Commonwealth(Strong's #4177 — Noun Masculine — polites — pol-ee'-tace ) "a member of a city or state, or the inhabitant of a country or district," Luke 15:15 , is used elsewhere in Luke 19:14; Acts 21:39 , and, in the most authentic mss., in Hebrews 8:11 (where some texts have plesion, "a neighbor"). Apart from Hebrews 8:11 , the word occurs only in the writings of Luke (himself a Greek). 2: συμπολίτης(Strong's #4847 — Noun Masculine — sumpolites — soom-pol-ee'-tace ) sun, "with," and No. 1, denotes "a fellow-citizen," i.e., possessing the same "citizenship," Ephesians 2:19 , used metaphorically in a spiritual sense. 3: πολιτεία(Strong's #4174 — Noun Feminine — politeia — pol-ee-ti'-ah ) signifies (a) "the relation in which a citizen stands to the state, the condition of a citizen, citizenship," Acts 22:28 , "with a great sum obtained I this citizenship" (AV, "freedom"). While Paul's "citizenship" of Tarsus was not of advantage outside that city, yet his Roman "citizenship" availed throughout the Roman Empire and, besides private rights, included (1) exemption from all degrading punishments; (2) a right of appeal to the emperor after a sentence; (3) a right to be sent to Rome for trial before the emperor if charged with a capital offense. Paul's father might have obtained "citizenship" (1) by manumission; (2) as a reward of merit; (3) by purchase; the contrast implied in Acts 22:28 is perhaps against the last mentioned; (b) "a civil polity, the condition of a state, a commonwealth," said of Israel, Ephesians 2:12 . See COMMONWEALTH. 4: πολίτευμα(Strong's #4175 — Noun Neuter — politeuma — pol-it'-yoo-mah ) signifies "the condition, or life, of a citizen, citizenship;" it is said of the heavenly status of believers, Philippians 3:20 , "our citizenship (AV, "conversation") is in Heaven." The RV marg. gives the alternative meaning, "commonwealth," i.e., community. See COMMONWEALTH , FREEDOM. Note: Politeuo, Philippians 1:27 , signifies "to be a polites" (see No. 1), and is used in the Middle Voice, signifying, metaphorically, conduct characteristic of heavenly "citizenship," RV, "let your manner of life (AV, "conversation") be worthy (marg., "behave as citizens worthily") of the Gospel of Christ." In Acts 23:1 it is translated "I have lived." See CONVERSATION , LIVE.
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The Three Heavens
In Jewish thinking, there are three tiers to the heavens.
Earth's atmosphere the weather and clouds, where the birds fly, is the First Heaven.
The planets, sun, moon and stars occupy the Second Heaven.
The Third Heaven is the abode of God and the Angels.
New Jerusalem, therefore is in the Second Heaven.
The Apostle Paul visited the Third Heaven, 2 Corinthians 12.
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The Third Heaven
The Second Heaven
Planet Earth
One hundred ninety five nations are found on the earth today, each accountable to God the Creator whose throne is in the Third Heaven.
The orbiting city of New Jerusalem is in the Second Heaven.
Worldometers.info reports the present world population as 8019 million people.
See God's Strange Servants on Human Government and its purposes, (Ray Stedman).
When He ascended Jesus did not stop in New Jerusalem, the place He had prepared for His Bride. He ascended to the Third Heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, "there to wait until His enemies should be made a stool for His feet."
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