Recently I got into a discussion with a brother who got into another discussion with somebody who asked him the question: “Where is Heaven?
I’m not any kind of theologian, but these were my thoughts on the subject, to which I thought I would repost it here, only because it really made me think and it strengthened my faith. Maybe it will strengthen yours as well.
The Bible speaks of at least three different references to Heaven… And the future place Jesus Himself has been working on for the last 2000 years as well.
One reference is to the Earth’s atmospheric envelope – The Bible calls this heaven “the firmament.” It is the sky.
In Genesis 1:6
And God said, “Let there be an expanse* in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Expanse can also be known as a canopy.
In Genesis 1:20
And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”
A second reference to Heaven is known as the Celestial Heavens – The second heaven is what we call “space – the final frontier” where God placed the stars and planets.
In Genesis 1:16
”Then God made two great lights: the greater light (sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (moon) to rule the night. He made the stars also.”
Probably the Heaven we reference the most when we apeak of Heaven is known as the “Third Heaven.” This is the “Abode of God.” Paul speaks of this place in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
All of this being said — It doesn’t answer your question, because this is something we are not told. I have a feeling we are NOT told because:
1) I don’t think we can comprehend it.
2) We as humans, being of a sin nature would probably try to go there in our own power, similar to the people of Babel talked about in Genesis 11.
My friend had made reference in his discussion to how Jesus spoke of “going to prepare a place…” I thought he was spot on in his reference of John 14:1-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
I always remember Keith Green’s comment on this:
“You know, I look around at the world and I see all the beauty that God made. I see the forest and the trees and all the things. And it says in the Bible that He made them is six days and I don’t know if they’re a literal six days or not. Scientists would say no, some theologians would say yes. But I know that Jesus Christ has been preparing a home for me and for some of you, for two thousand years. And if the world took six days and that home two thousand years, hey man, this is like living in a garbage can compared to what’s going on up there.”
After listening to a 12 CD series on Revelation, The Return of Christ, The Rapture and the Millenium by Dr. David Jeremiah — I’ve also put more of a clear timeline to my faith concerning prophecy and the things yet to come — Which also involves the Heaven that is yet to come AFTER the Rapture of the Church, the 7 years we actually WON’T be here (because we are believers in Christ) and the 1000 years you and I will be here WITH Christ on the Earth until its final demise and we all go home — wherever that is… Maybe that will be HERE, where Earth is NOW — or maybe another place. The Bible DOESN’T say exactly.
John’s Revelation of Christ speaks of a place with streets of Gold, and a huge fortress made of jewels so large that the walls are made of a single stone.
So at this point, I’ve not directly answered the question, but as a Christian I’ve built my faith in Christ thinking of all the things yet to come!
But perhaps this verse will be of some comfort for you, lightly touch on the answer to the question, and give you the comfort it does me:
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
To be absent from this body — We will be present with the Lord — Wherever that is.
