Questions on Heaven.

"1 If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory."

Many people think that heaven and hell are just imaginary places but in the Bible the word "Heaven" is mentioned more than 500 times while the word "Hell" is recorded about 50 times.
Heaven was at one time often talked about in churches but as we have become more attracted to the things offered by the world we have less desire for an interest and future life in heaven.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. "

Hell, in comparison, is very rarely mentioned but the Bible teaches that either heaven or hell will be the ultimate final destination of all of Mankind.

"14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

"3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."

Is Heaven a real place?

The place we usually call "heaven" is given a number of different names in the Bible, but the most significant is:-

"The Fathers house."

"2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

These words reminds us that it is a personal place, the word "place" suggests a single locality, but "mansions" or in some translations, "rooms" is in plural, thus indicating each individual dwelling will be part of a larger location. The fact that Jesus said "I go to prepare a place for you. " appears to suggest that Jesus has prepared a personal place or home for each Believer, not a general designed home.
If you examine the whole passage of the Upper Room in John 14, it is obvious that Jesus is telling the disciples, and us, how much He loves us and wants to take us to His home, there to be with Him for eternity, "that where I am, there ye may be also."

The Promise Made by God:
1 Peter 1:3-5,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

The alternative, also promised by God.

2 Thess 1:6-9,

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

We have a good description of who will go to heaven or hell, but we can only guess what God has prepared for those who accepted the offer of forgiveness through the death of Jesus Christ and will thus be going to heaven. On the other hand, though Hell is not mentioned as many times, it is explained and described in great detail, for example "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Other examples of promises made by God concerning Heaven and Hell:

"42 And the thief said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, To day you shall be with me in paradise."

"8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

"21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a straight between two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"

"16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

The Bible refers to four different area’s or places with the name "heaven."

The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. "

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? said the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? said the LORD."

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;"

1) 1st. heaven: This is the atmospheric area of the earth.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:"

God has always existed, this heaven was part of His plan and His perfect creation.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

The present heaven has a limited time.

2) Planetary Heaven

"14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. "

The Bible speaks of an overall creation, planets, stars, galaxies etc. These show us the power and the glory of God. Man is still finding how large heaven is.

3) Third Heaven

Paul talks of visiting a place he calls "the 3rd. Heaven," the place of God, never to be destroyed.

"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. "

This must be a wonderful place as God is there.
Jesus referred to heaven,

" 9 After this manner therefore pray: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Jesus Christ is in heaven interceding for us, so we pray in the name of Jesus.
Deceased Believers spirits are in this heaven - on death their body are buried and returns to the earth, the scripture describes this situation as "sleeping", and their spirit has gone to heaven.

"42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorrupt ion:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 Thess 4:13-18.

"13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Phil 1:21-23.

"21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: "

2 Cor 5:1-8.

"1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. "

If we are True Believers then we are already citizens of heaven.
Phil 3:20,

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

Phil 3:20,21

"20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

Heaven is a real place, it is the final destination for all True Believers. Rev 21:9,10

"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;"

Today, the True Believers bodies are the temple of God, one day God and the Lamb will be the temple in heaven.
When that situation exists, there will be no more pain or death - paradise.

Heaven is also called "paradise" in the following:-

Luke 23:43

"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

2 Cor. 12:4;

"How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

Rev. 2:7.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that over cometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

Heaven is the home of God.

Matt 5:16.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Psalm 11:4.

"The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."

Heb 9:24.

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"

In heaven God reigns, there you will find the throne of God and the temple of God.

Heaven is centered upon God:-
Deuteronomy 26:15.

"Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey."

Nehemiah 9:6.

"Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee."

Matt 5:45.

"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 on the unjust."

Mark 13:32.

"31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. "

King David longed to be with God in heaven, Psalm 27:4.

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple."

There is nothing more wonderful and beautiful than to be in the presence of God and be able to gaze upon Him face-to-face. While on earth, as we seek Him in faith, He will draw near to us, but in heaven we will be able to see him in all His glory.
On that day we will never become tired of serving Him and praising this amazing Lord. He will reveal to us His exquisite goodness and we will be able to see the wonders of His works. Every second in His presence will reveal His beauty and love.

The attitude of the World to Heaven.

Most of the world considers that heaven a boring place, they believe it will just be one long church service, unfortunately this view means that to them their idea of what hell will be like seems much more attractive. The worlds general image of hell is an eternal party with their friends.
Compare 2 Thess 1:5-8,

" 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

Matt 8:12.

"But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Hell will definitely not be a time of parties, each person will suffer total isolation - forever!!!

Will Heaven be boring?

No, because God, who made heaven and earth, originally designed them for pleasure, He designed man to want and enjoy pleasure, to seek excitement, write music and so on.
In addition God has planned tasks for those in heaven:-
1) Judge angels and world: 1 Cor 6:2,3.

"2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? "

2) Sit on thrones: Rev 3:21.

"To him that over cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. "

3) Reign with Christ: Rev 20:4.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. "

Will we be recognizable in Heaven?

Will we be able to recognize each other when we are in heaven? Yes, when Jesus appeared from heaven after the crucifixion, the disciples had no problem in recognizing Jesus when he suddenly appeared in the room with them, he obviously looked physically the same.
Matt 17:1ff. When the transfiguration of Jesus took place and Moses and Elijah appeared with him. It was immediately obvious that the disciple were able to recognized Moses and Elijah though they had never seen them before.

Matt 8:11.

"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."

When we are in heaven it may be that it is the first time that we shall actually know each other "truly" - there will be no secrets.

When in heaven we will be given responsibilities.

"15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."

Rev 19:5.

"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great."

Rev 22:3.

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:"

Adam and Eve had the task of tending their locality and had dominion over the perfect world that God had created, Genesis 1:26-28.

"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. "

Where is heaven?

When ever we find a record of someone going from the earth to heaven the text always refers to the direction as "up," but "up" is different depending upon your location.
Acts 1:9-11.

"9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

Satan said that he will ascend into heaven.
Isaiah 14:12-14.

" 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. "

The Old and New Testaments appear to indicate that "Heaven" is somewhere above us but in what direction is "up" relative to our position on earth.?

Is it possible for me to loose my future place in heaven?

The Word of God tells us that there is a "Book of Life," in this book is recorded the name of every person who was created, but we are told that a name can be removed:-
Rev 20:12.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

Rev 20:12-15.

"12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Rev 3:5.

"He that over cometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

Rev 13:4-8.

"4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred's, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. "

Rev 17:8.

"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. "

Rev 20:12-15.

"12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Rev 21:27.

"7 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."

Rev 22:19.

"9 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

2 Cor 5:9,10.

"9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Why can peoples names be taken off of the Book of Life.

Rom 8:4-9.

"4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

The rejection of God’s offer of salvation through Jesus.
Rev 21:27.

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."

True Believers are looking forward to their future in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:1-7.

"1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. "

Ecclesiastes 3:11.

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. "

Rom 8:21-23.

"21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. "

Our arrival in Heaven will be the answer to our deepest longing.

Some other references to "Heaven."

"The heavenly Jerusalem"

Heb. 12:22.

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.) "

Rev. 3:12.

"Him that over cometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. "

The "kingdom of heaven"

Matt. 25:1.

"1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom."

James 2:5.

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"

The "eternal kingdom"

2 Pet. 1:11.

"For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

The "eternal inheritance"

1 Peter 1:4.

"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, "

"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."