We are living in a day when heresies abound, and one of the latest seems to be a rejection of Heaven. The cults already rejected eternal Hell some time back, but now we are being told that Christians do not go to Heaven. But we are not told what the alternative is. Seemingly it is back to earth. Indeed many seem to be ignorant about Heaven and its occupants, and cannot grasp the idea that every believer -- every child of God -- is destined for Heaven. In fact all the Old Testament saints, as well as all the New Testament saints who have passed on, are presently in Heaven.
It almost seems that there is a hatred for Heaven being planted into the hearts and minds of some. And since Satan was unceremoniously cast out of Heaven, who else could be behind this nefarious plot to deceive people and kill their joy?
The Bible tells us that there are three heavens, and the third heaven is God's Heaven. Which would mean that the first heaven is the atmospheric/stratospheric heaven, and the second heaven is outer space.
PAUL WAS IN HEAVEN AND RETURNED TO EARTH
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth: such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth: 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. (2 Corinthians 12:1-5)
Paul speaks here in the third person, and shows us that (a) Heaven is above the earth and is also "the third heaven", (b) paradise is in Heaven and there are words spoken there, and (c) this implies that he was in fact in the New Jerusalem (which contains the Paradise of God and all the occupants of Heaven as noted in Hebrews 12:22-24).
JOHN WAS IN HEAVEN AND RETURNED TO EARTH
The book of Revelation is full of the visions of the apostle John. And many of those visions were actually seen in Heaven. But eventually John did return to earth and write this book of prophecy. When John first entered Heaven, he saw the throne of God, and all those surrounding that throne:
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:1-11)
OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN
The Bible says that Christians are pilgrims and sojourners on earth because our eternal citizenship is in Heaven. To settle that in our minds we are told that Abraham -- the "father" of all who are justified by grace -- "looked for a city which hath foundations, who Builder and Maker is God" (Hebrew 11:10). The only city whose Builder and Maker is God is the New Jerusalem, with its twelve foundations. This is solid confirmation that our citizenship is in Heaven because Christ is in Heaven, as stated in Philippians 3:20,21: For our conversation [citizenship] is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
It almost seems that there is a hatred for Heaven being planted into the hearts and minds of some. And since Satan was unceremoniously cast out of Heaven, who else could be behind this nefarious plot to deceive people and kill their joy?
The Bible tells us that there are three heavens, and the third heaven is God's Heaven. Which would mean that the first heaven is the atmospheric/stratospheric heaven, and the second heaven is outer space.
PAUL WAS IN HEAVEN AND RETURNED TO EARTH
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth: such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth: 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. (2 Corinthians 12:1-5)
Paul speaks here in the third person, and shows us that (a) Heaven is above the earth and is also "the third heaven", (b) paradise is in Heaven and there are words spoken there, and (c) this implies that he was in fact in the New Jerusalem (which contains the Paradise of God and all the occupants of Heaven as noted in Hebrews 12:22-24).
JOHN WAS IN HEAVEN AND RETURNED TO EARTH
The book of Revelation is full of the visions of the apostle John. And many of those visions were actually seen in Heaven. But eventually John did return to earth and write this book of prophecy. When John first entered Heaven, he saw the throne of God, and all those surrounding that throne:
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:1-11)
OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN
The Bible says that Christians are pilgrims and sojourners on earth because our eternal citizenship is in Heaven. To settle that in our minds we are told that Abraham -- the "father" of all who are justified by grace -- "looked for a city which hath foundations, who Builder and Maker is God" (Hebrew 11:10). The only city whose Builder and Maker is God is the New Jerusalem, with its twelve foundations. This is solid confirmation that our citizenship is in Heaven because Christ is in Heaven, as stated in Philippians 3:20,21: For our conversation [citizenship] is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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Well, the Bible that I read. I guess some read a different Bible.
