The New Heaven And New Earth
37. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God .
38. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them .
39. But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven .
40. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come .
41. You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect .
42. I will cause showers to come down in their season there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land and they shall know that I am the Lord .
There shall be showers of blessing.
Angels Call Heaven A Place
After Jesus ascension, angels said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. .
The angels refer to heaven as an actual place. Jesus left Earth and went somewhere else he didnt just acquire an improved state of mind. Jesus was taken from Earth and taken up and into heaven.
Is Heaven A Literal Place Simply A State Of Mind Or Kind Of A Dream
Heaven is a literal place. It is not an imaginary world or fantasy land in which to dwell. God created Heaven with its vast array of authentic characteristics . Jesus did not ascend to a lofty dream world following His resurrection, but returned to sit at the right hand of God . Abraham didnt cling to the promise of living in a state of mind he looked forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God . The Old Testament heroes of faith longed for a literal place a better country a heavenly one for has prepared a city for them . Jesus told His disciples, You know the way to the place where I am going . That place is Heaven and Christ our Savior is there now, preparing for our arrival.
Having confidence that Heaven is a literal place is important, but even more so is that we know how to get there.
The only GPS that can give you flawless direction is the Gospel Plan of Salvation.
Jesus said,
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Excerpted with permission from The Heaven Answer Book by Billy Graham, copyright Thomas Nelson.
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Heaven On The Sides Of The North
Let us consider a passage in the Bible which clearly declares where heaven is. Isaiah 14:12-14 says:
How you have fallen from heaven, O Daystar, son of the dawn!How you have been hewn down to earth, You who made nations fall prostrate!But you, you said in your heart: I will ascend to heaven Above the stars of God I will exalt my throne.And I will sit upon the mount of assembly On the sides of the north.I will ascend above the heights of the clouds I will be like the Most High.
Vol. 02: The Word of the Cross, Chapter 6, by Watchman Nee)
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What Is The Third Heaven In The Bible
The third heaven is mentioned only one time in the Bible, by Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years agowhether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knowssuch a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a manwhether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knowswas caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
Paul meant the highest heaven, where God resides, as opposed to the first heaven the air where birds fly, or the second heaven the universe with stars and planets. Notice that he also calls it Paradise this is the same word Jesus used on the cross, when He told the man on the cross beside Him, Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise. Its also used in Revelation 2:7, where the tree of life is said to be in the Paradise of God.
Some groups teach that there are three heavens or degrees of glory where people go after their resurrection, but there is nothing in the Bible that supports this concept.
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How Do You Get To Heaven
Contrary to popular belief, the Bible says we do not go to heaven or hell when we die. We sleep in the grave until the resurrection as the Bible says: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” .
The entrance to heaven is not automatic for people who have simply tried to be good. The Bible says: “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lambs Book of Life” . The qualifying factor for those who enter will be whether or not their names are written in the Lambs book of life.
To learn how to have your name written in the Book of Life see our topic on Salvation. The realities of heaven and the new earth can be only a prayer away.
You may wish to learn more through the Discover Bible Lessons on our Bible studies section.
Do We Know Where Heaven Is Located
Where heaven is located has always baffled man. In Genesis 11, the language of the people was confused because they aspired to reach heaven. They decided to build a city and a tower. God saw that the people were one and that they were very determined. The Lord confound their speech and scattered them abroad so that they were not able to finish their city .
No one knows where heaven is. Some people have written books about their revelation of heaven. We just must take their word for it. We do know that wherever the Trinity resides is heaven.
1 Kings 8:30 says And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive. We know from this Scripture that heaven is where God lives.
Upon further study in scripture in Daniel 2:28 says But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of they head upon they bed, are these.
We should aspire to be in heaven where God is. Matthew 5:45 says That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.
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What Jesus Really Said About Heaven And Hell
None of us likes thinking about death, but there are times when we have little choice. The virus spreads, hospitals fill, and systems become overwhelmed. Our greatest concerns, personal and national, are for survival. But for many people even the otherwise healthy the crisis has unexpectedly raised the specter of death itself, our constant companion even if, most of the time, we do our best to ignore it. Or, in more normal times, try to laugh it off. The most recent and memorable effort was NBCs smash hit comedy series The Good Place but the humor even there was rooted precisely in terror, as Eleanor Shellstrop and her companions desperately worked to avoid the afterlife they deserved in the Bad Place and its eternal torments.
The fear is as ancient as civilizations oldest surviving records. The hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh writhes in agony at the prospect of spending eternity groveling in dust being eaten by worms. Few people today may share Gilgameshs terror of consciously living forever in the dirt. Plenty, however, tremble before the possibility of eternal misery. Possibly this is a good time to help people realize that it simply will not be that way.
