Beth-El Baptist Church

06/21/2009

Greg Tomlinson

Where is heaven?

This was an open session evaluating the location of heaven itself.

Descriptions of the location of heaven:

Genesis 1:6-10, 14-20 – Atmospheric heaven and starry heaven

2 Peter 1:18-20 – How Moses know the details about origins

1 Kings 8:25-30 – Heaven is God's dwelling place

Psalm 11:4-5 – The LORD's throne is in heaven

Isaiah 66:1

The scriptures identify three heavens. There is the heaven in which the birds of the air fly. There is the heaven in which the stars, moon, and planets reside. Finally there is the heaven which is called the heaven of heaven of heavens and is identified as God's dwelling place and as God's throne room. Although Moses was not present at the creation event, he knows the truth of it because of God's intervention and control over what Moses wrote.

What happens to the heaven and the earth?

Revelation 21:1 – First passed away

2 Peter 3:10-12 – Destroyed by fervent heat

The current heavens (expanse for birds and stars) and earth will at some point be destroyed by God by fervent heat. Global warming, but not the way many people understand it.

What is our relationship with heaven?

2 Corinthians 5:1-4 – We will be there

2 Corinthians 12:1-5 cmp Revelation 4:1-3 – Eyewitness testimony of ones who were there

Acts 22:3 – Paul was highly educated

Philippians 3:4-11 – Paul uses his education, experiences, and background not for boasting but is humbled by them.

2 Corinthians 11:21-33

We will also enter into heaven. Some have been given a glimpse of what heaven is like because they were brought there. They have given us some details but not all details regarding the heavenly realm. It is believed that Paul was 'caught up into the third heaven' (2 Corinthians 12:1-5) but does not clarify that it was him. Some look at Paul in a sense boasting but when Paul writes about his historical past, it is with great humility so most likely the situation is that Paul did not want to draw unwarranted attention to himself.