There's a hell -- believe me ..I've experienced and seen a bit of it here. Wasn’t even, and I am not lookin’ for it. Rather been lookin' up. Ain't lookin' for the anti-christ either, I'd rather seek Jesus Christ.
There's a heaven -- experienced a bit of it, believe me, (Or better yet.. believe God, cuz Christ is the only way into heaven).
Sure, I've tasted and experienced some of it here. Have you as well? I've not been there like the Apostle Paul visited Heaven, but I've tasted and experienced some if heaven right here with Jesus as my Lord. Yep, first-hand, not second-hand. You can too. Please understand, better things are yet to come, believer!
Have you seen visions of hell, or visions of heaven and spoken with angels? I haven't. Perhaps one day? God knows, but He is enough for me.
As you speak a hundred billion failures disappear. So many of mine, Lord.
Thanks for the freedom and cleansing.
For the Christian believer, life here on earth is the closest they will ever get to hell. And for the unbeliever, life here on earth is the closest they will ever get to heaven. They too will experience a bit of heaven here with the people who love them, with what they see, taste of great food, and great music they hear, and they will miss all that forever if they don't turn and trust God's only provision for their personal sin -- the Jesus of the Bible. Let's go tactfully share the gospel with them while we can.
You know that the term "heaven" is not used symbolically in Scripture, it usually refers to one of three realms.
1.) Our Immediate Atmosphere
2.) Outer Space (The Sun, Moon, And Stars)
3.) The Home Of God
Consequently we find the Bible speaking of more than one heaven or multiple heavens.
What, More Than One Heaven?
The fact that Jesus passed through the heavens gives evidence there is more than one heaven.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (Hebrews 4:14).
Describing The Third Heaven would be real hard to put into earthly words, according to Paul.
Furthermore the Bible refers to the third heaven.
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 (2 Corinthians 12:2).
If there is a third heaven, it seems there must also be a first and second heaven. The Bible, however, does not mention a first and second heaven.
1. The Atmospheric Heaven - The First Heaven
The atmospheric heavens include the air that we breathe as well as the space that immediately surrounds the earth. The technical term for this is the "troposphere." It extends about twenty miles above the earth. The space above this is called the "stratosphere." The Scripture uses the term heaven to describe this area.
I will destroy humanity whom I have created from the face of the earth, both humans and beasts, creeping thing and birds of heaven (Genesis 6:7).
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:26).
The word translated "air" is ouranos, the same Greek word that is elsewhere translated "heaven." We have another example of this use in the book of James.
And he [Elijah] prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced fruit (James 5:18).
2. The Celestial Heaven - The Second Heaven
This use of the term heaven refers to outer space or the stellar heaven. It includes the sun, moon, and stars.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29).
Stars are said to be in heaven.
And take heed, lest you lift up 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 (Deuteronomy 4:19).
Heaven Of Heavens
The Scripture speaks of heavenly spheres beyond that which is visible from the earth. It is called the heaven of heavens.
Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it (Deuteronomy 10:14).
The psalmist wrote.
Praise Him, you heaven of heavens and you waters above the heavens! (Psalm 148:4).
3. Heaven As The Home Of God - The Third Heaven
The Bible is clear that God cannot be limited to any one geographical place.
But will indeed God dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You (1 Kings 8:27).
Yet Scripture also teaches us that there is a certain geographical place where God resides. It is also designated heaven. The writer to the Hebrews said.
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 8:1).
Stephen knew he was going into the presence of the Lord.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55).
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:24).
The location of the abode of God is not revealed in Scripture.
Heaven is a place in the presence of God, and one day soon earth and heaven will become one. Heaven will come down -- that’s the millenium.
Sometimes the word "heaven" is used symbolically in Scripture. When used of an actual place, Scripture speaks of three heavens. Again...
1. The first is the atmosphere above us.
2. The second heaven is the stellar heaven, the sun, moon, and stars.
3. The third heaven is where God resides, above the other two regions.
God, however, is certainly not limited to one geographical place. He has made a place.. a home for you in heaven and Jesus is the way for you. Kind of like you’d do with any hotel here, do make your reservations in advance.
Photo by Sam Schooler. Thanks. Read the Bible and Randy Alcorn's book -- Heaven.
