What is Heaven?
From birth it is hammered into us that we need to “get into Heaven”. But what does that mean? What is Heaven, really?
Watch the corresponding video that covers the topic more fluidly.
This article is part 2 of a three-part series that covers the truth about these things:
What happens to us when we die
In my time with Christians ministering and teaching, I have come to believe that few actually understand what Heaven is and what its role is in grand scheme of things. This video and article aim at establishing the truth based upon the word, letting God explain for himself. It is not an exhaustive treatise on the subject but focuses on the key things I think people need to correct in their understanding. So, I present you his words and doctrine rather than the teachings of men. Supporting bible verses cited as footnotes.
First, let us look at our positional relationship with Heaven.
Heaven is where our soul goes (hopefully) when we die.
I want to make sure you have some foundational knowledge so that you understand what I mean with that statement. Know that we are triune beings, that we have three parts – spirit, soul and body[1]. Some believe that the soul and spirit are the same thing, but this belief comes from sloppy use of language. Soul and Spirit are separate[2].
The body goes into the ground, the spirit goes back to God[3] and the soul part goes before Christ[4]. I cover this more thoroughly in the 3rd part of this series. If you have received the baptism in the Spirit by becoming one with Jesus[5], then your soul goes to Heaven[6]. If you haven’t, then you go to Hell (covered in the first part of the series).
Also understand that “death” as we know it is simply what happens when the body and spirit separate[7]. You don’t actually cease to exist; you just exist differently[8]. Those of us who live in Christ Jesus will never die[9].
Heaven is a temporary holding place for us until we return to Earth
Yep, that is right. Heaven is temporary. Many think it is our final destination, but it isn’t. It is where those of us who call on the name of the Lord go to wait the final judgement[10].
For those who do not know, at an appointed time in the future, Jesus will come out of Heaven riding on a cloud[11], trumpets blowing, and initiate what is called the final judgment[12]. The ones who have passed (call him Lord and believe he was resurrected from the dead) will stay with Him and the rest will be cast into the lake of fire which is called the second death[13]. Read Matthew 24-25 and Revelation 20-22 for more details.
The culmination of these events is that God will destroy the old Earth and create a new one[14] with a new city called New Jerusalem[15]. We will then live there with God in our reunited and glorified bodies for eternity[16].
So, as you can see, Heaven is just the place of residence for the souls of God’s children who die before the end of times until God is ready to hit the reset button on Earth. Understand that we are Earth beings[17], not Heavenly beings like angels. We were created here, we live here, we will return here and forever remain here.
Now that we see how we interact with Heaven, let us review what else God’s book of truth has to say.
Heaven is a Kingdom
People have some fantastical ideas about what Heaven actually is. Luckily, God informs us so that we don’t have to guess. He says it is a Kingdom[18]. That is right, it is the Kingdom of Heaven. As you likely know, kingdoms are places where kings have dominion, or rule, hence king+dom. A kingdom, by nature, is a location / land / country under control by someone (the King). Someone cannot be a king if they do not have some place where they have dominion.
Therefore, Heaven is where God rules his kingdom. It is where he has his throne[19] (what king doesn’t have a throne!). Jesus is at His right hand in Heaven[20], meaning he is the one who is exorcising God’s power. Like all kingdoms, the King has subjects in those of us who are born again[21]. We must obey his laws and not rebel against Him else there is punishment[22].
Further, The Father has granted to his Son, Jesus, all power and authority in Heaven and Earth[23] including judgement[24]. He has granted dominion[25] to Jesus, thus making him a King[26]. In fact, the good book calls him King of Kings and Lord of Lords[27] indicating that all Earth must bend the knee to Jesus[28].
This later point is critical to understanding our relationship with Jesus. As he is our king, we must submit to his authority and recognize his kingship[29]. You cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven without it, because otherwise you would be in rebellion and rejected[30].
Conclusion
To recap, Heaven is a spiritual realm (kingdom) where our souls go temporarily until the end of days when our Lord God reassembles our 3 parts back into one here on Earth.
Footnotes:
[1] Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23
[2] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12
[3] And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:7
[4] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. - 2 Corinthians 5:10
[5] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16
[6] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. - John 3:5
[7] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. – James 2:26
[8] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. - 1 Corinthians 15:44
[9] And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:26
[10] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13
[11] Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. - Matthew 24:30
[12] But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. - 2 Peter 3:7
[13] 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. … 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. … 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” - Matthew 25:31-46
[14] 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. - Revelation 21:1
[15] 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2
[16] 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:3-4
[17] Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. - Genesis 2:7
[18] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33
[19] The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. - Psalm 103:19
[20] Who [Jesus] has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. - 1 Peter 3:22
[21] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3
[22] He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. - Romans 2:6-8
[23] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. - Matthew 28:18
[24] For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us. - Isaiah 33:22
[25] And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, - Daniel 2:44
[26] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” - John 18:36
[27] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. - Revelation 19:15
[28] For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” - Romans 14:11
[29] Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9 (Note: Lord = King)
[30] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, - 1 Corinthians 6:9