1. Are there three heavens?

1. Paul was taken to the third heaven – 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

2. The first heaven (closest to us) is the atmosphere, clouds, where birds fly. (Genesis 7:23; Acts 14:17; Jeremiah 4:25)

3. The second heaven is the solar system, planets, stars, and outer space. (Psalm 8:3; Psalm 19:1; Matthew 24:29)

4. The third heaven is the dwelling place of God. (Acts 7:55; Revelation 21:2)

2. Where is the third heaven?

A.Very Near – Psalm 5:3

1. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

2. Which way is UP? If you go at right angles from the earth then “up” would be in a different direction from every point on earth.
   Study Psalm 75:6 – God does not from East, West or South. He comes from the North. The empty space, absent of many stars, is the direction of heaven. (Job 26:7) [Some also call it the Black Hole.] North is “up” from every spot on earth.

2. What is the difference between Paradise and Heaven?

A.Similar in quality

B.Temporary vs. eternal

C.Difference in a holding cell vs. 5 years in prison

D. It is the same as the difference between “Torment” and “Hell.”

Our condition

1. Conscious, alert to surroundings – Luke 16:24; Revelation 6:9-11

2. Retain memory – Luke 16:25, 28

3. Retain identity, personality – Matthew 22:31-32

4. Ability to speak – Luke 16; Revelation 6

5. Spiritual body – 1 Corinthians 15:50-54

6. Immortal, eternal – 1 Corinthians 15:42-46

John’s Three Views of Heaven – Revelation 21 - 22

1. Presence of God – Sees God – This overshadows everything else. Revelation 21:1-4

1. Initially a voice directs John’s attention not to the beauty of the city, but rather to the central figure, God, who dwells there.

2. The most impressive thing about Heaven is God himself will be there.

3. God will be our God and we will be his people.

4. “New heaven and new earth” (1) – It will have to be “new” because the old (present) earth and heavens (sun and stars) will be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

5. “New Jerusalem” (2) – In Biblical history, Jerusalem played an important role. Abraham looked for an eternal city. (Hebrews 11:8-10) In this life our city is not eternal. (Hebrews 13:14)

2. Protection of God – High mountain – External view – Revelation 21:9-27

   1. 12 foundations – each made of a precious stone.

   2. Walls are 216 feet thick. (144 cubits / 1 cubit = 18 inches)

   3. City measures 1,400 miles long, wide and high. (12,000 furlongs / 1 furlong = .116 miles)

   4. Street is gold, yet transparent like glass. (21)

   5. 12 gates – each gate a single pearl. Gates are never closed.

   6. No temple in the city.

   7. No sun, moon or stars are needed. There is no night there.

3. Paradise of God – Eden Restored – Internal view – Revelation 22:1-5

   1. River of Life flows through the city. (1)

   2. Tree of Life – 12 fruits, each month a different fruit (2)

   3. See the face of God (4) See 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12.

   4. The glory of God will be the light source. (5) We will not need sun or stars. We will not need lamps. See Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

What is Heaven Like?

1. In the presence of deity – God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Angels

   1. Revelation 21:1-4

   2. John 17:24

   3. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

2. All distance removed

   1. Revelation 21:2 – Comes to us as a bride comes down the aisle

   2. Hebrews 12:22 – We have come to God, angles, heavenly city

   3. Revelation 21:3 – God will dwell among us

3. Fellowship with God

   1. Revelation 21:3 – God will live with us, He will be our God

   2. 1 John 1:3 – Our true fellowship is with God and Christ

   3. Revelation 3:20 – Christ will come in and dine with us

4. Eternal life and health

   1. Revelation 22:2 – River of life for healing

   2. Revelation 21:4 – No death, no pain, no sorrow or crying

5. Far better

   1. Philippians 1:21-23 – Far better

   2. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 – Willing to be absent from body, to be with Lord

