God is the Father of spirits(He 12:9).
Through the spirit, He gives birth to children(Jn 3:8; Jas 1:18) and
He inherits the spiritual heaven to His children(Jn 14:2; He 1:2; Rev 21:1).
Faith is believing Him and becoming His children(Jn 1:12) and
The life of this faith is living this day doing His will until arriving in heaven where the Father is.
So, does heaven really exist?
If it does exist, where would it be? Who dwells there and how does one go there?
These are questions that most have asked at some point of their lives.
The Bible indicates three different heavens:
1. The first heaven - the sky - men govern(Ge 1:28);
2. The second heaven - the universe(the expanse, the space, Hades, darkness) - the devil governs(Rev 12:7-9); and
3. The third heaven - outside the universe(paradise, the Father's house) - God governs(Lk 23:43; Jn 14:2; 2Co 12:2).
Modern theology, liberal theology and populist theology
Posit that heaven does not physically exist but rather
It is "the state of being the best and turn it into just a concept.
The Bible says, however, that heaven is real in its existence:
1. The corrupted angel fell to the earth from there(Is 14:15);
2. The Son of God resurrected and was lifted up there(Lk 24:51); and
3. The children born on earth will be resurrected and lifted up there(Jn 14:3).
No one from the Old Testament went the Father's house(Jn 3:12-13);
But by faith men went to Abraham's side(Lk 16:22).
Deceived by the devil,
Adam sinned and all men became
Children of the devil bound for hell with him(Mt 25:41; Jn 8:44).
God gave Israel the Law,
The law of sin and death(Rm 3:19-20),
The spirit of slave to fear(Rm 8:15).
Hence, the tablets inside the testimony of the sanctuary was
A reminder of the fear they had.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would give birth to souls.
Jesus called the One in heaven, "my father(Mt 10:32; Lk 2:49),
Causing the Jews to hate Him and eventually put Him to death(Jn 5:18, Jn 6:42).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the command and fulfilled the Father's will(Jn 10:17-18);
2. Judged the false father(Ge 3:4-6; Jn 8:44); and
3. Tore His flesh and shed His blood, making a way for souls to go to the Father(Jn 14:6).
After His death:
1. His soul went to paradise(Lk 23:43);
2. He resurrected and went to the Father's house(Jn 20:17; Ac 1:9); and
3. When He returns from there He will come to the air(1Th 4:23).
The Holy Spirit comes to those born of
The blood of Jesus, i.e., the word of truth, the living and enduring word(1Pe 1:23; Jas 1:18),
The Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of sonship(Rm 8:5, Rm 8:15), and
Lets them know that the One in heaven is the Father of their souls.
Not abandoning like orphans, He nurtures them(Jn 14:16-17).
The men of the Spirit are those who
Have the hope to resurrect and go to heaven where the Father is.
Therefore, they cry out, "Abba, Father and overcome
In their struggle against their own sins and other's sins(Mt 6:9-13), and
Temptations, trouble, hardship or persecution(Rm 8:53; Eph 6:16).
They resolve to live only "this day doing the will of the Father(Mt 6:31-34; Jn 6:38-40),
Until they arrive in heaven and see the One seated on the throne(Rev 4:2).
O Lord,
Open our eyes to see our Father in heaven!
Let us not worry about what to eat or what to wear, but instead
Let us live this day doing You will until we arrive in heaven. Amen.
