Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Theme · eschatological

Heaven

The Old Testament conceives of heaven as God's throne room — the place from which he looks down on the earth and directs its affairs. Elijah is taken up, and Isaiah and Ezekiel are granted visions of the heavenly court. Jesus speaks of his Father's house with many rooms and promises the thief on the cross 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' Paul speaks of being caught up to the third heaven. Revelation's final vision brings heaven and earth together: the new Jerusalem descends from God, and the dwelling of God is with humanity — heaven is not escape from creation but its transfiguration.

Passages expressing this theme

  • 1Kgs 8:30 — And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.
  • 1Pet 1:4 — To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • 1Thess 4:17 — Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
  • 2Cor 5:1 — For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
  • 2Cor 12:2 — I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
  • Acts 7:56 — And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
  • Col 3:1 — If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
  • Col 3:2 — Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
  • Dan 7:13 — I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
  • Deut 26:15 — Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
  • Eph 1:3 — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
  • Gen 1:1 — In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
  • Heb 12:22 — But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
  • Isa 66:1 — Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
  • Matt 5:12 — Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
  • Matt 6:9 — After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
  • Matt 6:20 — But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
  • Phil 3:20 — For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
  • Ps 11:4 — The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
  • Ps 115:16 — The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
  • Rev 4:1 — After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things wh
  • Rev 21:1 — 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.
  • Rev 21:2 — And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
  • Rev 21:4 — 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.
  • Rev 22:3 — And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: