Going to Heaven is an experience that every believer in Jesus Christ looks forward to and many of us wonder what Heaven will be like. Just like with any topic in God's Word, we must focus our study under the lights of 2 Timothy 2:15 and 2 Timothy 3:16 to gain a full understanding.
When we look at Heaven, we must first look at the different heavens mentioned in the Bible.
"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 Cor. 12:2
2 Corinthians 12:2, when looked at solely, shows us that there are at least three heavens. Could there be more? The Bible will always interpret the Bible and the Word of God tells us that there are only three heavens: the sky, outer space, and the area where God dwells.
The first heaven is the sky and the Bible shows us this in multiple verses:
"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;" - 2 Chronicles 7:13
"By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches." - Psalm 104:12
"Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." - Acts 14:17
"And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." - James 5:18
The second heaven is what we call outer space. We can find this heaven defined in the following verses:
"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 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. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 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 1:14-18
"For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." - Isaiah 13:10
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:" - Matthew 24:29
"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." - Revelation 6:13
The third heaven, what most people simply refer to as "Heaven", is where God dwells:
"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." - 1 Kings 22:19
"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:" - Matthew 5:34
"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." - John 3:13
If we do not rightly divide per 2 Timothy 2:15, then the topic of Heaven becomes quite confusing. An example of this would be found in 2 Chronicles 7:13 from above. If Heaven is one and the same, that would mean that rain comes from God's throne and travels through outer space and then goes into the clouds and then touches the ground. What a mess! Not to mention that this would be a direct contradiction of both Science and the Word of God (see Science and the Bible lesson for a breakdown of the Hydrologic Cycle).
Another example of the necessity of rightly dividing is found in Revelation 4:1-2 where the Apostle John wrote:
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."
We can look at this in one of two ways. If we don't rightly divide, then the Apostle John was able to see through the sky and thousands of miles into outer space to see a door opened before being raptured. If we rightly divide, then John saw a door opened in the sky (the first heaven) and then was raptured to God's throne (the third heaven).
There are indeed multiple heavens with multiple names. Another name often associated with Heaven is "Paradise". Paradise, too, consists of three locations.
1) The third heaven: 2 Corinthians 12:4
2) A future location on Earth: Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 22:2
3) Abraham's Bosom
It is important to remember that Jesus did not immediately go to Heaven upon His death on the cross. He stated in Matthew 12:38-41, "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth".
Jesus went to a place called Abraham's Bosom also known as Paradise. The first mention of this location is found in Luke 16:19-31. Remember that we must tie Scripture together to gain a full understanding. Jesus said that he would go to the "heart of the earth" and spoke of a place of comfort divided from Hell. However, in the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the term Paradise is not used so how do we know that this place is also called Paradise? While Jesus was hanging on the cross, he spoke with a thief that accepted Him as Savior and said, "...today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
*For the remainder of this lesson, we will only be discussing the third heaven and will refer to it as Heaven.*
Heaven in Popular Culture
Popular culture teaches that when we die, if we've been good boys and girls, we will join our loved ones in a place of light where we will never feel pain again and we will be happy for all eternity.
Let's break this thought down.
Error #1: We have to die to go to Heaven. While that is true in most cases, one day, the Church will be raptured (Rev. 4:1, 1 Thess. 4:16, and 1 Cor. 15:51-54) and we will be taken straight to Heaven.
Error #2: We have to be good to go to Heaven. The only way to Heaven is through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ i.e. the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2:8-9).
Error #3: We will see our loved ones in Heaven. The sad reality is most of the people that we care about will have chosen not to accept what Jesus did for us. It is important that we share with them that rejecting Christ and His salvation means rejecting spending eternity with God.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" - 1 Peter 3:18
Error #4: There is only light in Heaven. This one is tricky because people will equate Heaven with God being light (1 Jn. 1:5). However, you have to keep in mind that we are considered righteous (1 Cor. 1:30) and our bodies are His temple (1 Cor. 6:19), and yet, we can still sin (Rom. 7:24-25). Our souls have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Rom. 5:9), but our flesh is still sinful and corrupted (1 Cor. 15:51-54).
"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." - Revelation 4:5
How can there be lightning if all of Heaven consists of light? Perhaps it is possible that there are degrees of brightness in Heaven, however, as we will see later on in this lesson there is wickedness in Heaven.
Error #5: We will never feel pain and we will be happy for all eternity. This is where understanding Dispensationalism (click here) is important. Heaven is not eternal. One day, we will leave Heaven and return to the Earth with the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:11-16) to rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:6). For a deeper study please see the Where Do We Go When We Die? lesson.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." - 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." - 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
There will be regret in Heaven. The Bible says that we will rule and reign with Christ (Rev. 20:6). We could have had more authority had we been more obedient right now. We could have had more rewards had we been more obedient right now. We could have earned every crown had we been more obedient right now. There will be regret.
There will be sorrow for the lost. Notice that the Great White Throne Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15) happens BEFORE God wipes away all of our tears (Rev. 21:1-4). We do not become mindless automatons in Heaven. We will have our sinless bodies given to us at the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-54). God gets angry, but He does not sin. God is even called jealous in Exodus 20:5. The Bible says we will be like Him which means we will still have emotions. We will still have feelings. Once we put on our glorified bodies we will be able to serve Him completely, but until then in our present state, we still struggle with serving Him or serving ourselves. We still struggle with sharing the Gospel or watching basketball. We still struggle with forgiving our spouses as Christ forgave us or holding a grudge. We will have sorrow and we will have regret in Heaven. That emotional pain and regret will not be taken away until after the Millennial Kingdom ends.
