OVERVIEW

In the Bible, heaven can mean two things. First, it refers to the sky and all that's in it (the stars, clouds, and air). This is often called "the heavens" instead of just heaven. Sometimes this space is also called the "lower heaven." It is a physical place that we can see and feel. We read about the heavens in passages such as these:

1. Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2. Psalm 19:1: The heavens tell of the glory of God. / The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:40: There are bodies in the heavens, and there are bodies on earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the beauty of the earthly bodies.

The second meaning for heaven might be called "upper heaven." It is not a place that we can see and feel; it is a spiritual place. This is what we are talking about when we say that when someone dies he or she goes to heaven. This is where God's people gather around the throne of God. We read about heaven in passages such as these:

1. Genesis 28:12: As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down on it.
2. Nehemiah 9:6: You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve and give life to everything, and all the angels of heaven worship you. [This shows both uses of the term.]
3. Luke 6:23: A great reward awaits you in heaven.

The Hebrew word for heaven was understood to be plural. It referred to more than one thing.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Old Testament writers viewed the physical heavens as a firmament appearing as a great arch supported on foundations and pillars (2 Samuel 22:8). This heaven spread out above the earth, with rain descending through its doors (Psalm 78:23). The most descriptive Old Testament passages about the physical heavens are Psalm 8 and Psalm 19:1-6. The Old Testament speaks of familiar elements of the heavens.

1. The clouds (Psalm 147:8)
2. The winds (Zechariah 2:6)
3. The rain (Deuteronomy 11:11)
4. The thunder (1 Samuel 2:10)
5. The dew (Deuteronomy 33:13)
6. The frost (Job 38:29)

The Old Testament also mentions destructive forces from the heavens like hail (Joshua 10:11) and fire (Genesis 19:24).
Ancient Hebrews were aware of what we call outer space. They saw the sun, moon, planets and stars as God's glorious creation even though they didn't fully understand them. Some ancient nations worshiped the heavenly lights and associated gods and goddesses with them (Jeremiah 44:17-25). The Hebrews had been forbidden that form of worship. They were also prohibited from taking part in things like astrology, which looked to the heavens, instead of God, for wisdom (Isaiah 47:13-14). These laws and restrictions separated the Hebrews from the cultures around them.

The term "heaven of heavens" (Deuteronomy 10:14) is the English form of the Hebrew term, "the highest heaven." The Old Testament Hebrew term might be the counterpart to the New Testament expression "the third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2), which parallels the classical Greek idea of three heavens. The Roman Catholic medieval church adopted this way of thinking. Those who follow this approach think of the third heaven as the place reached by the souls of the blessed, the upper heaven. The first two heavens then are two lower regions: the atmosphere and outer space (containing the celestial bodies) and then the outlying universe.

At least two Old Testament saints, Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), went straight to heaven without dying first. They went directly from this life into God's presence.

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

JESUS TALKED ABOUT HEAVEN

Jesus referred to heaven as the dwelling place of God (Matthew 6:9). During his earthly ministry, he claimed that he had come from that heaven (John 3:13; 6:33-51). On at least three occasions utterances from heaven confirmed these claims. The apostle Paul refers to it as the "third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2). This place is so attached in meaning to the presence of God that the word "heaven" is often used as a synonym for God himself (Matthew 23:22; Luke 15:18).

After Jesus' ascension, or return to heaven, in view of his followers (Acts 1:6-11), two angels reminded the disciples that Jesus would return from heaven. This was later confirmed by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) and was restated in the summary of the teachings of the New Testament known as the Apostles' Creed. The connection between Jesus and God's dwelling place in heaven is woven throughout the New Testament and cannot be separated from the core of the message of Jesus' life and ministry. It is from the "right hand of God" that Christ forever lives to make intercession for those who have come to him by faith (Hebrews 7:25; compare Mark 14:62).

