Heaven Described as………Series – Heaven Real or Myth

Written September 18^th 2007 – Tuesday

Posted September 24^th 2007 – Monday 

Heaven Described as …………Series – Heaven Real or Myth 

         

     In this part of our series on heaven, we are going to take a look at how exactly the Bible describes heaven.  In so doing, it is my hope it will help shed more light upon our topic of heaven as a real or mythical place.  Whether mythical or not, could heaven be present as a state of being as well as an actual place?  Let us explore the idea together.  

“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 14:2 [Jesus speaking]

         

     In the gospel of John Jesus speaks of a house as being in or a part of heaven.  This house contains many mansions.  If there were no actual place, there would have been no cause for Jesus to speak of the mansions within the house.  The house in my view being heaven itself.  If we believe the other things, which Jesus told us in the gospels, why not believe Him on this matter.  As He states, He would not have said that there were many mansions within the house [heaven] if it were not true.  

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  – Matthew 25:34 [Jesus speaking]

         

     Here in Matthew we see Jesus speaking of heaven as a kingdom. When one thinks of a kingdom one might imagine a realm, monarchy, territory, sovereignty, or a realm perhaps.  This kingdom has been underway since the foundation of the world itself.  In the eternal sense of a kingdom, this is a view of heaven.  In the Greek, this word used for kingdom denotes royalty ruling, in an actual realm.  A realm built on a foundation of power; headed by a King. The King would be God the Father.  We can clearly see order and structure in heaven.  

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.— ⁴how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  – 2 Corinthians 12:2,4

         

     Paul through another account, from a friend, describes heaven as being a paradise.  Where apparently what was spoken was too precious to even be repeated.  This Scripture is actually describing a third part of the universe, which contains the paradise known as heaven.  A place within the adobe of God. Going back to our introduction in this series, we know the “abode” to be, God house, home, or dwelling place.  Once more, we see evidence of heaven as an actual place.  

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³“And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. – Luke 16:22, 23 [Jesus speaking]

         

     Now this is incredibly interesting; here, we have heaven described as the bosom of Abraham.  When we think of bosom, in respect as a child, we would think of nourishment and safety; both of which I believe we can expect in heaven.  However, why Abraham’s bosom?  Because Abraham was the father of the nations.  Every Gentile who became a Believer in Christ has Abraham, in part, to thank for his or her Christianity.  I guess in heaven Abraham is still welcoming those members of his nation.  

for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  – Hebrews 11:10, 16

         

     In these verses, as well, we see a direct reference to heaven as being a city, which God Himself has actually designed and constructed.  If something has been designed, constructed, or built it is an actual physical place.  One does not build a mythical abode, only a literal abode.  The size and scope of which would be considered equal with a country.  God’s love for mankind is shown, once again, through His construction of an eternal home for those who chose Jesus, the Christ, as their Lord and Savior.  

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹²Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. ¹⁴Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.²²But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ²⁷But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. – Revelation 21:2, 10–27 

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ²In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³And 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. ⁴They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. – Revelation 22:1-5 

That is no doubt a very clear and detailed description of an actual place which one day all people will know literally exist.