Heaven
Please also see: ‘Born Again.’ ‘Death.’ ‘Jesus’ Return.’ ‘Life OR Death.’
‘Relationship with GOD.’ ‘Worry.’
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Heaven is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible.
The kingdom of GOD begins on Earth for born again Christians. The kingdom of heaven is our eternal home of absolute perfection. It is the kingdom of GOD = GOD’s home. Life in heaven will be infinitely superior to life on Earth, and to any Earthly concept of it.
True heaven, GOD’s home, is far beyond Earth. A code found in the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, (also called known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops, one of the largest pyramids in Egypt,) on interpretation, indicates that GOD’s home – the Kingdom of Heaven – is 2.5 million light years from Earth.
GOD’s family will have the ability to travel anywhere and cover unlimited distances in the endless universe; all in an instant, at the speed of thought.
GOD wants everyone to qualify for heaven, and HE is in control of this, and has made clear the steps involved, so that being enabled is within human choice. Entry into heaven is conditional, so GOD has lovingly outlined the easily fulfilled conditions for all humanity. GOD does not decide who is eligible for heaven - you decide - by fulfilling the conditions.
As I have said elsewhere, only perfection can enter heaven, and it is impossible for any human to be perfect, irrespective of how many so called ‘good’ things you have done, and how good you may think you are. The only way is for GOD to see you through Jesus – if you have made Jesus the Lord of our life.
Jesus as Himself - Man and GOD - was the only perfect human on Earth.
It should ideally be every person’s strongest desire to qualify – be eligible – enabled – to be resurrected by Jesus to attain eternal life. Magnificent beyond imagination.
Romans 10:9-13 ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”
Revelation 21 All verses describe heaven, which is also referred to as The New Jerusalem. v27 ‘Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.’
Psalm 11:4 ‘The LORD is in HIS holy temple; the LORD is on HIS heavenly throne. HE observes everyone on Earth; HIS eyes examine them.’
Psalm 103:19-22 ‘The LORD has established HIS throne in heaven, and HIS kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you HIS angels, you mighty ones who do HIS bidding, who obey HIS word.
Praise the LORD, all HIS heavenly hosts, you HIS servants who do HIS will. Praise the LORD, all HIS works everywhere in HIS dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul.’
Matthew 5:20 ‘Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.’
This is not excruciatingly difficult to do, it is a matter of avoiding a ‘Holier than thou’ attitude and extreme legalism, and to just be in an honest, heartfelt relationship with GOD. The Pharisees created a burden of false legalism by adding many man-made laws, requirements, and processes, to the ten commandments.
GOD does not want us to have a legalistic ‘box ticking’ righteous obedience, HE wants us in Jesus’ Name to have a loving, surrendered, passionate, obedient, heartfelt, righteous relationship.
There is a pathway to heaven, and only Jesus can lead us there.
It is impossible to qualify for entry into heaven and eternal life as a result of our own efforts of being ‘good’ and doing ‘good’ things. There is no way we can earn it by our own methods. The ONLY way is by believing in Jesus and what He did on our behalf, and making Him the Lord of your life, and living in a truly loving relationship with and through Him, with our FATHER GOD; and being spiritually born again.
Every human being has sinned, even just by one impure thought, apart from which we have all sinned by falling short of the Glory of GOD. We have also been born into a state of sin, which we have inherited as descendants of Adam and Eve, whose one disobedient action allowed Satan to infest the whole world with sin, which caused the break down of the whole of creation in every respect.
So we are trapped in mortal bodies in a sinful world; a type of double entrapment.
Only perfection can enter heaven, and GOD can only see us as being perfect if HE can see Jesus in us and us in Jesus.
GOD has made us a conditional promise. The choice of qualifying for this is up to us.
Isaiah 60 verses 17-22 contain elements of how heaven will be.
Isaiah 6:1-4 ‘In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of HIS robe filled the temple. Above HIM were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD ALMIGHTY; the whole Earth is full of HIS glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.’
Isaiah 65:17 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new Earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27 “I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put MY Spirit in you and move you to follow MY decrees and be careful to keep MY laws.”
Matthew 5:16 ‘In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your FATHER in heaven.’
Allow the hope of Heaven to fill your thoughts. Heaven is future and it is also present; as you walk in the Light with GOD, you have one foot on Earth and one foot in Heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for your selves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he (those) who does the will of My FATHER who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers.”
Matthew 13:10-13 ‘The disciples came to Jesus and asked, ”Why do You speak to the people in parables.?” Jesus replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
This is because the people had become hard-hearted, and were not open and willing to hear and understand.
Matthew 13:47-50 ‘Once again the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 19:28-30 ‘Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
When we come before GOD’S throne in the new creation, it will be very good to hear the following words:
Matthew 25:21 & 23 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness.”
