Talk Truths
What does the Bible say about heaven? Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t say people go there when they die, in fact it says the opposite. This writing explores heaven as revealed in the Bible.
The Bible teaches that there is heaven and earth as two distinct places. In the Bible, the original words for heaven mean “high place”. The word can be used literally or symbolically. To determine which way it is being used, the reader must observe the context.
When applied physically, the original words for heaven means the space that’s high above the ground. This can refer to within our planet, the sky, or outside our planet, in space.
Flying creatures are frequently referred to as “fowl of the air”, where the original word for “air” is the word for heaven (Genesis 1:28).Genesis 1:28XWaiting for response Fowl means bird and because a bird doesn’t fly into outer space, we can see the sky is referred to as heaven. Also, when God divided the waters in the sea from the water in the clouds, this space in between is called “heaven” (Genesis 1:7-10).Genesis 1:7-10XWaiting for response
When God made promises to Abraham he said, “Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars… so shall thy seed be” (Genesis 15:5).Genesis 15:5XWaiting for response We know that stars are in outer space, therefore, heaven can refer to outer space. Also, when Moses speaks to the people and warns them against worshiping the sun, moon and stars, he references outer space as heaven (Deuteronomy 4:19).Deuteronomy 4:19XWaiting for response
Heaven is used as a symbol for those who rule over others. For example, the Psalmist writes:
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad.
Psalm 96:11Psalm 96:11XWaiting for response
The heavens aren’t literally rejoicing. This is something that people do. Another example is when Moses speaks to the people, encouraging them to hear him, he refers to them as “heaven and earth”.
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Deuteronomy 32:1Deuteronomy 32:1XWaiting for response
Moses is not speaking literally to the sky or space, he is speaking to all the people - those in authority as heaven, and the rest of the people as earth.
A modern symbol that is similar is one we use for famous people, referring to them as stars. They are not stars, yet we call them that, saying, for example, “stars on the red carpet”.
Heaven is prophesied to be on fire. This is not a literal burning of heaven, it is a symbol referring to the rulers being judged. For example, Peter writes:
The heavens and the earth… are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:72 Peter 3:7XWaiting for response
The Bible does not say that ungodly men live in heaven, so Peter speaks of the ungodly rulers of the people.
A new creation is prophesied, where a new heaven and a new earth will be made. This is not referring to a physical heaven or earth, but a symbolic one. The heaven refers to the rulers, and the earth refers to the people. For example, Peter continues his symbolic use of heaven in the same epistle mentioned above, where he writes:
We, according to his [God’s] promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2 Peter 3:132 Peter 3:13XWaiting for response
He writes of the future, saying that the rulers and everyone else will be righteous. Isaiah prophecies of the same new creation.
For, behold, I [God] create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people.
Isaiah 65:17-18Isaiah 65:17-18XWaiting for response
The wonderful prophecies in Revelation follow along the same lines.
I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; 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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:1,4-5Revelation 21:1,4-5XWaiting for response
Heaven is also a literal place where some people live. Explanation is not given on the whereabouts of this place or what it is, though some information about this place is revealed in the Bible.
The Bible reveals that God lives in heaven. When Jesus prays to God, he said:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9Matthew 6:9XWaiting for response
In 1 Kings, heaven is specifically recorded as God’s dwelling place.
Then hear thou [God] in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest.
1 Kings 8:391 Kings 8:39XWaiting for response
Similarly, the Psalmist writes heaven is God’s sanctuary and that it’s where he observes the earth from.
For he [God] hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
Psalm 102:19Psalm 102:19XWaiting for response
Considering God made earth and it is “very good”, it would make sense that heaven is an even better place because God chooses to live there (Genesis 1:31).Genesis 1:31XWaiting for response Knowing that God and the angels are spirits (John 4:24,John 4:24XWaiting for response Hebrews 1:14),Hebrews 1:14XWaiting for response this place is likely a spiritual place. Perhaps we could refer to it in man’s terminology as another dimension or realm. Considering we live in the physical realm, it is likely beyond our understanding, beyond these basic facts.
Heaven of heavens
After Solomon built a house for God, he wrote that God lives in the heaven of heavens, which could be a symbolic use, stating that God is the ruler in heaven, above the angels. An alternative suggestion is that there are different regions or levels in heaven, where the heaven of heavens is highest place within heaven, where God lives.
But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
2 Chronicles 6:182 Chronicles 6:18XWaiting for response
After Jesus was resurrected, he ascended up to heaven with the promise that he would return.
When he [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they [his disciples] beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 1:9-11Acts 1:9-11XWaiting for response
Peter prophesied of the same in his first recorded letter to the Thessalonians.
The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:161 Thessalonians 4:16XWaiting for response
Jesus himself prophesied the same about his return in his message to John, recorded in Revelation.
And, behold, I [Jesus] come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:12Revelation 22:12XWaiting for response
The popular belief is that if people are good, they go to heaven after they die to live in everlasting bliss. This is contrary to what the Bible says. Jesus himself says the following on the matter.
No man hath ascended up to heaven.
John 3:13John 3:13XWaiting for response
He also tells the apostles, excluding Judas Iscariot, that they cannot go to heaven. You would think out of all the people who would go to heaven, these 11 apostles would.
Little children, yet a little while I [Jesus] am with you. Ye [his apostles] shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say [the same] to you.
John 13:33John 13:33XWaiting for response
In Peter’s speech to the Jews he reaffirms this when he says that even David, a man after God’s own heart, is not in heaven (Acts 13:22).Acts 13:22XWaiting for response
Let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day… David is not ascended into the heavens.
Acts 2:29,34Acts 2:29,34XWaiting for response
At the future return of Christ, God’s kingdom is prophesied to be reestablished, according to the gospel. This is referred to as the kingdom of God in most places in the Bible (Mark 1:15,Mark 1:15XWaiting for response Luke 4:43,Luke 4:43XWaiting for response John 3:3,John 3:3XWaiting for response Acts 1:3).Acts 1:3XWaiting for response In the gospel of Matthew however, it is referred to as the kingdom of heaven.
“Kingdom of heaven” can sound like this future kingdom is in heaven with God and Jesus, enforcing the popular belief that people go to heaven when they die. However, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for why in Matthew’s record it is called the kingdom of heaven and not the kingdom of God as in all other places.
The gospel record of Matthew was written to the Jews and the Jews tried to not say God’s name. So much so that they didn’t even want to write the word God. This is likely because, under the law of Moses, they were forbidden to take God’s name in vain - or in other words, forbidden to use God’s name in a meaningless way (Exodus 20:17).Exodus 20:17XWaiting for response So, because Matthew was written to the Jews, it makes sense that the writer would refer to the kingdom of God as the kingdom of heaven, as that’s how they would refer to it.
Just as there are authorities on the earth, there are authorities in heaven. God is the highest authority, then Jesus, then the angels (Hebrews 1:1-4).Hebrews 1:1-4XWaiting for response Before Jesus ascended to heaven, while he was on the earth, he was lower in authority than the angels (Hebrews 2:9).Hebrews 2:9XWaiting for response After he ascended he was made higher than the angels to sit, where he sits now, at God’s right hand (Hebrews 12:2).Hebrews 12:2XWaiting for response
After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19Mark 16:19XWaiting for response