Summary:

What if you had only two years left on earth? What would you do differently? Many do not believe in heaven or hell, but the Bible gives us vivid descriptions of both places. While we are living here on the earth, we must make the choice to become born again and to live according to God’s Word. This is how we secure our eternal home in heaven.

  1. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
    1. Many Christians have fallen in love with the world because they do not know about the realities of heaven.
    2. We are being observed by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1).
      1. The cloud of witnesses includes people who are now in heaven.
      2. Our actions are being recorded.
    3. Infatuation with the world is dangerous because it distracts us from focusing on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
      1. If we are not focused on the Lord and His Word, we are also not focused on the will of God for our lives.
      2. Therefore, we should lay aside sin and the “weights” of this world and obey God’s Word.
  2. Heaven is mentioned 500 times in the Bible. Hell is mentioned even more than that.
    1. According to the Bible, there will be more people going to hell than heaven.
  3. The three types of heaven.
    1. The first heaven is the atmosphere surrounding the earth, which includes the elements (rain, snow, clouds, etc.) and the animals of the sky. (Isaiah 55:9, 10).
    2. The second heaven consists of the sun, moon, stars, planets, galaxies—outer space (Genesis 1:14-17).
    3. The third heaven is a place beyond the atmosphere and outer space. It is the dwelling place of God (2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Psalm 11:4).
      1. Paul concluded that this place was the third heaven, called “paradise.”
      2. Heaven is an actual place that exists and operates in the spiritual realm.
      3. It is a planet that is round and larger than the earth (Hebrews 11:16).
      4. The earth is a replica of the third heaven (Hebrews 8:5, AMP).
        1. People have God-inspired ideas, then produce things on Earth, but the ideas and concepts come from heaven (James 1:17, AMP).
      5. Unlike the earth, which was defiled by sin, nothing can defile heaven (Revelation 21:27).
      6. God has prepared things for us in heaven (John 14:1-3).
  4. Where is heaven located?
    1. The direction of heaven is upward (Ephesians 4:9, 10, Acts 1:10, 11).
      1. Heaven is located in the north (Isaiah 14:12).
      2. However, because it is in the spiritual realm and is so far away, we can only get there by receiving a spiritual body.
      3. When we die, we receive a spiritual body, which transcends the physical realm.
  5. Reasons why heaven is so precious:
    1. Jesus, our Redeemer, is in heaven (Hebrews 9:24).
    2. Many of our loved ones are in heaven (Hebrews 12:23, AMP).
    3. Our resources for life (both spiritual and natural) originate in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4).
    4. As Christians, we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20, AMP, John 3:3, 7).
    5. Our reward is in heaven (Matthew 5:12, Revelations 4:10).
    6. We have riches in heaven.
      1. Lay up treasures in heaven by investing in the lives of people and doing the work of the Kingdom of God on the earth (Matthew 6:19, 20, AMP, Luke 16:19-31, AMP).

Scripture References:

  • 1 John 2:15
  • Hebrews 12:1-2
  • Isaiah 55:9, 10
  • Genesis 1:14-17
  • 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
  • Psalm 11:4
  • Hebrews 11:16
  • Hebrews 8:5, AMP
  • James 1:17, AMP
  • Revelation 21:27
  • John 14:1-3
  • Ephesians 4:9, 10
  • Acts 1:10, 11
  • Isaiah 14:12
  • Hebrews 9:24
  • Hebrews 12:23, AMP
  • 1 Peter 1:3-4
  • Philippians 3:20, AMP
  • John 3:3, 7, AMP
  • Matthew 5:12
  • Revelation 4:10
  • Matthew 6:19, 20, AMP
  • Luke 16:19-31

Pastor Robert Bagonza

Senior Pastor Redeemed Church

www.mrolec.org