In this study we will try to answer the following 5 questions.
WHERE IS HEAVEN?
WHAT IS IN HEAVEN?
IS HEAVEN AND THE NEW JERUSALEM THE SAME PLACE?
WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN?
WHO WILL BE THERE?
WHERE IS HEAVEN?
FIRST heaven is a real geographical place.
Isa 14:13 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.
Satan desired to have God’s throne. It is to the north of the planet earth. It sits in the “sides of the north”. The mount of the congregation in the sides of the north is where God met with the sons of God.
Psa 48:1… is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
2 Cor 12:2 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.
The first heaven no doubt, is the biosphere of the planet earth. It is where the birds fly.
The second heaven then, takes in the cosmology of the universe. It is where the stars, planets and comets live.
The third heaven is above, or extends around the second heaven and earth’s biosphere. This is where the apostle Paul was caught up to.
It is a real geographical place with real tangible items and personalities.
SECONDLY – WHAT IS IN HEAVEN?
Look around… God is getting you oriented to going there right now…
It has foundations like the earth…
Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Jesus is there…
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
There are thrones there…
The true or real tabernacle is there – making the one Moses built only a shadow!!! Things are really REAL in heaven!
Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 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:
There is food in heaven! And Doors too! ( if there is bread in heaven then it follows that there must be wheat fields, farms, and farmers too!)
Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you
Psa 78:23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
There are mountains in heaven
There are roads in heaven – Exo 24:10
There are houses there – Deu 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel… Amos 9:6
There are rainbows in heaven & water & precious stones
Gen 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
There is government in heaven – Col 1:16 and if government then someone to govern!
There are armies in heaven & animals – Rev 19:14 – Armies need training and feeding and …. And … and…
The earth and all its “appearances” are no more than shadows of the real. Heaven Is The Real Thing!!!
Thirdly – Is Heaven & New Jerusalem The Same?
NO, New Jerusalem is the City Of God That Comes Down To Earth.
Deu 11:21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Rev 21:10 – Rev 21:23
Furlong = 220 yards x 3 ft = 660 ft X 12,000 = 7,920,000 / 5,280 = 1,500 Miles
The New Jerusalem is larger than the moon!!! It is 1,500 miles long, high and wide!! And yet it will sit on the earth. This throws new light on our current understanding of science and physics!
Fourthly – What Will We Do In Heaven?
Much of what we are doing now – yet without sin!
We will Judge angels – 1 Cor 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Some of us will Fill the government of heaven – Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Fifthly – Who Will Be There?
Some of you already are! – Eph 2:6
Those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal salvation based on his death, burial and resurrection will be there.
Some of you are not! – 2 Th 1:7 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; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Heaven is a wonderfully REAL place. It has only one way to get there. That way is by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ who paid for your sin at Calvary 2000 years ago. He was buried and rose again three days later as the author and finisher of eternal life.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.