Introduction

   I was asked to substitute in our Saturday morning men’s Bible Study for 2-3 weeks with a study on the subject of heaven. This men’s Bible Study had been to go through the Bible in a book-by-book manner for several years, so this interruption was an unusual break in the normal routine. This departure from our normal method of study led me to consider the possible hazards of going to a “subject” study rather than simply going through the Bible book-by-book. It became apparent to me that such a subject study made it relatively easy to take Scriptures out of Biblical context in order to focus only upon a word that might occur within the text. The following conveys some of the thoughts that were considered in order to address the subject of heaven.

  • What is heaven?
  • Where is heaven (past, current & future)?
  • Who will and “will not” be in heaven?
  • What will heaven be like?

  I must admit that I had, and had read  the books on heaven by Randy Alcorn, Robert Jeffress & David Jeremiah several years ago. While preparing for this study, the choice was made to “NOT” refer to these books, but to simply depend upon both personal understanding and the search capability of the QuickVerse Bible software.

            The following is the study resulting from the above noted considerations. I pray that these thoughts are within the Bible Context and that they will encourage you to search the Bible for yourself for the truths presented there on the subject.

A Study of Heaven

(Session 1)

  • This study will primarily present Scriptures on the subject in order to develop discussion. The intent is to make minimum commentary on the subject. It is my prayer that you will be encouraged to search and consider every Scripture on the subject in order to understand God’s message on heaven.
  • This study and series of discussions are anticipated to address a short departure from our normal method of study (expository) to that of addressing a specific topic (Heaven). While this topical method is not the typical “preferred” method, we do find it used in the Bible in the Old Testament Prophets and in the New Testament in the Epistles. In each of these, God uses us to address specific issues (topics) that were present among the peoples involved.
  • This facilitator makes no claim of greater knowledge on the subject noted, and therefore requests that each class member feel free to inject their personal questions or Scriptural information that has been overlooked by the facilitator.
  • We recognize that there are a multitude of “opinions” as to the timing (sequence) of matters relating to future events that lead to heaven. We shall do as much as possible to avoid the controversies that exist within the professing church on such matters. The conclusions that we may reach in these discussions should only provide us with a comfort or anticipation of things to look forward to, and not be a condition of our salvation.
  • We anticipate “Doing This Study “Together” with the inputs of all participants.

(Our focus in this study will be in the “third” and “fourth” heaven)

1) Methods of Study:

  • Expository teaching exposition of the meaning and intent of a biblical text. The word exposition is related to the word expose, where the goal is simply to expose the meaning of the Bible, verse by verse. This may also be referred to as Exegesis” is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.
  • In this study, we will depart from this method of “Expository” study for a short time in order to examine a specific subject that is presented through the entire Bible. Whenever we use the “Topical” method of study, we should do so “cautiously” and not be too dogmatic about our conclusions. We must realize that the use of this method may be guided by

2) What Is Man?

  • Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (The KJV says “….a living soul.”
  • Apparently when God formed man “from the dust of the earth”, he was a complete physical body with the exception that there was no life living within it. Only after God breathed breath into that lifeless body did man become a “living being”. (or “….a living soul”)

What does the Bible say about Heaven?

There are in the Bible:

  • 551 references to the word: “heaven”
  • 127 references in the Bible to the word “heavens”
  • There are three “heavens” defined in the Bible and another “implied

3) The first heaven is the firmament. This heaven is the closest to the Earth.

  • Genesis 1:6-8 (NKJV) 6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
  • Matthew 16:3 (NKJV) 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
    4) The second heaven (implied) is the space is where the sun, moon and stars are located.
  • Deuteronomy 4:19 (NKJV) 19 And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.

5) The third heaven is the location of God’s throne: situate to the utter most north from the earth. According to the Apostle Paul he was caught up to the third heaven.

   a)Where is God’s dwelling place as stated by Lucifer?

  • Isaiah 14:13 (NKJV) 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;

  b)Where did Jesus say he was going?

  • John 14:1-3 (ASV) 1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
  1. c) Where did Jesus go?
  • John 3:13 (NKJV) 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
  • Luke 24:51 (NKJV) 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
  • Acts 1:9-11 (HCSB) 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.
  1. d) Where did Paul say he went?
  • 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (NKJV) 2 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. 3 And I know such a man–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows– 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

 

Which “way” is heaven? (The Third Heaven)

 

            From the Scriptures we read, all indications are that heaven is “UP”. Just what is meant by that may be somewhat left to our imagination, but there are some other verses that give us some indication.

  • Isaiah 14:13 (NKJV) 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
  • Mark 16:19 (NKJV) 19So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

6) The Fourth Heaven (The New Heaven):

 

  Isaiah was the first to speak of this truth when he spoke of “the new heavens and the new earth”

  • Isaiah 66:22 (NKJV) 22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So shall your descendants and your name remain.
  • Revelation 21:1-5 (NKJV) 1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
  • Other Scriptures: Psalm 102:24-26, Ezekiel 43:7

 

James Rowe is currently a member of the Hikes Point Christian Church in Louisville and serves on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Christian Education Corp.