Heaven Biblical Descriptions Of It In Both Testaments
A city
Hebrews 11:10, For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:16, But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
A garden
Matthew 3:12, His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
A kingdom
Matthew 25:34, Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Luke 12:32, Fear not, little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 22:29-30, They said to him, Where will you have us prepare it? He said to them, Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters
The kingdom of Christ and the Father
Ephesians 5:5, For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous , has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
A heavenly country
Hebrews 11:16, But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
A rest
Hebrews 4:9, So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God
Glory
Paradise
Everlasting
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Corinthians 1: 2 Talks About A Man Who Was Caught Up In The Third Heaven Logic Dictates That If There Is A Third Heaven There Is A Heaven One And Two The Third Heaven In Scripture Is Where God Almighty Rules And Reigns Over The Universe With His Holy Angels This Is Where The Righteous Receive Their Crowns Of Life After Hearing The Words Well Done Though Good And Faithful Servant
There are mansions of splendor and robes that are dazzling white. The third heaven is our eternal home as children of the Most High God. Its the city where the Lamb is the light, where tears are never shed and goodbyes are never uttered. There is no sorrow or pain, only joy and sheer perfection. It is the city where we will one day join the angels in singing, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty! around the throne of God.
Heaven is for real!
The second heaven is where Satan rules his evil empire with legions of demons and fallen angels. Demons have power. They have personality. They have purpose. Satan has come to rob, to kill and to destroy. If he can mislead you down a wrong path that will destroy your lifes purposehe has won the battle. The second heaven is his campground.
Make no mistake about it! Satan is a fallen angel who quotes Scripture to deceive and destroy the righteous.
The first heaven is the heaven you can see with your natural eyes. It contains the sun, the moon and the stars. We are now waiting on the final two blood moons that I discuss in depth in my book Four Blood Moons.
Psalm 19:1 says, The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.
What is an angel? Angels are created beings . They have superior knowledge, and they are without number.
Numbers 32:23 warns us by saying, Be sure your sins will find you out. Nothing is done in secret! God sees everything! Angels drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
Descriptions Of Heaven From The Bible
In Revelation 4, John was invited to come up to heaven, in the spirit, where he saw great wonders.
Later, in Revelation 21, John saw the exquisite beauty of the new Jerusalem. The wall was made from sapphire, emerald, and many other precious stones. The gates were pearl, and the streets were gold, like transparent glass . There was no sun or moon, because the city was illumined by the glory of God and the Lamb . A crystal-clear river flowed from Gods throne, and on each side of the river was the tree of life, for healing of the nations .
In Hebrews 12:22-24, we read more of the new Jerusalem.
23. Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
24. Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
26. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! Gods dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
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Christian Quotes About Heaven
My home is in Heaven. Im just traveling through this world. Billy Graham
Joy is the serious business of Heaven. C.S. Lewis
For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him. William Barclay
Christian, anticipate heavenWithin little time you will be rid of all your trials and your troubles. C.H. Spurgeon.
The doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought. H. G. Wells
Those who go to Heaven ride on a pass and enter into blessings that they never earned, but all who go to hell pay their own way. John R. Rice
Let heaven fill your thoughts instead. Because when you do, everything on earth gets placed in its proper perspective. Greg Laurie
With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth. Mac Lucado
Heaven is not a figment of imagination. It is not a feeling or an emotion. It is not the Beautiful Isle of Somewhere. It is a prepared place for a prepared people. Dr. David Jeremiah
I believe the promises of God enough to venture an eternity on them. Isaac Watts
Criticism Of The Belief In Heaven
AnarchistEmma Goldman expressed this view when she wrote, “Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience, meekness and contentment.”
Some have argued that a belief in a reward after death is poor motivation for moral behavior while alive.Sam Harris wrote, “It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think the Creator of the Universe wants you to do it, or will reward you for doing it, or will punish you for not doing it. The problem with this linkage between religion and morality is that it gives people bad reasons to help other human beings when good reasons are available.”
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Heaven Opens And Closes
There are accounts in the Bible where heaven opened and was visible to some people. Immediately after Jesus was baptized, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
Stephen was taken to the Sanhedrin to answer false charges about the gospel he was preaching. Before they stoned him, he saw heaven open and Jesus standing.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
When Noah had completed the ark and was safely inside with his family, the floodgates of the heavens opened and the rain began pouring. After the forty days of rain, the heavens closed and the rain stopped falling.
Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky.