What Do We Know About Heaven?

  1. INTRODUCTION

    1. What is known about heaven from the New Testament is not necessarily the same as what is commonly believed about heaven.  Therefore, it is best to allow the Scriptures speak for themselves about heaven and to set aside outside ideas.

    2. The intention of this lesson is to present a summary of the New Testament's mentions of heaven and to suggest how these facts should affect us.

       

  2. PLAIN FACTS ABOUT HEAVEN

    1. It is important to acknowledge that the New Testament speaks of "heavens" in the plural.

      1. The word "heaven" (ouranos) is used to describe three different realms.

        1. The two material heavens are the atmosphere directly above the earth (where birds fly, Matt. 6:26 ) and the space outside of the earth where the sun, moon, and stars exist (1 Cor. 15:40-41).  These two heavens will eventually be destroyed (Matt. 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; 21:33; 2 Pet. 3:5, 7, 10, 12).

        2. The third heaven is a spiritual place.  The apostle Paul referred to this "third heaven" and equated it to "Paradise" in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.

      2. It is not always possible to perfectly distinguish among the various references to heaven, but the focus of this lesson is upon what is known about the third, spiritual heaven.

    2. The New Testament reveals the inhabitants of heaven.  They are:

      1. God the Father (Matt. 5:16, 45; 6:1, 9; 7:11, 21; 10:32, 33; 16:17; 18:10, 14, 19; Mark 11:25, 26; Heb. 12:25; Rev. 4:2);

      2. Christ (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:2; 2:33; 3:21; 7:55-56; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:1; 4:1; 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7; Heb. 4:14; 7:26; 8:1; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 5:6);

      3. The Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10-11);

      4. The angels and other heavenly creatures (Matt. 18:10; 22:30; 24:36; Mark 12:25; 13:32; Luke 2:15; 22:43; John 1:51; Gal. 1:8; Rev. 5:11).

    3. Christ, the Holy Spirit, and some angels have descended from heaven to earth.

      1. The New Testament reveals that Christ descended from heaven when He came into the world (John 1:1, 14; 3:13, 31; 6:33, 38, 41, 50-51, 58; 17:5; 1 Cor. 15:47).

      2. It also reveals that the Holy Spirit descended from heaven and rested upon Christ at His baptism (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).

      3. After His resurrection, Christ ascended back into heaven (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:2; 2:33; Eph. 4:10).  After He arrived, Christ sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His disciples (John 15:26; 16:7, 13-16; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Pet. 1:12).

      4. Both Testaments record numerous occasions when angels came to earth (Gen. 19:1; Num. 22:31; Luke 1:26; Matt. 28:2).

    4. Christ now has all authority in heaven, where He reigns as Lord and serves as High Priest.

      1. The Scriptures declare that God the Father is Lord of heaven (Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21; Acts 17:24).  From the Father, Christ said that He has been given all authority over heaven as well as earth (Matt. 28:18).

      2. In heaven, Christ now serves as High Priest on behalf of those who are faithful to Him (Heb. 4:14; 9:24-26).  He serves within a heavenly tabernacle, which is the true substance that was copied or shadowed in the Old Law's tabernacle, altar, sacrifices, services, and other implements (Heb. 8:4-5; 9:11, 23-24; 10:1).

    5. Several other points concerning heaven are also given in the New Testament.

      1. God's will is always done in heaven, unlike on the earth (Matt. 6:10).

      2. There is no marriage among the angels in heaven (Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25).

      3. There is a record of the names of faithful persons in heaven (Luke 9:20), whose citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and who are enrolled in heaven (Heb. 12:23).

      4. A Christian's reward, treasure, hope, and inheritance are kept and reserved in heaven (Matt. 5:12; 6:20; 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 6:23; 12:33; 18:22; Col. 1:5; 1Pet. 1:4).  A Christian's "building of God" is "eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 5:1-2).

      5. After the present, material heavens and earth are destroyed by fire, there will be new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:7, 10-13; Rev. 21:1).

      6. At that time, there will be a city, the "new Jerusalem," that will descend from the spiritual heaven (Heb. 11:10, 16; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 3:12; 21:2, 10).  This is descriptive of the place of eternal life for those who are in Christ (Heb. 13:14; 2 Pet. 3:11, 13-14; Rev. 21:2-22:5).

        1. That place will be more glorious than anything we have ever seen.  It will possess the glory of God (Rev. 21:10-11, 23).

        2. God the Father and Christ will be in this city, and "those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" will be allowed to enter (Rev. 21:22, 27).

           

  3. WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN TO US

    1. Let us be thankful, for Christ gave up heaven so that we could obtain heaven.

      1. Jesus explained His coming Himself in John 6:38-40:

        38"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  39This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.  40For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

      2. Jesus existed in the form of God, but He emptied Himself and came in the form of a bond-servant and the likeness of men so that He could die on the cross for our sins (Phil. 2:5-8).

      3. Paul described the Lord's sacrifice in 2Corinthians 8:9, saying, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

      4. Let us therefore be thankful, for without Christ's sacrifice, heaven would be impossible for us.

    2. Let us set our hearts on heaven.

      1. Jesus gave these instructions in Matthew 6:19-21:

        19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

      2. Likewise, Paul focused our minds on heaven in Colossians 3:1-4:

        1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

      3. We are easily distracted and consumed with this world, but our hearts and minds must be set on heaven so that we can get there.

    3. Let us have the ambition to have our names known in heaven.

      1. In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples to "rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."  Could we have any greater joy than this?

      2. Whether we will have a place in the heavenly city will be determined at the judgment as these passages indicate:

        1. Revelation 20:12 -- And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

        2. Revelation 20:15 -- And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

        3. Revelation 21:27 -- ...and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

      3. Jesus keeps the book of life, and it contains the names of all those who are His and are enrolled in heaven (Heb. 12:23).  Is your name written there?