David Jeremiah - Answers to Your Questions about Heaven

Visit Tyndale online at www.tyndale.com.

TYNDALE and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Answers to Your Questions about Heaven

Copyright 2013 by David Jeremiah. All rights reserved.

Previously published in 2013 as Answers to Questions about Heaven by Turning Point. First printing by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., in 2015.

Cover photograph of sky Triff/Shutterstock; border tanjakrstevska/123RF Stock Photo. All rights reserved.

Interior photographs: bokeh sarpdemirel/DollarPhotoClub; stairs frozenstarro/DollarPhotoClub; gates alswart/DollarPhotoClub. All rights reserved.

Designed by Nicole Grimes

Published in association with Yates & Yates (www.yates2.com).

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. (Some quotations may be from the earlier NIV edition, copyright 1984.) Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jeremiah, David.

[Answers to Questions about Heaven]

Answers to your questions about heaven / David Jeremiah.

pages cm

Previously published in 2013 as Answers to Questions about Heaven by Turning Point.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-4964-0212-7 (hc)

1. Heaven Christianity Miscellanea. I. Title.

BT846.3.J465 2015

236.24 dc23 2014028035

Build: 2014-12-22 16:00:25

Contents

Introduction

What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Clouds and harps? Spires and domes? Most people form their impressions of heaven from television, movies, and their imaginations rather than a careful study of Scripture. But the Bible contains over five hundred references to heaven. It provides a virtual travelogue for Gods children, with detailed information about our eternal home. After spending years studying this subject in Scripture, Im overwhelmed by the comprehensive information God has given. He offers specific answers to our natural questions. In this book Ive tried to share these answers as simply, readably, and biblically as possible.

After all, its strengthening to turn our minds toward home and toward Him. The Bible says, If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2).

Thats how Gods children feel about heaven. Were deployed on planet Earth, but its only a temporary assignment. Goodness and mercy will surely follow us all the days of our lives. But what were really anticipating is dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.

Thats what this book is all about!

David Jeremiah

SPRING 2015

Why should I study heaven while Im living on earth?

Did you know that heaven is mentioned more than five hundred times in the Scriptures? Being a prominent teaching in the Bible, heaven ought to also be prominent in our hearts and in our thoughts. As we become more heavenly minded, we actually become of more earthly good!

God has placed within our hearts a hunger for eternity, a hunger for heaven. And if we do not understand that and we do not feed that hunger with the spiritual truth of the Word of God, we will end up trying to satisfy that hunger with vain and tawdry things that will leave us empty and without satisfaction.

---

We can never approximate all that God has prepared for us in our heavenly home.

---

The truth is, we can never approximate all that God has prepared for us in our heavenly home. And we cannot recreate heaven on earth. But when we choose to focus on and prepare for the eternal home that awaits us, our earthly focus is shifted toward living a life that honors God and leads others to Him.

Is heaven a real, physical place?

Heaven is no figment of the imagination; nor is it a feeling, a state of mind, or the invention of man. Heaven is a literal place prepared by Christ for a prepared people. In John chapter 14, Jesus Himself leaves His disciples with this promise:

In My Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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.

JOHN 14:2-3

---

Heaven is a literal place prepared by Christ for a prepared people.

---

It is interesting to note that the Greek term translated place in this passage is actually the word topos, which more specifically refers to a locatable place.

From this promise we can have full confidence that heaven is a real, physical place a place where believers will one day reside with their Savior!

How many levels of heaven are described in the Bible?

The Bible speaks of three distinct heavens.

1. The first heaven is described in Isaiah 55:9-10 and is the atmosphere surrounding the earth the domain of the clouds and birds (Genesis 1:20).
2. The second heaven is spoken of in Genesis 1:14-17 as the domain of the heavenly bodies: the sun, moon, stars, planets, and galaxies.
3. Paul described in his second letter to the Corinthians being caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2), which is beyond the first and second levels of heaven and is the dwelling place of God where we will one day join Christ.

Where is the exact location of heaven?

---

Even though we do not know the exact location, we know that heaven is a specific place being prepared for Gods people.

---

We do not know precisely, but we know that it is up. Ephesians 4:10 says that Christ ascended far above all the heavens, meaning heaven is above us. However, up is a different locale depending on where you are located on the earth. Satan, addressing God in Isaiah 14:13, said, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north, which would indicate that heaven is located in the north. Even though we do not know the exact location, we know that it is a specific place being prepared for Gods people.