Where is Heaven?

One of the Bible’s greatest truths is that we were not meant for this world alone. We were meant for Heaven—and Heaven is our ultimate home. But what exactly is Heaven? Where is heaven? What is it like, and what (if anything) will we be doing there? Is Heaven something that only affects our future, or should Heaven make a difference in the way we live right now? Most importantly, how can we know we will go there when we die? Dr. Billy Graham answers many of these questions in his book, The Heaven Answer Book.

Where is Heaven? Is it off in space somewhere?

The Bible tells us that God set a firmament in the midst of the waters, divided the waters from the waters, and called the firmament “Heaven” (Genesis 1:6–8 NKJV). The word firmament is one we aren’t accustomed to hearing anymore; it comes from a Hebrew word meaning “firm” or “fixed.” The Bible clearly defines Heaven as a created place. God said, “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens” (Isaiah 48:13; 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Where is heaven? The Bible says, “The heavens . . . cannot contain [Him]” (1 Kings 8:27)— but He can contain His whole creation in His hands. He measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, marked off the Heavens, held the dust of the earth in a basket, and weighed the mountains on scales (Isaiah 40:12).

While Heaven captures our imagination, it’s more important that the God of Heaven captures our souls; for God is greater than Heaven.

The Bible says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Just because Heaven is beyond the reach of man’s satellites and telescopes, however, does not mean that Heaven is beyond the reach of our hearts. The Bible says, “[Christ] is the image of the invisible God . . . by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:15–16).

Heaven is where the Lord is, and Christ is Lord of Heaven and earth. He is able to rule from Heaven and also live within our hearts.

Does the Bible say very much about Heaven?

Jesus mentions Heaven about seventy times in the book of Matthew alone. It appears from the very first verse in Genesis—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”—to the last reference found at the end of Revelation—“[He] showed me the great city . . . descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10 NKJV). In fact, fifty-four of the sixty- six books in the Bible mention Heaven. Remember: the Bible is our only authoritative source of information about Heaven.

Continue to our blog to read the rest of this post and the answers to the questions, "What is Heaven?" and "Is Heaven a literal place or simply a state of mind." (While you're there, if you're not receiving our weekly Bible Study newsletter you can sign up at the bottom of the page.)

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