 16:17, KJV
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:6-9, KJV
"But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."
Galatians 2:3-5, KJV
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
Ephesians 4:14, KJV
"Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision."
Philippians 3:2, KJV
"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do."
1 Timothy 1:3-4, KJV
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."
1 Timothy 6:3-5, KJV
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
2 Timothy 3:13, KJV
"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."
Titus 3:9-11, KJV
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."
Hebrews 13:9, KJV
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."
2 John 1:10-11, KJV
We should all pray -- as I have done -- that the misguided followers of the Urantia Book will come around to accepting the knowledge of the Truth, as it is revealed in God's Holy Word, the Bible. Instead of making the mistake of comparing the Bible with the Urantia Book and erroneously claiming that the Bible is false or inaccurate, the Urantians should compare the Urantia Book with the Bible instead. If they do this with open hearts, they will hopefully determine that the Urantia Book strongly contradicts the Bible on major doctrinal points, beginning with the necessity of the Blood Atonement of Jesus Christ.
As I explained earlier in this series, anyone who continues to read and believe in the Urantia Book after becoming aware of its demonic origin and its deceptive doctrines, has by their own conscious decision willfully chosen to be deceived. Please note that if you are one who has done this, God will hold you accountable for your actions. Furthermore, if you knowingly induce other people to believe in the lies of the Urantia Book as well, according to Jesus' own words, some day you will face very dire consequences, as we see by the following verse:
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
Matthew 18:6, KJV
Please note that in the previous verse, the word "offend" is actually derived from the Greek word "skandalizo". It is from this word that we derive our English words scandal and scandalize. While it is translated as "offend" in the New Testament, Thayer's Greek English Lexicon defines this word as meaning to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another person may trip and fall. In other words, Jesus is referring to causing someone to fall away from believing in Him as the Son of God and Savior of the world, who died on the Cross for our sins. This notion of tripping or falling relates to what the Apostle Paul says regarding the conditions which would exist at the time of the revelation of the Antichrist, as we see here:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
2 Thessalonians 2:3, KJV
In the previous verse, the words "falling away" are derived from the Greek word "apostasia". This word refers to falling away, a defection or apostasy. This is the same thing that Jesus is talking about in the previous verse from the Gospel of Matthew where the word "offend" is used. One of the main reasons why so many people are falling away -- or stumbling -- from our Christian faith and the doctrines of the Bible, is because they are being deceived and led astray by these false prophets and New Age babblers who are confusing them with all kinds of powerful lies and strange tales regarding alleged aliens and UFO encounters, the so-called "Space Brothers" and their "Great White Brotherhood", channeled "new revelations" from beyond, supposed "heavenly" visions, and other nonsense. Jesus continues to warn against these offenders and deceivers by saying the following:
"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"
Matthew 18:7, KJV
To reiterate, these "offences", or stumbling blocks -- from the Greek word "skandalon" -- are the lies, deceptions and false doctrines which are causing so many people to be led astray from their faith in the Saving Grace of God through the atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As we have clearly seen in this series, this is precisely what the Urantia Book does. It in fact causes people to doubt God's true inspired Word, and to fall away and stumble.
But why are these people becoming deceived in the first place? As I point out in some of my other articles, it is simply because they do not have a strong foundation in God's Word. They don't know what is false, because they don't know what is true. As I have so often said, the way in which a bank teller can recognize a counterfeit dollar bill, is by first familiarizing himself with a real dollar bill. So too, we must immerse ourselves in God's Word, so that when Satan comes along with his lies via one of his false prophets or so-called New Age "light workers", we will recognize it for what it is. Do you? I cannot overemphasize this point. Here are some verses regarding the topic of studying God's Word for your thoughtful consideration:
"Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."
Job 23:12, KJV
"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
Psalm 19:10, KJV
"BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
Psalm 119:9, KJV
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Psalm 119:11, KJV
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Matthew 4:4, KJV
"Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old."
Matthew 13:52, KJV
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
John 5:39, KJV
"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
Acts 17:10-11, KJV
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Romans 10:17, KJV
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."
1 Timothy 5:17, KJV
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15, KJV
Please go to part five for the conclusion of this series.
⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .