Heaven

by

The word “heaven” is used 716 times in Scripture, referring to the air, clouds, sky, expanse, stars, and the planet on which God dwells. The word heaven is also used of that which is high (Genesis 11:4; Deut. 1:28).

Sixteen Facts about the Heavens:

  1. There are three heavens:
    • Clouds (Genesis 1:8-9; Job 26:8; Job 38:9,25-34; Psalm 77:17-18; Matthew 24:30)
    • Starry space (Genesis 1:14-19; Genesis 15:5)
    • The planet heaven (2 Cor. 12:1-7)
  2. Created by God (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:1; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 45:12-18)
  3. Created before earth (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:1; Job 38:4-7).
  4. How made? Materials were brought into existence by God’s Word and then formed by God’s hands. See The Works of God’s Hands.
  5. When made? In the beginning-in the dateless past (Genesis 1:1; Proverbs 8:22-31).
  6. How long being created? God took six days to restore earth to a second habitable state (Genesis 1:3-2:25; Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:17), but He could have taken much longer to create and form it and the vast heavens originally.
  7. Why made? For habitation and maintaining life to glorify God and receive of His infinite blessings (Isaiah 45:18; Psalm 8:3-8; Col. 1:15-18; Rev. 4:11).
  8. Now inhabited (1 Kings 22:19; 2 Kings 21:3,5; 2 Kings 23:4-5; 2 Chron. 18:18; Neh. 9:6; Matthew 22:30; Ephes. 3:15; Col. 1:15-18; Rev. 5:13; Rev. 10:6; Rev. 12:12; Rev. 13:6; Rev. 19:1).
  9. Kingdoms in (Ephes. 3:9-10; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Peter 3:22).
  10. Laws (Job 38:33; Jeremiah 31:35-36; Jeremiah 33:25; Ezekiel 28:15).
  11. Rulers (Genesis 14:19,22; Genesis 24:3,7; Daniel 4:35; Matthew 6:10; Matthew 11:25).
  12. How ruled? Not automatically, but by free moral and intelligent agents as earth was (Ezekiel 28:11-17; Col. 1:16-17; Daniel 10:10-21; Zech.1:8-11; Zech.6:1-8). Lucifer was first ruler of earth (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-17) and man the present ruler (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:3-8). Such habitable planets as heaven are ruled by others (Col. 1:15-18; Ephes. 3:9-10; 1 Peter 3:22).
  13. Rebellion and wars (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Luke 10:18; Ephes. 2:1-3; Ephes. 6:10-18; 2 Peter 3:5-8; Rev. 12:7-12).
  14. Punishment of rebels (Isaiah 14:12-14; Isaiah 24:21; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Matthew 8:29; Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; Rev. 9; Rev. 12:7-12; Rev. 20:10).
  15. Immeasureable (see The Solar System).
  16. Eight fallicies about the heavens:
    • Heaven is only a state of being.
    • Sin cannot enter heaven. See 1 Kings 22:19-27; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7-12.
    • Saved men send material up to heaven to build their mansions. See John 14:1-3; Hebrews 11:16; Rev. 21.
    • Nothing to do in heaven but rest.
    • Seven heavens. See 2 Cor. 12:1-4.
    • Heaven moved to earth. (Fact: one city from heaven will be moved to earth, not heaven itself. See Rev. 21.)
    • Saved to spend eternity in heaven. See Daniel 7:18,22,27; Zech.14:5; Jude 1:14; Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:1-10.
    • Present heavens will cease to exist. (Fact: they will be renovated only. See 2 Peter 3:10-13, notes.)

Fifty Facts about the Planet Heaven:

