Of all these times that the word heaven occurs in the Bible . . .most of them refer to the first two types of heavens. . . .the lower and middle heaven.Only a few instances does it refer to the Heaven of heavens . .the dwelling place of God and the angels and our future home.
This is a definite place and not just a condition or state. Somewhere beyond this universe is a place prepared by God which in a special sense is the place of His abode and administration. In this place Jesus in His human, ressurected, glorified body is seated, surrounded by angels and the saints of God. In this Heaven there is a great city of huge proportions being prepared, called the New Jerusalem. Someday this city will actually decend from God out of Heaven to be suspended above the earth to be the dwelling place of the church.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Christian followers of Jesus, as "partakers of the heavenly calling" (Heb 3:1), are assigned by God as "heirs" in union with Christ, through whom God purposed "to gather all things together again." "The things in the heavens," that is, those called to heavenly life, are the first to be thus gathered into unity with God through Christ. (Eph 1:8-11) Their inheritance is "reserved in the heavens." (1Pe 1:3, 4; Col 1:5; compare Joh 14:2, 3.) They are "enrolled" and have their "citizenship" in the heavens. (Heb 12:20-23; Php 3:20) They form the "New Jerusalem" seen in John"s vision as "coming down out of heaven from God." (Re 21:2, 9, 10; compare Eph 5:24-27.) Since this vision is initially stated to be of "a new heaven and a new earth" (Re 21:1), it follows that both are represented in what is thereafter described. Hence the "new heaven" must correspond to Christ together with his "bride," the "New Jerusalem," and the "new earth" is seen in the "peoples of mankind" who are their subjects and who receive the blessings of their rule, as depicted in verses 3 and 4.
John14:2 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.
14:3 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.
Many Mansions is the common translation, but it should be many Sukots, (Habitations)Meaning planets, and Yeshua said these places are already in existance for us and if they were not He would go and make a place for us.
This verse has being misread and misinterpreted for centuries, tha fact is there is no single verse that says we belong in the 3rd or 7th heaven, where God himself dwells.
If heaven was meant for us, then why the resurrection and the kingdom on earth and why a new heaven and a new earth for us to dwell in, with Yeshua habitating with his saved saints ?
Shalom
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
Heaven? What does the Bible say?
(Click each sub-heading to expand and see its quotations.)
Few go there " Matthew 7:14
"Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Created by God Himself " Genesis 1:1, Revelation 10:6
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen 1:1)
... Him Who lives for ever and ever, Who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it ... (Rev 10:6)
Everlasting "Psalm 89:29, 2 Corinthians 5:1
His seed also I will make to endure forever,
and His throne as the days of heaven.(Ps 89:29)
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent [our body] is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.(2 Cor 5:1)
Cannot be measured " Jeremiah 31:37
Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done", says the LORD.
Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us ... (Deut 26:15)
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. (Ps 20:6)
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, Whose Name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit ..." (Is 57:15)
Where God dwells " 1 Kings 8:30, Matthew 6:9
"And may You hear the supplication of Your servant [Solomon] and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place [the Temple]. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place: and when You hear, forgive." (1 Kgs 8:30)
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name." (Matt 6:9)
Where God has His throne " Isaiah 66:1, Acts 7:49
Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne
And earth is My footstool ..." (Is 66:1)
"However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne
And earth is My footstool ...'" (Acts 7:49)
God is the Lord of " Daniel 5:23, Matthew 11:25
"And you have lifted yourself up against the LORD of heaven."(Dan 5:23)
At that time Jesus said, "I thank You, Father, LORD of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes." (Matt 11:25)
God reigns here " Psalm 11:4, Psalm 135:6, Daniel 4:35
The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD's throne is in heaven;(Ps 11:4)
Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places. (Ps 135:6)
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth. (Dan 4:35)
God fills this place " 1 Kings 8:27, Jeremiah 23:24
"But will God indeed dwell in the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. (1 Kgs 8:27)
"Can anyone hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?" says the LORD;
"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD. (Jer 23:24)
God answers His people from here " 1 Chronicles 21:26, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Nehemiah 9:27, Psalm 20:6
And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering. (1 Chr 21:26)
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chr 7:14)
"And in the time of their trouble,
When they cried to You, You heard from heaven; And according to Your abundant mercies
You gave them deliverers who saved them
From the hand of their enemies." (Nh 9:27)
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand. (Ps 20:6)
God sends His judgments from here " Genesis 19:24, 1 Samuel 2:10, Daniel 4:3, Romans 1:18
Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. (Gen 19:24)
The adversaries of the Lord will be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. (1 Sam 2:10)
"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol the King of heaven, all of Whose works are truth, and His ways justice." (Dan 4:37)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. (Rom 1:18)
Christ entered as a Mediator " Acts 3:21, Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 9:12, 24
"Jesus Christ ... Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things." (Acts 3:21)
... the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus ... (Heb 6:20)
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He [Jesus] entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb 9:12)
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb 9:24)
Angels live here " Matthew 18:10, 24:36
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father Who is in heaven." (Matt 18:10)
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matt 24:36)
Names of believers are written here " Luke 10:20, Hebrews 12:23
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20)
You have come ... to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven ... (Heb 12:23)
Place of joy when sinners repent " Luke 15:7
"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Place that the physical body cannot inherit " 1 Corinthians 15:50
But now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
Place of happiness " Revelation 7:16, 17
"They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Kingdom of Christ and God " Ephesians 5:5
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Father's house " John 14:2
"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."
Paradise " Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4
And Jesus said to him [the repentant thief on the cross beside him], "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a one was caught up to the third heaven ... how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Well Alex, I'm not adament about these things and am open for whatever insight you may have. Would you know exactly where Heaven is? I don't know where it is or how large it is . . .there is much that we just don't really know about it. It seems to be a place where God dwells in a special sense, "Thus saith the LORD, The Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my footstool" (Isaiah 66:1). "The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORDS throne is in heaven." (Psalm 11:4).
Of course God is infinite and can't be contained in any one place . . .but the Bible does say that heaven is Gods dwelling place. So I take that to equate to Heaven being the center of His seat of authority.
I lean toward believing that the ultimate destiny of believers is the heavenly city New Jerusalem as it is described as a bride adorned for her Husband (Rev 21:2). My understanding up to now is that this holy city will be inhabited by God, by the New Testament Church, and by the Saints of the Old Testament. When the bride (the church) has been joined to the Bridegroom and is placed in the place prepared for her she will never be seperated from it again (1 Thess 4:16-18). So it seems that the church is ushered in to her eternal state at the translation and catching away of the saints. When the Lord returns with His bride to reign on earth for a thousand yrs, the dwelling place of the bride will be transfered from heaven to a position over the earth. John saw the "great city, the holy Jerusalem, decending out of heaven from God." During this time the city will be brought in to a relation with the earth, casting it's light onto the earth so that ' the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it"(Rev 21:24).
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Heaven