The eternal destiny for a believer is Christ - not Heaven. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. It does not say to be absent from the body is to be in Heaven. There is a distinction.
Who We Will See in Heaven
Who we will see in Heaven is obvious in many ways. We know that we will see Jesus (Rev. 4:2-3). We know that we will see angels (Rev. 5:2,11) and cherubim (Rev. 4:8). It is also quite obvious that we will see fellow believers (2 Cor. 5:8), but there are others that we will see in Heaven as well.
We will see people that were incapable of putting their faith in Christ. This includes people born with mental disabilities and little children that died prematurely. When we accept that God is love (1 Jn. 4:8) and that Jesus loves children (Matt. 19:14) it would be apparent that this group would be taken to Heaven. However, we must always put our trust in the Bible - not our opinions.
There is a doctrine called the Age of Accountability. This phrase is not found in the Word of God, however, neither is Rapture or the Trinity or Bible. What we call the Trinity is called the Godhead in the Bible (Acts 17:29, Rom. 1:20, and Col. 2:9). Bible is a transliteration from the Greek term bíblos and simply means "the Book". Rapture is a transliteration of the Latin term rapio which is a translation of the Greek term harpadzo that the Apostle Paul used when describing the Rapture. The phrase Age of Accountability is simply the name given to the doctrine defining why the mentally handicapped and little children are considered innocent before God.
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." - Psalm 51:5
We were all conceived in sin. Our bodies, our flesh is sinful and this is why there is a need for the Rapture! 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 explains that even though we are saved, He must remove the physical corruption of our bodies. The physical corruption that causes death (Rom. 5:12, James 1:15).
Every person born is guilty of sin (Gal. 3:22). The Bible says that the first sin we all commit is lying at a young age (Ps. 58:3). So, then, why are the mentally disabled and little children and babies exempt from the same punishment of those that reject Christ?
There is a time when people are unable to grasp right from wrong. Even though we were all born with a conscience (Romans 1 and 2), the knowledge and understanding of the consequences isn't there. The Apostle Paul said:
"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." - Romans 7:7-9
Little children are sinful, yet alive spiritually until they reach the age of accountability. At that point, sin will revive and they will die spiritually. This is why it is ever so important for parents to share the Gospel and share the Word of God and share the nature of Jesus Christ with their kids from day one.
The question then becomes is there a specific age when a person dies spiritually? Yes - in the sense that the knowledge of the Gospel comes at a different age to everybody. This particular doctrine shows the beauty of God's grace and how it has been shown throughout the Bible.
"Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it." - Deuteronomy 1:39
Before the Israelites were allowed to enter into the Promised Land, God concluded an entire generation guilty of wickedness and not allowed to enter into Canaan. There were three exceptions:
1) Joshua
2) Caleb
3) The little ones
"Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised." - Numbers 14:29-31
There were 19 year-old people that God considered innocent. When you look at the Bible as a whole, you will find that God considers us guilty once we have the knowledge of the consequence for our actions. It was when the Apostle Paul knew the Law that he became a lawbreaker.
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." - James 2:10-11
The Law was far more than just the Ten Commandments. There were 613 laws contained within the Mosaic Covenant. The Law gave commandments for both how to live and punishment for breaking a particular law. For example, the punishment for breaking the Sabbath was death (Num. 15:32-36). The punishment for stealing animals was a multi-fold restitution (Ex. 22:1). The punishment for human trafficking was death (Ex. 21:16). The punishment for lying, murdering, idolatry, etc. is eternal separation from God (Rom. 6:23, Rev. 21:8).
It is once a person has the understanding of how our sin separates us from God and that God is righteous and must punish us for our sins, that we are held accountable for our sins. If a person cannot grasp that concept, then God still considers them innocent by His grace even though they have sinned against Him.
We have covered that we will see Jesus, the Heavenly host, fellow believers, and those incapable of believing when we get to Heaven. There is one more person that we will see as well: Satan.
Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us about Satan's fall. While we do not know the exact time that this happened, we do know that it took place prior to the Fall of Man (Gen. 3). In the book of Job, we see what Satan does with his time:
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord." - Job 1:6-12
These verses show that Satan visits God. Despite the teachings of many charismatic churches, the crucifixion did not eliminate Satan's access to God.
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." - Revelation 12:7-10
Satan will not be kicked out of Heaven until halfway through the Tribulation! Notice in particular verse 10 which states "for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night". To this very day, the Devil is constantly bringing up our sins before God.
Referring back to Error #4, this is why it is quite possible that there is darkness in Heaven - Satan is still allowed access. Just as our bodies will one day be transformed (1 Cor. 15:51-54), one day all darkness in Heaven and on Earth will be completely removed:
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." - Revelation 21:1-4
"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 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." - Revelation 22:3-5
What Does Heaven Look Like?
Revelation chapter four gives us a glimpse of God's Throne Room. However, the Bible does not go into great detail on Heaven itself. There are many descriptions of the Kingdom of Heaven, but that is not the third heaven (see Kingdom of Heaven vs Kingdom of God lesson).
When Jesus Christ walked the Earth, one of the things that He wanted to get across to us was the love of our Heavenly Father. Every good parent enjoys raising their child and teaching them, but they also love surprising them. Taking them to new places, giving them gifts, telling them stories that they previously didn't know.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that "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."
Perhaps, God the Father wants to surprise us in ways we cannot even imagine. If He is our loving Father and we, as parents, enjoy surprising our kids then why wouldn't God the Father have the same enjoyment? It could be that is the reason why the Psalmist said that "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Ps. 116:15).