6. Full joy and pleasure

   1. Psalm 16:11 – Ultimate joy is being with God

   2. Luke 15:7 – Joy in heaven when sinner repents

7. Happy and Restful

   1. Revelation 14:13 – they do rest from their labors

   2. Hebrews 4:6-11 – There remains a rest for the people of God

   3. Hell is the opposite – a place of no rest – Revelation 14:11

   4. Here we get four kinds of rest: Physical, Sensory, Emotional, Mental

   5. In heaven the rest will be Spiritual

8. Country

   1. Hebrews 11:13-16 – We desire a better country

   2. Heaven is not a “dream, another dimension, fantasy world.” Heave is real.

9. Inheritance

   1. 1 Peter 1:3-5 – Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled

   2. 2 Corinthians 2:9 – God has things prepared for us, which we can’t imagine.

   3. Matthew 6:19-20 – Lay up your treasures in heaven

   4. John 14:1-3 – Jesus is getting things ready for us to enter

10. City

    1. Hebrews 11:8-10 – Abraham looked for the eternal city built by God

    2. Revelation 21:1-2 – Holy city, new Jerusalem

    3. Revelation 21:10-12 – Great city descending out of heaven

11. More than a city

    1. Revelation 21:2 – City coming out of heaven

    2. Revelation 21:10 – Great city descending out of heaven

    3. John 10:19 – We can go in and out through the door

12. Secure

    1. Revelation 21:12 – High wall, thick wall with gates

    2. Revelation 21:27 – Nothing that defiles shall be allowed to enter

13. Restricted

    1. Revelation 21:27 – Those not in the book of Life are denied access

    2. Revelation 21:8 – Cowardly, etc. shall not enter

    3. Revelation 22:14-15 – Those who have a right will enter

14. Time does not exist

    1. 1 Peter 4:7 – End of all things

    2. Revelation 10:6 – There shall be time no longer

    3. When the roll is called up yonder – “Time shall be no more”

15. Human relationships do not continue

    1. Family, marriage – Matthew 22:30

    2. We will be in heave as the family of God.

    3. Our relationship is spiritual, not genetic, physical or emotional.

Seven Things NOT in Heaven

1. Nothing that defiles

   1. Revelation 21:8

   2. Revelation 21:27

   3. There will be no trace of sin or ungodliness – homosexuality, pornography, liquor stores, prostitutes, vulgar language, etc.

2. No pain or death

   1. Revelation 21:4 – Pain, suffering and death will be gone.

   2. These things (death and the things that cause death) are the result of sin in the garden of Eden – Genesis 3:1, 16-19

   3. Death means separation. In sin we were separated from God. (Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:55)

3. No sorrow, weeping, tears

   1. Revelation 21:4 – God will wipe away our tears – Permanently!

   2. No more – screams, moans, groans or whimpers.

   3. Psalm 30:5 – We may weep now, but joy will come in the morning

   4. Isaiah 65:17 – Heaven will help us forget our pain and misery

4. No night

   1. Revelation 21:25 – Gate will only close at night. Since there is no night, the gates will never close.

   2. Night (darkness) is the time of evil. Evil loves darkness. (John 3:19)

   3. The Glory of God is so bright there is not any darkness at all.

5. No sun

   1. Who need the sun, moon or stars?

   2. Revelation 21:23 – No need of the sun

6. No seas

   1. Revelation 21:1 – “There was no more sea.”

   2. What does this mean? Oceans (seas) were often spoken of as a symbol of judgment.

   3. The floodwaters were a judgment against the wicked world – Genesis 7:19-20. All judgment will be past. There will be no judgment in heaven.

7. No more curse

   1. Revelation 22:3 – The curse is over!

   2. Galatians 3:10, 13

   3. The curse of sin. The curse of death. The curse of disease. The curse of pain, sickness and disappointment. The curse of war, murder, drunk drivers, gambling, alcohol, crime, lies, being cheated, gossiped about, and all other ways we have been injured and wronged. All those curses will be gone!