I often wonder myself if heaven is a real place or if it’s just some imaginary spiritual place that we hope exists, especially when a loved one passes away or when we ourselves ponder about what’s going to happen to us when this life is over. At times like this when I wonder if heaven is real or not, I go back to the scriptures and read about what the Bible tells us about heaven. I can’t help but believe that it is a real physical place. Jesus Christ who said He is the way and the truth and the life {John 14:6} and therefore cannot lie, tells us that He’s going to go and prepare a place for us so that where He is, we will be also. This is what He tells us:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. {John 14:1-3}
The same way that the Lord created the heaven (the sky, sun, moon, and stars) and the earth (the sea and dry land), and I’m sure we can all agree that these things are real enough, is the same way He’s preparing a place for us that is indeed going to be a real place. We know God cannot lie. We know Jesus is God manifested in the flesh to teach us the way to God. We know His word is real. He will not lie to us. There is a real place He is preparing for us, the same way He has created the world we live in.
Now here’s where it gets tricky. Some believe there is heaven where God is, where the dead immediately go to rest, but others disagree. Some believe we just lie dead in the grave asleep until the return of Jesus Christ, then we go to heaven with Him when we are raptured and resurrected. Which is which? What really happens when we die? What about the new heaven and the new earth the Bible talks about? Is that all in one place called heaven? What about hell? Do people really go there? It’s not an easy answer, but based on my readings of the Bible and people’s testimonies of having near death experiences, and what the Lord has shown me Himself, I believe there is actually a temporary place where all the dead go to right away. The righteous go to heaven where God is, and the wicked and the unrepentant ones go to that scary place called hell. It is found in the parable where Jesus talked about the beggar Lazarus who ended up in the bosom of Abraham, and the rich man that ended up in hell, when they died. Read about it in Luke 16:14-31. The Bible states that Lazarus was carried by the angels to where Abraham is. It says,
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. {Luke 16:22}
And unfortunately the rich man just ended up in hell. No angels or even devils carried him there but it looked like his spirit just appeared there.
The rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. {Luke 16:22-23}
Now, the rich man might have seen Abraham and Lazarus afar off, but it doesn’t mean they’re in the same place. According to the scriptures the rich man asked Abraham to have Lazarus come down and dip his finger in water and cool off his tongue because he was suffering from the flames, but Abraham told him, “Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” {Luke 16:26}
Also see my blog post I had written last year after my aunt passed away, and how the Lord showed me where she went after He had allowed her to say goodbye to me. See blogpost Praise Anyway.
Here’s a scripture that lets me believe these are temporary places:
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. {Revelation 20:12-15}
If you notice the scriptures state that death and hell delivered up the dead people to be judged. Then if their names were not found in the Book of Life, their final destination is the lake of fire. So in essence there are actually two hells, one where the dead go to now and one after everyone has been judged. I believe there’s a day where everyone is going to be resurrected and will have their bodies again. This is just me – don’t quote me on this. But the Bible does talk about the resurrection. The Sadducees argued with the Lord about the resurrection. They didn’t believe it’s real, but Jesus Christ told them it is real. Read about it in Matthew 22:23-33. Everyone is going to stand before the throne of God and the Book of Life and will be judged according to their works.
A time is going to come when the heaven and the spiritual things that we don’t see at the moment are going to be very real. That is all going to come out in the open. It’s going to be like a curtain pulled back, and heaven and hell and all these things we believe in spirit to be real, are going to be as real as you and I are living and breathing in real life today. Except that day there will be no more time or hour. It is just going to be one big eternity. No one is going to be antsy about the line of people that’s standing before the throne of God taking so long. We are not going to be wondering about time then. Then will be the time of God and His way of doing things forever. We will just accept it.
John the Beloved who wrote the book of Revelation tells us that he saw a new heaven and a new earth and that the first heaven and earth passed away. Here’s what he wrote:
And 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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. {Revelation 21:1-4}
So you see, right now there is a place called heaven where the righteous go, and hell where the wicked go when they die. But a time is going to come when God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth where the kingdom of God and Christ Himself is going to reign. The new heaven and the new earth is going to be one big heavenly place. There, there will be no more tears, sorrow or death. There will be no more nights or days or hours. Time is just going to stand still. There will be no more need of the sun or the moon either, because God is the one who is going to shine in it. This is going to really happen because God told John so. He wrote,
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. {Revelation 21:5-8}
Prayer
Lord, I’m so glad that You are real enough. Everyday I can see You and talk to You. Everyday I can feel You in my heart and in my soul. Maybe this is all invisible right now. Maybe this is all just real in my soul and in my spirit. But I know a time is going to come that You are going to be flesh and blood, and I am going to see You and touch you. It will not be a wishful dream anymore or a wish in my heart but it’s going to be very real.
I thank You Lord Jesus for that day. I thank You also because that day is going to come very soon, for a quick work You have said You will do on this earth then You will come. I trust and believe You Lord Jesus. I trust and believe Your word is true and You never lie. I have seen Your hand again and again in my life and the many answered prayers that have come to pass, and desires that have been given to me in this life. I know You are true and real. You have come through for me again and again. Thank You, Lord Jesus. I love You Lord.
I pray Savior that You would please help us today who are having a hard time believing in You and are wondering if You are truly coming or not, or if heaven or hell is real or not. I pray that You will reveal these things to us, so we will come to the full revelation of this truth as You told John the Beloved to write, for these things are true and faithful. Father You will create a new heaven and a new earth where the righteous will dwell. You will do it because there is no lie in You. Help us then Lord Jesus, to have faith and believe in this future that You have waiting for us and to follow You now all the way. Let us who are wavering in their commitment to You fully commit to You now Father, so that it will be well for us in the end. I pray all these things in Your most wonderful and gracious name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
