Heaven
I Kings 8:27
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“Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee...”
—I Kings 8:27.
“…And hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place...”-I Kings 8:30.
There are three different heavens discussed in the Bible, First, there is the atmosphere just above the earth…air, clouds, etc. Second, there is the stellar heaven containing the stars and planets. Finally, we have what the Bible calls “the third heaven.” The third Heaven is where God’s throne is located. It is the place called Paradise, where the saints of God are waiting for the resurrection of their bodies.
Where is Heaven? How do you get there? What is it like?
Well, we don’t know all the answers, but we know that Heaven is always referred to as “up.” We know there’s no stairway leading there. We can only imagine some of the answers…we should take some time and just imagine…but the Bible tells us quite a bit as well:
There are windows in Heaven. The windows are always spoken of as being open to pour out things from God. Sometimes blessings are poured out (see Mal. 3:10; II Kings 7:2), sometimes curses (see Isa. 24:18), and sometimes the same thing that is a blessing to some is a curse to others (see Gen. 8:2).
Concerning the door in Heaven, John tells of his experience in Revelation. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Rev. 4:1).
The first thing he saw was a throne. This is God’s throne. He was sitting on His throne. It looked like a jasper, sardine stone, or an emerald. It is hard for the finite mind to grasp infinite things. We cannot imagine the beauty and radiance of God.
Consider the famous Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian. A thick, shatterproof glass wall and an armed guard protect it. {Kimberly has a “hope diamond” too…one she’s hoping for!} The many people that wait in line to see the Hope Diamond express an awe, and a feeling of rapture
seems to come over those who view it. A spirit of excitement is set off by the thought of the tremendous value.
But this is nothing, this is dirt compared to God.
The psalmist cried out, “The Lord is in his holy temple, the
Lord’s throne is in heaven...” (Ps. 11:4). Behind the throne was a sparkling rainbow. The twenty-four elders, clothed with glistening, white garments and pure gold crowns on their heads, were seated upon the twenty-four seats. Thunder and lightnings were proceeding out from the throne and voices could be heard. There were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne.
The Tree of Life was there. This same tree was in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve. After the fall of man, an angel was posted at the gate with a revolving sword, to keep them away from this tree lest they should eat of it and live forever in their fallen state. On this tree grew twelve different kinds of fruit each month. The leaves were for the healing of the nations.
The beautiful River of Life was flowing out from under the throne and pure water of life was freely accessible. The streets were made of pure, transparent gold, suggesting the elimination of all impurities which cloud things on the earth.
As John continued to look, he saw twelve gates of pearl; three on the north, three on the south, three on the east and three on the west. Twelve angels stood at these twelve gates. But Jesus will be what makes it heaven for me!
Part of what will make it heaven is what won’t be there…
There will be no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, no night, no more curse, no hunger, no thirst or hundreds of other things that have plagued us here. The great host of angels, or messengers, will be busy serving God and carrying out every desire. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God sent a multitude of angels to earth to praise and cry out, “Glory to the Lord!” Surely, it must have been a great blessing for John to see all of this.
Stephen had been privileged to look on this scene, too. As he was dying, after being stoned, he spoke of seeing Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Before he could tell much of what he saw, God called him Home.
Paul the apostle got a glimpse of this on the Damascus Road. The vision was so bright, in contrast to his sin, that it blinded him. He later spoke to Herod Agrippa, saying, “Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Later, Paul tells of an experience of ascending up to the third Heaven. “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago. . .such an one caught up to the third heaven. . . How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Cor. 12:2,4).
Enoch and Elijah were taken up into Heaven. They saw the scene, but never returned to explain about it. Moses got a little glimpse of God, and his face shone with brilliance.
It is certainly going to be an amazing thing to go there and see for ourselves. We are told, “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” (II Cor. 5:1).
God looks down from Heaven and sees. He also hears, as do others there. “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God” (Ps. 14:2). We are reminded, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chron. 7:14).
IN Hebrews 12:1, we are cautioned, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight . . . .” The writer is saying that there are great multitudes of spectators in Heaven watching us in this life. They are called a “great cloud of witnesses.”
We can try to imagine these things, and artists can attempt to do justice, but…
I Cor. 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
We can only imagine!
Heaven will involve:
I. REVIEW
The first thing on the schedule, after getting there, is the judgment seat. Paul explains in II Cor. 5:10, “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” Following this will be the great marriage feast of the Lamb, revealed in Revelation 19:7. Only the saved will be involved in these. Here, every man’s work will be tested by fire to see what sort it is. Sincere dedication will pay great dividends on this day.
II. RECORDS
Heaven is a place of records. The Lamb’s Book of Life is there, and other record books at the judgment seat and at the great white throne judgment. God has a great recording system to preserve every idle word, thought
or deed. The sounds of earth broadcasts can be heard in space, and scientists are working on a machine now that will use radioactive material to bring voices out of rocks and trees, that were recorded there hundreds of years ago by sound wave impressions. And we can be sure that God has things recorded.
We are told to rejoice because of this. “But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). In Hebrews, we read, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven . . .” (Heb. 12:23). Pity the poor soul whose name is not written there!
You can die in cancer and go to heaven like Ms. Marie Mast...you can die in liver trouble and go to heaven, or die in pancreas trouble as my g’father has been told he will...you can die in kidney trouble like some have and go to heaven..you can die in sugar diabetes, poverty, loneliness, rags, poor house…you can die in a car accident and still go to heaven. But you can’t die in sin and go to heaven.
John tells us in Rev. 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”.
III. REWARDS
Heaven is a place of rewards. Jesus, speaking in the Sermon on the Mount, said in Matt. 5:12, “Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven . . .”. He went on to say in Matt. 6:20, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”. This is our heavenly safe deposit box. There will be rewards for sincerity, suffering and service. To think along this line will excite the heart.
IV. REJOICING
There will be much eternal joy in Heaven. The greatest joy that comes to Heaven is because of souls coming to Christ. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Surely a great shout of joy can be heard from the redeemed saints when souls are saved. The Father, Son, Holy Spirit and angels must join with them to celebrate. “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. . .” (Rev. 12:12).
V. REUNION
David remarked when his baby died, “ . . .I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (II Sam. 12:23). Jesus promised, …where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). It will be a homecoming time, and renewing old acquaintances will be exciting. Friends and loved ones already there will be out to meet us. We will meet those whom we have known from the Scriptures, such as Moses, Abraham and David. Then, it will be worth it all when we see Christ!
But let every reader remember. . .the prepared place is for a prepared people.
A man may go to Heaven . . .
. . .without health. . .without wealth
. . .without fame. . .without name
. . .without learning. . .without earnings
. . .without culture
. . .without beauty
. . .without friends
. . .without a thousand other things;
but he cannot go to Heaven without Christ!
Why not make sure right now?
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