Understanding Heaven and Humanity’s Eternal Destiny in the Bible

Editor’s Note: The scriptural references in this article are taken from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, first published in 1611. The KJV is renowned for its word-for-word translation approach, closely adhering to the original languages of the Bible. This version has remained largely unaltered and has been the authorized version for many Christian denominations for centuries. The Old Testament is based on the Masoretic Text, and the New Testament is drawn from the Textus Receptus — both highly reputable sources for understanding the intentions of the original authors. The focus of the KJV is on capturing the essence of the text, even if that sometimes comes at the expense of readability.

What do we truly understand about the concept of ‘heaven’ as depicted in the Bible? Often, we envision a transcendent, far-off place, yet a closer examination of the Scriptures reveals a more complex and layered understanding. The Bible speaks of different heavens — realms that have distinct characteristics and purposes.

The narrative begins in the opening chapters of Genesis, where we witness the splendor of creation unfolding. In Genesis 1:1–10, 14, 20, the text describes the creation of ‘heaven’ as part of the formation of the universe, encompassing the sky and celestial bodies. This description sets a foundation for understanding the complexity of the cosmos as seen through biblical eyes. It speaks of an ‘expanse’ or ‘firmament,’ hinting at a multi-layered structure of the heavens, even though it doesn’t explicitly enumerate them.

Later scriptures, such as 2 Corinthians 12:1–4, where the Apostle Paul speaks of a ‘third heaven,’ further elaborate on this idea, suggesting a cosmos with multiple layers or realms. This article seeks to explore these layers, delving into each heaven as presented in Scripture and investigating the nature and destiny of humanity in relation to these celestial realms. As we embark on this journey, we aim to uncover insights into not only the structure of the universe but also our place within God’s grand design.

Let us begin our exploration with what the Bible reveals about the first heaven.

Investigating the First Heaven: The Earth as a Celestial Realm

In our exploration of the heavens as depicted in Scripture, the first heaven we encounter is intimately familiar yet profoundly significant. This heaven, as referenced in various passages, aligns with the Earth itself — a realm of divine activity and human experience.

The Earth as a Scatter-Gathering Point
Throughout the Old Testament, there is a recurring theme of dispersion and gathering, particularly concerning the people of Israel. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28:64, the Lord speaks of scattering His chosen people “from one end of the earth unto the other.” This sentiment is echoed in Leviticus 26:33–34 and Ezekiel 11:16–17, painting a picture of a diaspora spanning the breadth of the Earth.

Jeremiah 29:14 and Amos 9:14–15 continue this narrative, with the Lord promising to gather His scattered people from the nations — a clear reference to the Earthly realm. Isaiah 11:11–12 further emphasizes this, speaking of a gathering in the last days from the far reaches of the Earth.

Heaven as Metaphor for Earth
A fascinating twist in this narrative comes when we consider scriptures like Deuteronomy 30:1–4 and Isaiah 13:1–7. Here, the language shifts, and the Earth is referred to metaphorically as ‘heaven.’ Deuteronomy 30:1–4 speaks of gathering the Lord’s people even if they are driven to the “outmost parts of heaven.” This expression, rather than indicating a celestial realm beyond our world, symbolizes the furthest extents of the Earth.

Similarly, Isaiah 13:1–7 describes the Lord’s sanctified ones coming from a far country, at the “end of heaven.” This passage uses ‘heaven’ as a poetic representation of distant lands on Earth. It underscores the breadth of God’s reach and the extent of His domain, which encompasses the entire Earth.

The Earth in the Eschatological Narrative
In the New Testament, this imagery persists. Matthew 24:31 foretells that upon Jesus’ return, He will gather His elect “from one end of heaven to the other.” This statement, aligning with the Old Testament narrative, reiterates that the ‘heaven’ in this context is the Earth. It suggests a gathering of the faithful from all corners of the world, emphasizing the global scope of God’s plan of salvation.