PAUL WROTE ABOUT HEAVEN

Paul teaches that the believer's body will be made like the body of Jesus Christ when Jesus returns from heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). Believers will need a heavenly body to match their heavenly citizenship. The term "citizens" refers to individuals who live in a foreign country while observing the laws of their homeland instead of the land in which they live (Acts 22:28). What does that mean for believers? They are to live according to the moral and ethical principles of heaven regardless of the standards of the world around them. Believers have been raised together with Christ and have been instructed to "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1). From there Christ has blessed his followers "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). The expression "in the heavenly places" suggests that the blessings of the spiritual world are not for some future time or place, but by faith they can be enjoyed here and now.

While on earth, believers look forward to a new heaven and a new earth containing the new Jerusalem (place of worship). There will be no tears, sorrow, pain, death, or night because the Son of God will be there (Revelation 21:1-4, 27; 22:1-5), and in the resurrected state there will be no marrying or giving in marriage (Luke 20:27-38). The apostle John also experienced heaven (Revelation 4:1), a heaven intended to be populated (19:1). All believers will ultimately dwell in heaven in their resurrection bodies, which they will receive when the Lord comes for them from heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Lord will also give treasures and rewards at that time (Matthew 5:12; 1 Corinthians 9:25).

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HEAVEN?

BIBLE READING: Matthew 22:23-33
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus replied, “Your problem is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)

OUR IDEAS ABOUT HEAVEN MUST BE BASED ON THE BIBLE

The Sadducees asked Jesus what marriage would be like in heaven. Jesus said it was more important to understand God’s power than know what heaven will be like. In every generation and culture, ideas of eternal life tend to be based on images and experiences of present life. Jesus answered that these faulty ideas are caused by ignorance of God’s Word. We must not make up our own ideas about God, eternity, and heaven by thinking of them in human terms. We should concentrate more on our relationship with God than about what heaven will look like. Eventually we will find out, and it will be far beyond our greatest expectations.

BIBLE READING: John 14:1-14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:2-3)

HEAVEN IS OPEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST

Jesus’ words show that the way to eternal life, though unseen, is secure-as secure as your trust in Jesus. He has already prepared the way to eternal life. The only issue that may still be unsettled is your willingness to believe.

JESUS IS PREPARING PLACES IN HEAVEN FOR HIS FOLLOWERS

There are few verses in Scripture that describe eternal life, but these few verses are rich with promises. Here Jesus says, “I am going to prepare a place for you,” and “I will come and get you.” We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus has promised it to all who believe in him. Although the details of eternity are unknown, we need not fear, because Jesus is preparing for us and will spend eternity with us.

BIBLE READING: Colossians 3:1-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

HEAVEN’S PRIORITIES CAN BE PART OF LIFE HERE ON EARTH

Letting heaven fill our thoughts means striving to put heaven’s priorities into daily practice and concentrating on the eternal rather than the temporal. (See Philippians 4:8-9 and Colossians 3:15 for more on Christ’s rule in our hearts and minds.)

FOCUSING ON HEAVENLY THINGS PUTS EARTHLY THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

The Christian’s real home is where Christ lives (John 14:2-3). This truth gives us a different perspective on our life here on earth. To “let heaven fill your thoughts” means to look at life from God’s perspective and to seek what he desires. This is the antidote to materialism; we gain the proper perspective on material goods when we take God’s view of them. The more we regard the world around us as God does, the more we will live in harmony with him. We must not become too attached to what is only temporary.

BIBLE READING: Revelation 4:1-5:14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: As I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” (Revelation 4:1)

IT ISN’T WHAT, BUT WHO IS IN HEAVEN THAT MATTERS

Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation record glimpses into Christ’s glory. Here we see into the throne room of heaven. God is on the throne and orchestrating all the events that John records. The world is not spinning out of control; the God of creation will carry out his plans as Christ initiates the final battle with the forces of evil. John shows us heaven before showing us earth so that we will not be frightened by future events.

Please stay tuned for more.