Luke 13:24 & 28-30 ‘Jesus said “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of GOD, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of GOD. Indeed there are those who are last will be first, and first who will be last.”
The narrow door or path, is the way into heaven, whereas the broad or wide path is the way to oblivion or destruction. One needs to seek and find the Truth to enter by the narrow door (road or path). Many are on the broad road (or path.)
John 3:12-13 Jesus said “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven – the Son of Man.”
GOD has chosen, for special reasons, to transport a few there.
How are people born again spiritually? The main step is revealed in what Jesus said:
John 3:16 "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Belief in Jesus removes us from the White Throne Judgment, because Jesus Himself took the penalty (death) for our sinful condition on the cross. Those who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour are justified (declared righteous on the basis of faith) before GOD, and can come boldly before HIM through the grace that HE has offered to everyone. By accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour of our life, we give Him permission to change us into perfect beings; ‘the spirits of the righteous made perfect,’ and we become Born Again -- a New Creation, spiritually and mentally.
John 14:1-3 ‘Jesus told His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in GOD; trust also in Me. In My FATHER’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am.”
Jesus was referring to His preparation in heaven for all who He will be returning to resurrect and take home to heaven.
No soul will be entitled to heaven without having the sacredness of truth through and by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ’s righteousness. Without this, no one could enter or enjoy heaven, because they would not be properly prepared and qualified for its holy atmosphere and the perfection of everything.
Heaven is where GOD lives. What will heaven be like. Although the Bible discusses heaven, it is impossible to understand the full nature of heaven from a human perspective. We cannot imagine or experience in our current bodies, what the environment and dimensions might be like. Even so, we are given enough information in the Bible to understand many of the things that will be different in heaven, compared to our lives today.
GOD’S plan for the universe is to allow whoever loves Jesus and HIMSELF, and who chooses to spend eternity with HIM, to be in heaven. At the appointed time, GOD will call an end to the present universe and judge those who rejected HIS invitation.
GOD will create a new heaven and new earth, with entirely different physical laws such as the following:
The new earth will have no vast seas. There will be far greater land mass.
There will be no sun or moon, the glory of GOD and Jesus will be the light.
Gravity will be changed.
No more death, suffering, illness, pain, or crime.
Believers will have new perfect bodies.
The New Jerusalem is described as a 1,500 mile cube. Structures of this size would normally automatically become a sphere in this universe, because of gravity. Therefore gravity will either be absent or significantly reduced in the new creation. There will not be a sun or moon. This makes sense, since there will be little or no gravity. The lack of the sun is not a problem for the new creation because the Bible tells us that the glory of GOD HIMSELF will provide illumination. The illumination provided by GOD is not likely to be the same kind of electromagnetic radiation (photons) that we call light. With GOD’s light there would be no need to visually see things as we do now, since this would severely restrict our ability to ‘see’ everything as GOD sees. There will be no oceans, there will be enclosed seas similar to the Sea of Galilee. The river of the water of life, will flow from the throne of GOD. (We do not know if this means literal water.)
The new creation will be a place of awesome beauty and is described in terms of precious jewels and metals. Although the description might not represent literal earthly jewels, it is intended to represent the magnificent beauty of its appearance, as John, the apostle, saw it.
See all of Revelation 21:1-27 & 22:1-9 However in 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.’ This is heaven being delivered to Earth after the 1000 years, referred to as the millenium.
Revelation 21:22-27 ‘I did not see a temple in the city, because the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and the Lamb (Jesus) are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of GOD gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the Earth will bring their splendour into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.’
Heaven exists outside the dimensions of both space and time. The Bible says that GOD exists outside of time. The Earthly realm in its present state is temporary, for people to choose to love or reject GOD. When GOD chooses the precise time of the end, and Jesus returns to resurrect all of GOD’s people and take them home, choices become permanent, and there will no longer be a need for time to exist at all.
Where is heaven?
The universe does not have a centre because everything is moving away from every other thing. The Bible indicates that heaven, GOD’s abode, does not exist in this universe. In fact, the Bible indicates that even the highest heavens, of this universe, cannot contain GOD.
The first heaven is the atmospheric zone.
The second heaven is the zone of Earth’s solar system.
The third heaven is the infinite space beyond.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 ‘I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know; GOD knows. And I know that this man; whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but GOD knows; was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.’
As the universe is endless, there cannot be a centre; which is beyond our comprehension.
The book of Revelation specifically says that Jesus will be our shepherd, who will personally lead us. Paul in 1 Corinthians says that we will see Him ‘face to face,’ and “Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." In essence, this verse is telling us that we will have the full knowledge of GOD, even as He currently knows each of us. This is amazing. Why atheists would not want to re-think their belief and be part of this, is baffling. Hebrews describes heaven as consisting of ‘thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.’ Heaven will be a giant celebration; and we know that it will also be a place of righteousness and peace. The Bible says that we cannot imagine what heaven will be like, it will exceed our expectations. Each of us in heaven will be ‘revealed in glory.’ It will make our present life seem so incredibly imperfect.
