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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Heaven is most certainly a real place. The Bible very definitely speaks of heaven's existence-and access to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ-but there are no verses that give us a Mapquest-styl...
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Frederick Thomas
Supporter
The following little Bible study seems to result in a very probable and logical answer. The Scriptures always speak of heaven as “up.” But which way is “up”? if we say it is in the direction at right angles with the earth’s surface wherever we may happen to be, then it would be in a different direction from every point on the earth. From North America and China it would be in exactly opposite directions. According to this, “up” would be everywhere in general and nowhere in particular. The following reference will help us establish some facts. In Isaiah 14:12-14, which speaks of Lucifer (Satan), we read: 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: Isa. 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Here we have information that heaven is “In the sides of the north” and that it is above the heights of the clouds, and above the stars. What is the meaning of the words “in the sides of the north?” The revised version, which gives the clearer meaning, reads, “In the uttermost parts of the north.” God says in Psalm 75:2-7, “when I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly...For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge.” Here it is implied that the throne off God, where He receives the congregation and judges uprightly, is in the north. Since it is not in the east, nor in the west, nor in the south, it must be in the north. North is in the same direction from every point on our earth’s surface; it is the same from China as from America, the same from the Antarctic as from the Arctic And north is “up” from everywhere. Who ever heard anyone say “down north” or “up south?” How significant is it, too, that the geographic and magnetic poles of the earth are always kept pointing north! Who can tell why the magnetic needle in a compass points toward the North Star? When “the Glory of Jehovah” visited the prophet Ezekiel it came with a whirlwind which “came out of the north,” Ezekiel 1 :4-28. And there is still another point of tremendous interest in connection with this study. In the northern heavens, the telescope camera reveals an apparently empty space where there are no stars, though the region all around is thickly dotted with them. Some astronomers say that this is a “rift in the sky.” It may be wondered if the Holy Spirit had any reference to this when He recorded in Job 26:7-“He (God) stretch out the north over the empty place, and hanged the earth upon nothing.” What is the meaning of these various scriptures which refers to the north? Could it be that this empty place in the north is the location of the throne of God and of paradise?
James Munro
Supporter
The first answer deals extremely well with the present location of heaven but it would appear that heaven is a temporary place as is hell. Heaven is replaced by the eternal city (Revelation 21) and hell replaced by the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). Some suggest that the eternal city is symbolic but in the context of Revelation 21 it appears to be a literal city which comes down from heaven and is established on the new earth and the ascended Christ is there with His people. Some think that the city is suspended in space but as the 'nations' are on the new earth it seems logical to assume it is set firmly on earth.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
The location of heaven is something about which many have asked. The Bible assumes heaven is a real place and mentions it often. In 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, the apostle Paul referred to this heaven or "paradise" as a heavenly realm or as the "third heaven.".
Heaven is often described as a "higher place", the holiest place, a Paradise, in contrast to hell or the Underworld or the "low places", and universally or conditionally accessible by earthly beings according to various standards of divinity, goodness, piety, faith, or other virtues or right beliefs or simply the will of God.
Paul (2 Cor 12:4) speaks of having been "caught UP into Paradise" {CAPS, MINE} where he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." But in 2 Cor 12:2 this is referred to more vaguely as "the third heaven."
In modern literature the conception of Paradise is effectually sublimated and spiritualized in Faber's familiar hymn:
"O Paradise, O Paradise,
I greatly long to see
The special place my dearest Lord
Is destining for me;
Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the light,
All rapture thro' and thro',
In God's most holy sight."
Heaven is Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11), i.e. up.
Read Acts 1:11
KJV
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing UP into heaven? {CAPS, mine} this same Jesus, which is taken UP from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. {CAPS, mine}
Heaven, most importantly is where God is. It’s His home. I hope it will be yours, too, someday.
Home with God
Here lies Solomon Peas
Under the lillies and under the trees
Peas is not here, only the pod
Peas has shelled out and gone home to God
(Tombstone caption in Wetumpka, Alabama)
ainsley chalmers
Supporter
One thing we do know about heaven is that it is not part of our universe because our universe is wearing out, but heaven isn’t, it is eternal. That is, it isn’t constrained by the second law of thermodynamics, which states everything is wearing out. However as Christians we know that heaven resides within us (Gal 2: 20).
Tony Flores
Supporter
There are 3 Heavens. Psalms 8:3. I consider Your heavens (more than one), the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained. (also Genesis 1:1). 1, The first heaven is what our naked eyes can see, the moon, the sun, the stars, (Genesis 1). 2. The second heaven is where Satan and the fallen Angels were sent to after the Fall. This heaven is controlled by them and they are also given permission to roam the first heaven. (Matthew 4:3), (Matthew 12:24), (Ephesians 2:2). 3. The 3 rd heaven is also known as Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). This is the heaven where God and his Angels live. (Ephesians 4:10), (1 Kings 8:23), (Luke 2:14), (1 Corinthians 2:9, Reference Isaiah 64:4). The three heavens all have a purpose and will play a role especially in the end times. We all have a date with death someday, and will all spend eternity somewhere.. I pray that your name has been recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. If you want to further study this subject, read the book "The Three Heavens" by John Hagee.
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