THE TRUTH ABOUT HEAVEN
I. THE LIE: From the "Humanist Manifesto II"
"We find no evidence of a life after death, eternal reward or eternal
damnation"
II. THE TRUTH IS FOUND IN GOD'S WORD:
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
III. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF "HEAVEN" IN THE BIBLE:
1. THE FIRST HEAVEN:
This is the clouds and the earth's atmosphere.
Genesis I: 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,
and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Genesis 1:7 And 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.
Genesis 1: 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the
morning were the second day.
See also: Genesis 7:23; 8:2; Job 38:1-11, 34; Isaiah 14:14; Jeremiah 51:16
2. THE SECOND HEAVEN:
This is the starry space between the earth and the "planet" Heaven:
Genesis 1: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give
light upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1: 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day,
and
the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Genesis 1: 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
t the earth,
I Genesis 1: 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the
light
from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1: 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Genesis 1 :20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving
creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open
firmament
of heaven.
Other Scriptures: Genesis 22:17; Isaiah 14:12-14; Psalm 8:3
3. THE THIRD HEAVEN IS THE PLACE WHERE GOD DWELLS:
2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in
the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
"Paradise" here is the Greek word "Paradeisos" meaning
"a park, or place of
future happiness"
IV. THE TRUTH ABOUT HEAVEN WHERE GOD DWELLS: THE THIRD HEAVEN
1. HEAVEN IS A CREATED PLACE:
Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched
them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he
that
giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that
formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain,
he
formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Colossians I: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and
that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions,
or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Nehemiah 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven
of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the
seas, and all that is therein, and thou preselVest them all; and the host of
heaven worshippeth thee.
2. HEAVEN IS AS REAL AS THE EARTH!
Hebrews 8: 1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have
such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in the
heavens; Hebrews 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,
which the Lord pitched, and not man. Hebrews 8:3 For every high priest is
ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this
man
have somewhat also to offer. Hebrews 8:4 For ifhe were on earth, he should not
be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the
law:
Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as
Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for,
See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee
in
the mount.
Hebrews 11: 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for
them a city.
HEAVEN=PATRlS==FATHERLAND OR NATIVE TOWN; OWN
~ COUNTRY"
~: JESUS SPOKE OF A PLACE WHERE THE HEAVENLY FATHER DWELLS:
J John 14: 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
JESUS TELLS US ABOUT A PLACE WHERE:
1. The Heavenly Father Dwells
2. He is preparing a place for us.
3. He will take us when He comes for us, so we can be where He is.
THIS IS A REAL, TANGIBLE PLACE SOMEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE. IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT IT IS A PLANET, SIMILAR TO EARTH, CALLED "HEAVEN".
3. THE THIRD HEAVEN IS THE CAPITOL OF THE UNIVERSE:
God has His capitol city: The New Jerusalem; a capitol building: The Heavenly
Tabernacle; and His Throne in the Temple in Heaven. This city is described by
the
Apostle John who saw it and described it in Revelation chapters 21 and 22.
According to Revelation, this capitol city will remain in Heaven until the end
of
the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth. Then it will be moved from the Heaven
to the planet Earth. (Revelation 21: 2, 9-21). Many Scriptures speak of God's
Throne being in Heaven (Psalm 103:19; Revelation 4:1-2). That God has a real
Temple in Heaven is clear from Revelation 4-5; 11:19; 14:17; 16:17.
4. GOD OWNS AND RULES ABSOLUTELY IN HEAVEN:
Genesis 14: 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high
God, possessor of heaven and earth:
See also: Genesis 14:22; Psalm 11:4; 89:11; Luke 10:21; 11:2
God also owns and rules the earth and all things in the Universe, but at the
present, this planet is in rebellion against Him. This is why Jesus will be sent
from Heaven with the armies of Heaven to seize this rebellious part of the
Universe and restore God's absolute rule on Earth as before the rebellion
started.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jude 1: 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly
among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of
all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
See also 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-10; Zechariah 14:
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Joo13; Matthew 24:29-31; 25:31-46
5. THE WORD OF GOD GIVES HEAVEN'S LOCATION:
Isaiah 14: 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isaiah 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
i; congregation, in the sides of the north:
;, Psalms 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west,
nor
'i" from the south.
Psalms 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
6. HEAVEN IS INHABITED:
1 Kings 22: 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the
LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his
right
hand and on his left.
7. A LIST OF SOME OF HEAVEN'S REAL ATTRIBUTES:
1. It has at least one city: Revelation 21
2. It has dwellings: John 14:1-3
3. It has trees: Revelation 22: 1-3
4. It has rivers: Revelation 22:1-3
5 .It has fountains of water: Revelation 7: 17
6. It has food: Revelation 2:7,17; 19:1-10; 22:1-3
7. It has animals: 2 Kings 2: 12; 6: 17; Zechariah 6: 1-8; Revelation 19: 11-21
8. It has furniture: Hebrews 8:5; 9:23; Revelation 4:1-4
9. It has musical instruments: Revelation 5:8; 14:1-5; 15:2-4
10. It has walls, gates, pearls, diamonds, other precious stones, gold in
abundance
streets, fruit trees, etc. Revelation 21 and 22.
V. WHO GETS TO GO TO HEAVEN?
1. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life:
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire.
2. Those who are "in Christ" 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
3. Those who believe in Jesus: John 14:1-3
4. Those who are "Born Again": John 3:3-6; 16-21
5. Those who come to the Father through Jesus Christ: John 14:6
6. Those who follow Jesus: John 10:26-29
VI. WHO DOES NOT GO TO HEAVEN?
Those who do not do 1 through 6 above!
Our Mission is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.....