Heaven: A place you want to spend eternity!

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A boy stood on a windy hillside, flying a kite. He continued to release the string of the kite and it went higher and higher until it was completely out of sight. One of his friends walked up and asked how he knew there was still a kite on the other end. He replied. "I know it's there I feel it tugging on the line." Like the kite, we can't see heaven with our eyes, but we feel it tugging at our souls!

I. Different views of Heaven:

A. PHYSICAL RESTORATION OF EDEN:

The garden of Eden was originally intended to be the eternal dwelling place of man. When man sinned against God, Man was cast out of the garden. The entire hope of mankind it to be permitted to live once again in the physical garden paradise. God will restore the garden on a global basis and there "the faithful" will live a physical existence forever upon the earth. Advocates of this view deny that man has a soul. Their physical view of heaven is therefore a logical outgrowth of their doctrine on the soul. (Jw's, Armstrong, Adventists, Christadelphians etc.)

B. CONTINUOUS DIVINE PROGRESSION:

The Mormons believe in polytheism and assert that God has flesh and bones like a man. As man is, God once wee as God is, man may become. They teach that at one time God the Father was Just a man like Adam. They also teach that any man can "evolve" or progress to become equal with God. The hope of a Mormon is to be raised from the dead, fly off into some distant galaxy with his many wives, (polygamy) and populate a planet with "Adams" who can become God's. This process is happening right now on thousands of other planets, just like it is now happening on earth. This is "heaven" to a Mormon.

C. BIBLE TEACHING:

Heaven is the destination place of the faithful. It is not physical but spiritual, being in the very presence of God. God is a spiritual being that is impossible for human eyes to see. Heaven, also is outside the boundaries and understanding of man as he lives in the physical universe.

II. Where is heaven:

A. Two basic views:

Heaven is physical upon the earth
Heaven is spiritual in the presence of God

B. Heavenly places, lit: "IN THE HEAVENLIES" Used 5X in Ephesians

Eph 1:3 all spiritual blessings IN THE HEAVENLIES
Eph 1:2023 God made Christ to sit at His right hand IN THE HEAVENLIES
Eph 2:6 Christ raised us up to sit with him IN THE HEAVENLIES
Eph 3:10 God's wisdom made known through the church to the rulers and authorities IN THE HEAVENLIES
Eph 6:1012 Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness. against the spiritual forces of wickedness IN THE HEAVENLIES.

C. Heaven is not part of physical universe:

Jn 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world . . . this realm"
Heb 9:11,24 Heaven is not of this creation
1 Cor 15:5051,44 Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God a. we shall all be changed...we will have a spiritual body

D. Jesus teaches His disciples about the nature of heaven: John 13:36; 14:16

Jn 13:36 you cannot follow me now but you will follow me later
Jn 14:2 Father's house has many places, I go to prepare you a place
Jn V3 I will come and receive you that where I am YOU may be also
Jn V5 Thomas asks, "Jesus where are you going?"
Jn 14:6 No one comes to the Father but through Me!

III. Physical symbols/word pictures of heaven

Click here to see photo gallery of heaven and hell

A. A City:

An eternal heavenly city: Heb 11:16; 13:14
a beautiful city: Rev 20:2,1022:5

beautiful and glorious: 21:2,1011
security: Walls and gates V1214
very large: V1517
Finest, most valuable materials used to construct: V1821
Various other things: V2227

B. SABBATH REST: Heb 3:124:11

God has rested from creation to present: 4:3,910
This is not the 7th day Sabbath: Col 2:14

Heb 3:17,18 + Ps 95:811 (All Jews kept 7th day Sabbath in wilderness)
Heb 3:19 4:6 Unbelievers could keep the 7th day Sabbath: Ex 20:10 23:12
Heb 4:11 must strive to enter this rest/7th day rest: merely cease work

Rev 14:13

C. NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH:

1. 2 Pe 3:57

The flood destroyed the earth only with water
Present heaven and earth will be destroyed with fire: V10
God will create a new heaven and earth: V13

2. The present physical universe is "uncreated" or eliminated:

Rev 20:11
Rev 21 :4b The old things hove passed away
Heb i3:14

3. Rev 21:1.5 I make all things new

We will watch God create the new heavens and earth!

D. RESTORED GARDEN PARADISE: Gen 2:810

Rev 2:7 Tree of life in the paradise of God
Rev 22:2,3 Uncursed tree of life

E. "HOLY OF HOLIES" or "MOST HOLY PLACE" of the Jewish tabernacle:

Represented heaven: Heb 9:11,24
Jesus entered into the veil: Heb 6:19,20

Jesus our "forerunner", Military term, like spies sent into Jericho
We have confidence to enter the holy place: Heb 10:19,20

F. OTHER PHYSICAL PICTURES AND SYMBOLS:

Eternal day: Rev 21:25 ~ 22:5
Physical comfort:

no hunger, thirst or neat: Rev 7:16
no death or pain: Rev 21:4

Emotional comfort: No morning or crying: Rev 21:4

Conclusion

A. Overall heaven is described:

Mt 5:11 as a great reward
Rom 8:18 present suffering not worthy to be compared with future glory
2 Cor 4:17,18 eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
Eph 2:7 surpassing riches of His grace towards us
Eph 3:20 beyond all we could ask for or even think of

Steve Rudd

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