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THE DOCTRINE OF HEAVEN Technically speaking, there are THREE Heavens in Scripture. The first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere where birds fly (Gen. 1:20). The second heaven is what we call space, where the sun, moon, and stars are located (Gen. 1:17). Then we have the third Heaven, the actual abode of God Himself, the “Most Holy Place” in all of God’s creation. Paul states in II Corinthians 12:2 that he was once caught UP to the third Heaven: “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. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (II Cor. 12:2-4) It is this place, the THIRD Heaven, that we are discussing in this lesson, as well as the following Millennial Kingdom and the Eternal Reign of Christ. Where is Heaven? We know Heaven is “up” for Paul said so in II Corinthians 12:2. This will make more sense as we see how God’s word establishes an absolute direction for the location of Heaven. Isaiah 14:13 records the intentions of the evil Lucifer in the very beginning: “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. 14:13) He planned to take over God’s kingdom, and he planned to do so by going NORTH. Notice these interesting words in Psalm 75:6-7: “ For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Notice how “God” is used as a substitute for “North.” The verses said East...West...South....God! Why? Because Heaven is in the NORTH. Santa Claus isn’t in the North; HEAVEN is in the North!Psalm 48:2 says, “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” Where’s the city of the great King? On the “sides of the north.” Where did Lucifer want to go? To the “sides of the north.” The Bible is very clear about the direction of Heaven. It is in, or beyond, the Northern regions of this universe. How Do We Know Heaven Is A Literal Place? Simply because God’s word never speaks of Heaven as being anything but literal. The notion that Heaven is a figurative expression is man’s foolish philosophy. Paul said he WENT there. How could he go there if it isn’t literal? Revelation chapters 21 and 22 speak of New Jerusalem being in Heaven. How could this be true if Heaven were not literal? Jesus said He was going to prepare a PLACE for us (John 14:1-3). If Heaven isn’t literal, then what is it? The Bible always speaks of Heaven as a LITERAL PLACE. We have no authority to change it. Who and What Is in Heaven? God the Father is in Heaven, according to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:9: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is currently sitting in Heaven on the right hand of God the Father: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” (Heb. 10:12; also see Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, and Col. 3:1) God the Holy Spirit is EVERYWHERE (Psa. 139:7-10), so He too is in Heaven. In fact, I John 5:7 says, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” So the Holy Trinity is in Heaven. In addition to this, Matthew 22:30 tells us that God’s angels are “in Heaven”. Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10 speak of the Cheribum creatures surrounding God’s throne, as does Revelation chapter 4. Then Isaiah chapter 6 speaks of the Seraphim creatures being there.The souls of God’s saints are in Heaven. II Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Our “treasure” for serving God is in Heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our affections on THINGS ABOVE, not on the things of earth. According to Revelation 21:2, New Jerusalem is in Heaven, and will one day come down to be inhabited in Eternity. Heaven is a real place prepared for a real people. Will We Recognize One Another in Heaven? Yes we will. Notice Paul’s words from I Corinthians 13:10-12: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Our knowledge and wisdom will be greatly increased in Heaven. Our present knowledge is only partial, but will one day be complete. In Matthew 17, Moses and Elijah were recognized by the disciples. David found comfort in the fact that he would one day go to be with his son (II Sam. 12:23). How could this be of any comfort if he wouldn’t recognize him? We recognize one another today, so Heaven’s knowledge will be far better. Do People in Heaven Know about Present Earthly Affairs? The words of Revelation 6:10 seem to indicate that people in Heaven do have access to some of the affairs of this world. “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” They knew that God’s wrath had not yet been poured out on the earth, and they knew about the prayers of the saints on the earth. Verse 11 goes on to inform these souls that they must wait until more saints are killed. So they had at least SOME knowledge of earthly affairs. Will There Be Marriages and Families in Heaven? No. In Matthew chapter 22 the Sadducees question Jesus about this very