Is heaven real?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word heaven (or heavens) is mentioned well over seven hundred times in Scripture. Heaven is described as a literal place and the seat of God’s throne. It is the place Christ chose to leave when He gave up His rights for our salvation, to the point of death on the cross. It is the place to which Jesus ascended and sat down following His resurrection and appearances on earth for forty days, and it is the place where all who believe in Him will go to be with Him for all eternity.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The opening verses of Scripture provide the background for God’s eternal creation in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
• The vastness of the heavens shows us the creative powers of God. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
• The Bible describes heaven as a literal place. Heaven is noted as the location of God's throne according to Isaiah 66:1: "Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.'"

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• First Peter 3:22 says that Jesus “has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God” (cf. Ephesians 1:20).
• Acts 7:55–56 says, "But he [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"
• Jesus ministers on our behalf in heaven today. Hebrews 8:1–2 reveals, "we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man."
• In John 14:2–3, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
• Philippians 2:5–8 shows us the humility of Christ in giving up His heavenly throne for our salvation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Jesus is preparing a place for believers in heaven. Revelation 21—22 share a vision of what believers will ultimately experience in a future new heavens and new earth. Everything will be made new. John concluded this vision with a great anticipation of his future home, saying, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

Those who oppose the idea of heaven being real typically do so by relying only on what can be "proven" by the human senses of touch, sight, smell, taste, and hearing. However, Scripture is clear that heaven is unseen and that what is unseen is eternal. The apostle Paul wrote, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV).

Heaven is clearly presented as a real place in Scripture. It is the home of the believer who departs from this world (Philippians 1:21) and the place where the believer will experience perfect joy in the presence of the Lord Himself. Scripture challenges readers that Jesus came for the very purpose of offering this eternal life in heaven with Him to all those who will believe in His name: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

UNDERSTAND

• Heaven is a real, literal place described in the Bible as God's throne and the eternal home for believers.
• Jesus left heaven, died for our salvation, rose back to life, ascended to heaven, and now prepares a place for believers to join Him there.
• Heaven is unseen and eternal, yet real.

REFLECT

• How does the reality of heaven affect the way you view challenges and difficulties in this life?
• How does it impact your life today that Jesus is preparing a place for you in heaven?
• How can focusing on the unseen and eternal transform your daily priorities and decisions?

ENGAGE

• Why is it significant that heaven is unseen and eternal?
• How can we encourage one another to live with a stronger focus on our eternal home?
• What role does the promise of heaven play in how Christians approach evangelism and sharing their faith?