Sinfulness that will exclude you from Heaven: | |||
sexual immorality | idolatry | adultery | prostitution |
homosexual practice | theft | greed | drunkenness |
slander | swindling | impurity | witchcraft |
hatred | discord | jealousy | fits of rage |
selfish ambition | dissensions | envy | orgies |
abomination | lying | cowardice | unbelief |
murder | sorcery | deceiving | drug involvement |
Hebrews 12:14 ‘Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.’
Hebrews 12:23-24 ‘You have come to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to GOD, the judge of all people, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect.’
Those who reject GOD’S provision to forgive sin, will be judged on the basis of their sinful state, and will be separated from GOD forever (the second death), as GOD cannot allow sin to enter the new creation which follows on from heaven. There can only be purity in Heaven.
How do we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ? We do this through belief in, and relationship with Him:
1. Confess your sinful state, repent of your sins and selfishness. Repentance is agreeing with GOD that you have been wrong, and being willing to turn from the old life to a new life in Christ.
2. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord (GOD and Master) and Saviour who takes away your sin.
3. Receive the Holy Spirit as the promise of what GOD will do in your life.
4. Thank GOD for HIS grace and the free gift that HE has given you.
Once you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, you should walk with Him every day. Jesus said, as in John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commands." Talk to Him every day in prayer and be led by Him. Find a good Christian fellowship (church) and read some of your Bible every day. These things are not required to keep your salvation, but they will help you grow in your faith and obedience and to experience more joy in your walk with Christ.
The thousand years (Millenium) is covered in Revelation ch. 20. During the 1000 years in heaven, we will be able to see and understand perfectly clearly the justification for everything GOD has done. This will be a type of honeymoon before our return to the new earth.
See all of Revelation ch. 21. However in verse 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.’ This is heaven being delivered to earth after the 1000 years.
1 Corinthians 9:23 & 25 ‘I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Everyone who competes goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.’
Paul meant that we need to do everything for good reason, and that we may need to push our bodies to the limits, sustain unlimited perseverance, tolerate abuse, and pain, if necessary, to qualify for heaven. We must be serious about our relationship with GOD. Make it a key part of our (your) life, knowing that it leads to a resurrection to eternal life in GOD’S kingdom of unimaginable perfection.
Colossians 3:1-6 ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of GOD. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in GOD. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.’
Philippians 3:14 ‘I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which GOD has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 3:20 ‘But our (true children of GOD) citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.’
The following is part of John’s GOD-given vision of heaven.
Revelation 1:14-16 “The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”
Revelation 5:11-14 ‘Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise.”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and on the sea and all that is in them, saying:
To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever.”
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.’
Revelation 7:9-17 ‘After, this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Jesus.) They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our GOD, WHO sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
All the angels wee standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped GOD, saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our GOD for ever and ever. Amen!”
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Therefore, “they are before the throne of GOD and serve HIM day and night in HIS temple; and HE WHO sits on the throne will shelter them with HIS presence. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And GOD will wipe away ever tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 15:1-4 ‘I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them GOD’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by GOD and sang the song of Moses the servant of GOD and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvellous are YOUR deeds, LORD GOD Almighty. Just and true are YOUR ways, KING of the ages. Who will not fear YOU, O LORD, and bring glory to YOUR Name? For YOU alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before YOU, for YOUR righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 19:7-8 ‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give HIM (GOD) glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of GOD’s holy people.)
Revelation 22:5 ‘There will be no more light. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the LORD GOD will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.’
Revelation 21 All verses describe heaven, which is also referred to as The New Jerusalem . Verse 27 ‘Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.’
While we are waiting - we are not waiting - for as born-again Christians we can know that we are already in GOD’s kingdom, and heaven lives in us now, and the magnificent fulfilment of that reality, to come, is eternal.
Elijah endured great and severe trials in this lifetime, and was taken up to Heaven on a chariot of fire.
Someday, like Elijah, we - who are born again and love GOD - will be in Heaven and will enjoy GOD’s presence forever.
Jesus has opened the door and issued the invitation for you to inherit eternal life, but you have to accept it; and acceptance has conditions, but they are not difficult. People cannot inherit something without being eligible to do so.
In heaven, new names will be given.
Isaiah 56:5 ‘- to them I will give within MY temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.’
Isaiah 62:2 ‘The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.’
Isaiah 65:15 ‘You will leave your name for my chosen ones to use in their curses; the Sovereign LORD will put you to death, but to HIS servants HE will give another name.’
Revelation 2:17 ‘Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.’
Revelation 3:12 ‘The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my GOD. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my GOD and the name of the city of my GOD, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my GOD; and I will also write on them my new name.’