subject. In verse 30 Jesus answers by saying, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” The angels in Heaven do not marry and have families, so we will not marry and have families. Marriage and family is a passing scene. God has much greater things in store for those who love Him (I Cor. 2:9). What Will Our New Bodies Be Like? There are two keys to answering this question. One is found in the above portion of Scripture: “...but are as the angels of God in heaven.” What are the angels like? Some have supposed that all angels are “sexless” since they do not marry, but the Scriptures declare otherwise. God the Father is MALE, and God the Son is MALE, and God the Holy Spirit is MALE. The first human being God created was MALE (Gen. 2:7), so why would angels not be male? All through the Bible angels are spoken of in the masculine gender (Jud. 13:3, 6, 8, 15; Gen. 18:2, 16, 22; 19:1, 5, 12; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; Rev. 21:17). Nowhere do we read of female angels or sexless angels. The angels of the Bible always have a manly appearance. Another little known fact is that angels do not have wings. Every angel in the Bible appears as a man. Hebrews 13:2 says that “some have entertained angels unawares.” That is, some were in the presence of angels and did not know it. How would this be possible if angels had large stork wings as we so often see them drawn? It would be impossible. Angels in the Bible appear as normal looking men, usually in white apparel. Jesus said we will be as the angels. The second key to understanding our resurrection body is found in I John 3:1-2: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Notice that we are SONS of God, not “daughters and sons.” We are SONS of God, and verse two says that we shall be like HIM. We shall be LIKE JESUS CHRIST. He is THE Son of God, and His followers are “sons” of God (John 1:12). Jesus came forth with a new glorified and incorruptible body, so we will do likewise. I Corinthians 15:52-53 says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Jesus lives forever in His resurrection body, so we shall live forever in ours. Now, getting this all together, we can get a pretty good glimpse at our new glorified bodies: 1. Our bodies will be INCORRUPTIBLE. We will never be sick or die again (Rev. 21:4). 2. Our bodies will be MALE. No need for two sexes in Heaven, since we cannot marry in Heaven (Mat. 22:30). We will be as the angels, and the angels are not female. This is why ALL Christians are called SONS of God in God's word (John 1:12; I John 3:2). 3. Our bodies will be young in appearance, probably 33 years old, the age of our Lord’s resurrection body. How “old” do you suppose Adam looked when God first created Him? Maybe he appeared as a man of 33 years. 4. Our bodies will have NO BLOOD. Jesus’ resurrection body consisted of FLESH and BONE (Luke 24:39), because all of His blood was shed at Calvary. Our blood is corruptible, so it cannot go to Heaven (I Cor. 15:50). 5. Our new bodies will evidently have the ability to fly faster than the speed of light. In His resurrection body, Jesus went all the way to the Third Heaven and back in just a few hours (John 20:17; Mat. 28:9). 6. Our new bodies will allow us to APPEAR and DISAPPEAR at will, and to move through solid objects (John 20:26; Luke 24:31). If the Bible means what it says (and I believe it does), then the above statements are not at all far-fetched. Men today dream about such abilities, and God will grant these abilities to those who come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. What Will We Do in Heaven? I believe the answer is well stated in Revelation 5:8-10: “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” This passage speaks of three distinct things that we will do in Heaven. We will WORSHIP GOD, we will PRAISE GOD, and we will REIGN IN GOD’S KINGDOM. In the very beginning, on creation’s morning, we find that God was worshiped and praised by His creation. Job 38:4-7 says that “...the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Lucifer desired to take over God’s kingdom, but was unsuccessful. God has always maintained His power and authority, and we who serve Him today will have the honor of being on His side and in His kingdom in eternity! Notice Revelation 11:15-18: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” When Jesus returns we will be rewarded and then we will REIGN with Him in His kingdom. Revelation 22:5 says, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” On this side of glory we must submit to the wicked powers that be. We often find ourselves troubled with the actions of our leaders and with the general condition of our country. In Heaven, and in eternity in general, everything will change. Things will be done GOD’S WAY, and we will assist Him in ruling in His kingdom. We will worship, praise, and reign forever!