Week 1
A Study of Heaven – Week 1
Three things occurred to make me want to study Heaven. First, in 2019 a mother came to me and said that her daughter asked her why she wanted to go to Heaven. Her daughter was studying the Book of Revelation at her Christian school and it had invoked fear in the girl. The thought of coming face to face with four winged beings with eyes all over them and with heads like a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle had scared her. Her mother asked me to explain why she should want to go to Heaven. I was not successful at removing all of the child’s fears about Heaven. The second thing that happened was Dr. David Jeremiah published his book on Heaven. After reading it, I realized as Pastor Larry used to say, “That will preach!” and I knew I need to teach it in Sunday School. God’s timing was perfect. Finally, last December 28th, I reached the exact age of my father when he went to be with the Lord. It made me aware of my mortality and I knew I had to study and teach what we can learn from the Bible about heaven.
In preparation for this study, I read or listened to the following theologians/pastors.
Chip Ingram – The Real Heaven, video series
David Jeremiah – Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven
Randy Alcorn – Heaven: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything the Bible Says About Our Eternal Home (Clear Answers to 44 Real Questions About the Afterlife, Angels, Resurrection, and the Kingdom of God)
Billy Graham – The Heaven Answer Book
Chip Ingram in his video series said that he recommended to his father who was terminal and had a fear of the afterlife read Randy Alcorn’s book. The outline for this study is based on Dr. Jeremiah’s book. I used many of their scriptural references in this study.
Why Study What the Bible Says About Heaven
The first step of going on an important vacation is to research your destination, Heaven should be no different. As believers, we all will go to Heaven, whether through death or the Rapture. We should learn as much as we can from God’s Word about our destination.
What do you think of when you hear the word, heaven? Or do you think about heaven at all? “Misconceptions about heaven are crippling us.” (Chip Ingram) When I thought about Heaven before this study, I thought it was mysterious. I can’t say that I knew much about it. I pictured angels floating on clouds, playing harps. We know that it is an unworldly place. We have seen movies about angels earning their wings. Based on parts of Revelation 4 and 5, it will be one very, very, very long worship service.
Another reason that we should study about heaven is that we are commanded to. Colossians 3:1-4 tells us “to seek those things which are above.” It says “1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (NKJV)
Chip Ingram says “A faulty view of heaven destines us to a wasted life on earth. . . A crystal clear view of what heaven is like, that new heaven and a new earth with real relationships would sustain them through the most difficult time in human history.” ”
John 14:1-3 says “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. “ If you don’t like “mansions” then the NASB uses the term “dwelling places” or other translations say “rooms”. At any rate, Jesus said it, so heaven is real and not someplace dreamed up by men to allow them to die peacefully.
The word “heaven” is used more than 500 times in the Bible. 33 OT books and 21 NT books talk about heaven. In Isaiah 57:15, God through Isaiah described Heaven as a high and holy place. There are other terms for heaven:
Psalm 23:6 The house of the Lord
Luke 23:43 Paradise
Hebrews 11:10 The city which has foundations, that is designed and built by God.
Revelation 14:1 Mount Zion
Revelation 21:2 New Jerusalem
Throughout the Bible there are 3 different heavens:
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Isaiah 55:10-11 Atmospheric – sky, clouds, birds, oxygen
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Genesis 1:14-17 Universe – Stars, planets, dust clouds, meteors, galaxies
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2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Dwelling place of God or Psalm 115:16 (NIV) Highest heaven