Heaven

• 2 min. read • grade level: 7

The words translated "heaven" are used in a variety of senses: 1. The atmosphere in which the birds fly, and the lightning appears, and from whence the rain descends (Gen. 7:11¹¹In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11); Deut. 11:11¹¹But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: (Deuteronomy 11:11); Dan. 4:21²¹Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: (Daniel 4:21); Luke 17:24²⁴For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (Luke 17:24).) It will pass away (2 Peter 3:10, 12¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:12).) 2. The firmament or wide expanse in which are seen the sun, moon, and stars. (Gen. 1:14, 15, 17¹⁴And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: ¹⁵And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. (Genesis 1:14‑15)
¹⁷And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, (Genesis 1:17)) 3. The abode of God, where His throne is, (Psa. 2:4; 11:4⁴He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalm 2:4)
⁴The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. (Psalm 11:4); Matt. 5:34³⁴But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: (Matthew 5:34)) from whence the Lord descended and to which He ascended, and where He was seen by Stephen. (Mark 16:19¹⁹So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19); Acts 7:55⁵⁵But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (Acts 7:55); 1 Cor. 15:47⁴⁷The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47)) 4. The abode of angels. (Matt. 22:30; 24:36³⁰For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:30)
³⁶But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36); Gal. 1:8⁸But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8).)

It is important to see that, in forming the present system of this world. God made a heaven to this earth so that the earth should be ruled from heaven. The blessing of the earth, either materially or morally, depends upon its connection with heaven. This blessing will be full when the kingdom of the heavens is established in the Son of man, and He will come in the clouds of heaven. (Psa. 68:32-35³²Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah: ³³To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. ³⁴Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. ³⁵O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. (Psalm 68:32‑35).) It is the place of angelic power, "the principalities and powers in the heavenly places" being angelic, Satan and his angels, though fallen, still being among them. (Job 1:6; 2:1⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6)
¹Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. (Job 2:1); Rev. 12:7-9⁷And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. ⁹And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:7‑9).)

That there are various heavens is evident; Satan cannot have entrance into the glory, and Paul speaks of being caught up into the third heaven, (2 Cor. 12:2²I 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. (2 Corinthians 12:2)); the Lord Jesus passed through the heavens, and we read of the "heaven of heavens." (Deut. 10:14¹⁴Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. (Deuteronomy 10:14); 1 Kings 8:27²⁷But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Kings 8:27)) Very little is said of the saints going to heaven, though their citizenship is there now, (Phil. 3:20²⁰For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)), but they are to be where Jesus is, and He went to heaven, and prepared a place for them. In the Revelation the four and twenty elders are seen in heaven sitting on "thrones." To Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb be glory forever and ever. Amen. Believers "look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13); Rev. 21:1¹And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1). Concise Bible Dictionary

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