HEAVEN AND HELL ARE REAL IN GOD’S WORD.

HEAVEN originated with our Lord: the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, as shown in Genesis 1:1, where ‘God created the heaven and the earth in the beginning.’ 
When proud man denies heaven as the resting place of our God; he refutes the first statement in His book; and in doing so, he invites the judgment of a just God.  In  
Revelation 10:6, the last book in the Bible, we read,’ He lives for ever and ever, He created heaven and the things in it.’  We gladly acknowledge His unique creation.

Heaven is eternal. Paul recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:1, ‘In our resurrection body, We have a building of God- a house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens’. It is not the workmanship of men, nor restricted in time, but the work of our God.  Heaven does not fade, but endures for ever, as told in Psalm 89:29, where ‘His throne endures forever as the days of heaven.’  God sets the standard, not man.

Heaven is IMMEASURABLE, for human standards inadequately calculate the limitless marvel of our God.  Jeremiah 31:37 questions, ‘If heaven above can be measured‘.  Consider the galaxies, for their number is beyond reckoning, yet they are all named. Compute the sands of the sea, being mystified that the silicon on the beaches comprises the chips in our computers, with their vast memory and storing facility electronically. Man is finite, while the eternal is infinite.

Heaven is HIGH as in Psalm 103:11, ’As the heavens are high above the earth; so great is your mercy to them that fear You.’ Thee are three heavens: that of the clouds, the meteorological realm; the stars, or the sidereal heaven; the third is the home and eternal abode of our great God.  Contrast earth-bound humankind.

A further title of our Lord is the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy.’ (Isaiah 57:15) God’s character is uplifting, hence high, while only lofty thoughts fill His heaven.    Moses wrote, ’Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people.’ (Deut 26:15). 

Peter beautifully described the selected of the Lord when he wrote, ’You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,  a holy nation, a special people, to show forth the praises of HIM Who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.’ (1 Peter 2:9)   Remember HE has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.  We are unspeakably wealthy in HIM.

The Bible shows how HE is HOLY for ’He will save from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.’ Psalm 26:5. Our Lord Jesus Christ was promoted to the Father’s right hand as highest recognition or tribute for his Calvary victory.  HE is the saving strength of the Father’s right hand.  Praise His strong salvation.

Heaven is GOD’S HOME, HIS eternal residence.  Solomon’s God-glorifying prayer phrased this truth, ‘Hear in heaven your dwelling place:  hear and forgive.’
(1 Kings 8;30).  Solomon knew the right address for his plea.  In the Lord’s prayer, Christ taught us,   ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed (revered, cherished, extolled not blasphemed) be your Name (Matthew 6:9).  The ungodly often take the name of our God in vain: we believers should speak openly of our glorious God and honour His holy name. 

Heaven is the Westminster Abbey where the Lord is enthroned.  In the English Abbey, my wife and I saw an old regal chair, ceremonially decked for state occasions, when her Majesty presided.  Contrast this with Isaiah’s great 6th chapter, where he ecstatically cried, ‘I saw the Lord, sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train (of glory and radiant splendour) filled the temple.’ ‘Above it stood seraphim’, surrounding the rainbow throne.     In Stephen’s defence of his Lord, He said, ‘Heaven is My throne. Earth is my footstool (Acts 7:49). The Lord of glory rests His feet triumphantly on our earth, so closely related is He to us.

Heaven is the scene of His LORDSHIP, Prime Minister Daniel wrote, ‘God holds your breath in His hand; HE owns all your ways,’ (5:23). Those who practise CPR
(cardio pulmonary resuscitation ) know they have four minutes to work on the patient before destructive brain changes  occur.  The Lord has control of our breath, our body being home to our spirit and soul.  He is supreme.

  Our Lord Jesus recognised that His Father was Peer of the realm, teaching, ’He is         Lord of heaven and earth, and has hidden these things from the wise/and prudent, and revealed them unto babes‘. (Matt 11:25) As Sovereign, our Lord conceals truth from the earthly proud, and releases it to the humble of heart.  Our experience, confirms this, where simple-hearted readily grasp the deep things of our God.   

In heaven, our lord REIGNS as a Field Marshal in supreme control of his troops.   ‘He does according to His will in the army of heaven. No one can restrain His Hand. He is the undisputed title holder of eternity.  (Daniel 4:35)  During WW11, General Dwight Eisenhower completely commanded all the Allied troops, while our Lord reigns over numberless angels and the redeemed host of every generation.  David expressed it, ’Whatever the LORD pleases He does in heaven and earth.’   (Psalm 135:6) ‘Thy pleasing will shall be done in heaven.’ None will contravene Him. 

 ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth, says the Lord; can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ (Jeremiah 23:24) Heaven is full of God’s eternal nature.  Therefore, there can be no secret, hiding place from the Lord. We then must be transparent, walking in the Light, as he is in the Light.

Heaven responds to our deepest needs.  ‘David built an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings , and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.‘ (1 Chronicles 21:26). In Solomon‘s memorable prayer, he cried, ‘Hear from heaven -forgive our sins and heal our land’. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  Heaven is receptive to our call; and healing flows from the throne. Nehemiah registered that his prayer had been heard on the basis of God’s overflowing compassion and grace. (9:27) ‘You heard from Heaven, according your abundant mercies.’

Heaven is the source of solemn JUDGMENTS, for ‘The Lord rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of the heavens.’ (Genesis 19:24)  The Dead Sea holds indisputable evidence of God’s righteous anger on homosexuality.  Paul supports this truth, recording ‘The wrath of God was revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men’ (Romans 1:18).

When we rebut heaven: we scoff or jibe at our Creator:  reject His Eternal nature;  challenge His immeasurability; demote His highness and  loftiness; taunt  His holiness; besmear His home; mock at HIS throne rights;  seditiously oppose HIS Lordship; defy His ruling; reproach Him for filling all; reprimand Him for His responsiveness; ridicule Him for His perfect judgment.

You have title deeds to God’s heaven as your glorious, eternal home, when you have trusted the Lord Jesus’ perfect work in dying for your sin: and rising majestically from the grave.  Check your credentials.