  1. Heaven is a created planet like earth (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:1)
  2. A better country (Hebrews 11:10-16)
  3. Highest planet (Ephes. 1:21; Ephes. 4:10; Hebrews 7:26)
  4. A paradise (2 Cor. 12:1-4; Rev. 2:7)
  5. God’s dwelling place (Deut. 26:15; 1 Kings 8:30,39,43,49)
  6. A heavenly country (Hebrews 11:14-18)
  7. Location: in the north part of the universe, in relationship to the earth (Isaiah 14:12-14; Psalm 75:6-7); above (1 Kings 8:23); and in the highest part of creation (Job 22:12; Luke 2:14; Ephes. 1:21; Ephes. 4:10)
  8. Shape: round (Job 22:14; Psalm 19:6) like the earth (Isaiah 40:22; Eccles. 1:6)
  9. Size: unknown, but perhaps larger than the earth, judging from the size of its cities (Rev. 21:9-27), from the size of other planets compared to the earth (see The Solar System), and from the number of its inhabitants (Jeremiah 33:22; Hebrews 12:22-23)
  10. Has real cities (Hebrews 11:10-15; Hebrews 13:14; Rev. 21:2,9-27)
  11. Mansions (John 14:1-3)
  12. Temples (Psalm 11:4; Rev. 3:12; Rev. 7:15; Rev. 11:19; Rev. 14:17; Rev. 15:5; Rev. 16:1,17; Isaiah 6:1)
  13. Foundations (2 Samuel 22:8; Psalm 102:25)
  14. Tabernacle (Psalm 15:1; Rev. 21:3)
  15. Sanctuary (Hebrews 8:2,5; Hebrews 9:11,23-24)
  16. Ark of the testament (Rev. 11:19)
  17. Golden altar, censer, etc. (Rev. 8:3-5)
  18. Fire, tongs, etc. (Isaiah 6:1-7)
  19. Thrones (Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 7:9-10; Rev. 3:21; Rev. 4:2,4; Rev. 22:3)
  20. Books (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23; Rev. 5:1; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 22:19)
  21. Swords, sickles (1 Chron. 21:16,27,30; Rev. 14:14,17,18; Rev. 19:21)
  22. Keys, chains (Rev. 9:1; Rev. 20:1)
  23. Trumpets (Rev. 8:2)
  24. Bowls (Rev. 15:7)
  25. Tables (Luke 22:30)
  26. Food (Rev. 2:7,17; Rev. 22:1-3)
  27. Chariots (2 Kings 2:11; 2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 68:17; Ezekiel 1:15-28; Zech.6:1-8)
  28. Furniture (Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:23; Exodus 25:40)
  29. Floors, rainbows, lightnings, thunders, lamps (Rev. 4:3,5-6; Rev. 15:2)
  30. Fountains of waters (Rev. 7:17)
  31. Rivers of water (Rev. 22:1)
  32. Musical instruments (Rev. 4:8-11; Rev. 5:8-14; Rev. 7:7-17; Rev. 14:1-5; Rev. 15:2-4; Rev. 19:1-10)
  33. Clothing (Daniel 7:9; Daniel 10:5; Matthew 28:3; Acts 1:10; Rev. 4:4; Rev. 6:9-11; Rev. 7:9-17; Rev. 16:6; Rev. 19:8)
  34. Feasts (Luke 22:16,30)
  35. Drinks (Luke 22:18; Rev. 7:17)
  36. Bread (Psalm 78:24-25; Exodus 16; John 6:31)
  37. Roast lamb (Luke 22:16)
  38. Fruits (Rev. 2:7; Rev. 22:2)
  39. Hidden manna (Rev. 2:17)
  40. Animals (2 Kings 2:11; 2 Kings 6:17; Zech.1:8,10; Zech.6:1-5; Rev. 19:11,14,21)
  41. Stones (Joshua 10:11)
  42. Pillars (Job 26:11)
  43. Innumeral inhabitants (Jeremiah 33:22; Hebrews 12:22-23; Rev. 12:12; Rev. 13:6)
  44. Armies (Daniel 4:35)
  45. Trees (Rev. 2:7; Rev. 22:1-3)
  46. Streets (Rev. 22:1-3)
  47. Mountains (Rev. 14:1; Hebrews 12:22-23; Zech.6:1)
  48. All material things like we have on earth (Romans 1:20; Phil. 2:10)
  49. Things not lawful to utter-things which man would not believe if he heard of them (1 Cor. 2:9-10; 2 Cor. 12:1-4; 1 Peter 1:4)
  50. People have been taken to heaven and have lived there in natural bodies for thousands of years (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:1,11; Zech.14:11-14; Hebrews 11:5; Rev. 11:3-11)

Finis J. Dake, Dake Topical Index, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Heaven”.

Leave a Comment