WHY ARE “THE HEAVENS NOT CLEAN IN GOD’S SIGHT?”
by Shawn Brasseaux
The world’s oldest book, the first Bible book written, already detailed for the nation Israel the following fact: “Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight” (Job 15:15). “Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight” (Job 25:5). But, what do these statements mean? Are stars rational beings capable of sinning? (As one theologian of old claimed.) We will be Berean Bible students and compare some verses.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This is the Bible’s opening verse. When God created the heaven and the earth, He created ranks of government in each realm. Note Colossians 1:16-17: “[16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” By the Lord Jesus Christ, all things were created. The “things” here are offices of government—“thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers.” Furthermore, Ephesians 1:21 talks about “mights” and “every name that is named.” There are various offices of government in Heaven and in Earth. Just as we see offices of government on planet Earth, similar ranks are in Heaven—although, in Heaven, these offices and their occupants are invisible. Heaven is a real place, an organized place, with angelic beings holding jobs and performing various tasks.
God meant mankind to function in Earth’s governments for His glory. We read in Genesis chapter 1: “[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Of course, Adam (the first man) later sinned and lost his place as King of the Earth. But, before man sinned, there was a rebellion in the government of Heaven. We read about this in Isaiah chapter 14: “[12] How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Ezekiel 28:12-19 is God speaking to the King of Tyrus, but more specifically, He is talking to the evil spirit working behind the King of Tyrus. God is talking to Satan, Lucifer: “[12] Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. [13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. [14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [16] By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. [17] Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. [18] Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. [19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.”
Ezekiel tells us in verse 16 that Lucifer enticed a number of angelic beings to rebel against Jesus Christ with him. These are what we call “fallen angels.” They fell from the third heaven (God’s throne). “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Returning to Job, we read: “Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight” (Job 15:15). And,”Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight” (Job 25:5). In the context, these verses refer to fallen angels. Remember, Satan is persecuting Job, and Job is aware of the angelic conflict, the battle between God and Satan, and the battle between good angels and bad angels.
Hence, the Apostle Paul spoke of “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). “High places” is synonymous with “heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6). Outer space is filled with Satan and his minions’ activities. Ephesians 2:2 calls Satan “the prince of the power of the air.” Thankfully, they will be kicked out of heaven one day (Revelation 12:7-11) and we will take their places (Ephesians 1:3,20-23; Ephesians 2:6-7)!
Job 15:15 and Job 25:5 are not talking about literal, physical spheres of burning gas in outer space that have sinned. Rather, it is outer space with respect to evil angelic beings functioning there. Their place will be found no more in heaven by the time we reach Revelation 12:7-11 (future from our day). That means these evil beings still have access to outer space (the second heaven) today. They will not be confined to hell until Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory at His Second Coming.
God will establish His kingdom in the heavenly places first. When we are caught up into heaven at the Rapture, He will remove the evil angelic powers from heaven, and install us the Church the Body of Christ in their places. Once Jesus Christ returns to Earth, He will remove the evil spirits from earth and cast them into hell. Thus, Ephesians 1:10 will be fulfilled: “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”
SUPPLEMENTAL: “THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”
The so-called “Lord’s Prayer”—or “‘Our Father’ Prayer”—features the phrase, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Should we pray this as Christendom does so often today? No.
Since the heavens are not clean in God’s sight (Job 15:15; cf. Job 25:5), and since Satan will not be removed from outer space until the future (middle of the seven-year Tribulation—Revelation 12:7-12), it makes no sense for us in the Dispensation of Grace to pray that God’s will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. God’s will is not being done in heaven today. It will be in the future. After our Dispensation of Grace, God’s will shall be accomplished in the heavenly places. Then, Israel can rightfully pray in light of that. As God used us (Body of Christ) to establish His heavenly kingdom, so Israel will pray for God to use them to establish His earthly kingdom. For more information, see our study below, “Should we pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer?’”
Also see:
» What are Satan’s operations today?
» Did God give free will to angels as He gave to mankind?
» Should we pray “The Lord’s Prayer?”
