New Testament Witness of Kingdoms of Glory - Luke 15

The New Testament has very little direct reference to understanding the organization of the Kingdom of God the way that it has since been revealed to Joseph Smith. But now that we know more about how the Kingdom of God is organized, we can look back and understand more clearly what was meant by Jesus.

In Luke 15, it is instructive to note that it is one parable with three sections. This becomes clear when we look at verse 3 where it says, "he spake this parable [singular] unto them." There is also a very clear single theme of saving that which is lost throughout the whole parable. It is clear that this parable is talking about heaven because it has direct reference to heaven in three verses (7, 18, 21) and talks about "in the presence of the angels of God" which is understood to also be in heaven. (10)

The first part represents the highest kingdom in God's kingdom (celestial kingdom) where many are compared to sheep and are righteous; and, the chosen who go astray are brought back. In several places in scripture sheep are used as a symbol of the righteous or of Christ Himself.

The second part appears to me to represent the middle kingdom of heaven (terrestrial kingdom) where they were focused a lot on the worldly things in this life, like money. I also see a correlation to the reference of the angels in heaven because it is said that these people will, "receive of His glory, but not of His fullness." And they will be ministered to by angels from the higher kingdom.

The third part, related to the prodigal (wasteful) son, seems to me to fit well with the lowest kingdom in the kingdom of heaven (celestial kingdom), where many of them went astray in this life and suffer. As it says in the parable, "wasted his substance with riotous living ... [and] hath devoured thy living with harlots." This is akin to those, "who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie." But then they, "suffer the wrath of God on earth ... [and] the vengeance of eternal fire" until they 'come to themselves' and after they are dead, both spiritually and physically, will decide to come back to God and will be accepted into His kingdom after they repent.

These will not have a full inheritance or reward but will still be home in heaven. They are described as, "These are they who receive not of His fulness in the eternal world." These people are described as, "the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh." The father said of the younger son, "thy brother was dead, and is alive again." And we learn of those who go to the lowest kingdom of God, "the dead who repent will be redeemed, ... And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation." Paying the penalty of his transgressions is demonstrated by the prodigal son, who was dead ("I perish with hunger"), working in the fields feeding swine. But he came to himself and made a resolution to repent, relying on the merits, mercy, and grace of his father to save him. The repentance demonstrated in this portion of the parable is rich, powerful, and very symbolic of what all must do to repent. This repentance, given to all who chose to accept it, is the work of God acting in us, when His work becomes our work.

Reference links will be added later.