Conclusion
These scriptural references collectively point to an intriguing interpretation: the first heaven, as referenced in the Bible, is not a distant, ethereal realm, but rather the Earth itself. It is a testament to God’s immanence and His active involvement in the world. This understanding of the first heaven challenges us to see our physical world not just as a transient stage but as a significant part of the divine tapestry, woven intricately into the larger celestial narrative.

Having explored the earthly realm known as the first heaven, let us now turn our gaze to the skies above, where the second heaven unfolds its celestial narrative.

Investigating the Second Heaven: The Celestial Expanse

In the biblical narrative, the second heaven is distinctly portrayed as the celestial expanse — a vast realm where the sun, moon, and stars reside. This heaven begins just above the water level, extending through the sky and into the far reaches of the cosmos.

The Firmament of Genesis
Genesis 1:14 revisits the creation story, where God places luminaries in the ‘firmament of heaven.’ This firmament, established earlier in Genesis 1 as a divider between waters, is called ‘heaven’ — a term that here specifically refers to the sky. This expanse, stretching above the Earth, houses the sun, moon, and stars, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of the second heaven.

The Host of Heaven in Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 4:1,19 cautions against idolatry, specifically mentioning the ‘host of heaven.’ This reference to the heavenly bodies, visible in the sky, underscores the understanding of the second heaven as the domain of the celestial objects that have fascinated humanity since time immemorial.

Joshua’s Command to the Sun
In an extraordinary demonstration of divine power, Joshua 10:12–15 narrates Joshua commanding the sun to stand still. The host of heaven, visible in the sky, underscores the understanding of the second heaven as the domain of the celestial objects that have captivated humanity for ages and continue to do so.

The Psalmist’s Observations
Psalm 19:1–6 beautifully describes the ‘tabernacle of the sun’ set in the heavens. The psalmist notes how the sun’s path, stretching across the sky, touches all parts of the Earth, emphasizing the encompassing nature of this celestial realm. Similarly, Psalm 8:3–4 reflects on the majesty of the ‘heavens’ and the ‘work of God’s fingers’ — the moon and stars — inspiring awe and wonder.

The Challenge in Job
In Job 38:33, God challenges Job by questioning his understanding of the ‘ordinances of heaven.’ This rhetorical question not only highlights the complexity and divine governance of the celestial expanse but also places this second heaven as a domain beyond mere human comprehension or control.

Conclusion
From the firmament described in Genesis to the poetic musings of the Psalms, the second heaven emerges in Scripture as a realm of celestial wonders — the sky above us, home to the sun, moon, and stars. It is a physical, tangible part of creation, yet it holds a sense of awe and mystery. Unlike the Earth, our immediate dwelling, this second heaven is a testament to the vastness and intricacy of God’s creation, extending from just above the water’s surface to the unknown depths of the cosmos.

Having journeyed through the earthly domain of the first heaven and gazed upon the vast celestial expanse of the second, we now ascend to the realm of the third heaven — a dimension that transcends physical space and time, inviting us into the deeper mysteries of the divine.

Investigating the Third Heaven: The Divine Realm Beyond

In our exploration of the biblical heavens, the third heaven stands apart as a realm of divine mystery and spiritual profundity. This is the heaven beyond our physical cosmos, often associated with God Himself. The scriptures provide glimpses into this most exalted of heavens, inviting us into a deeper understanding of its significance.

The Heaven of Heavens Belongs to the Lord
Deuteronomy 10:14 introduces us to the concept of the “heaven of heavens,” a realm that is explicitly the Lord’s. This distinction implies a heaven beyond the first (the Earth) and the second (the sky and celestial expanse). The “heaven of heavens” suggests a place of unparalleled sanctity and divinity, far beyond human reach.

Creation of the Heavenly Realms
Nehemiah 9:6 reaffirms this idea, stating that the Lord Himself made “heaven, the heaven of heavens, and all their host.” This passage not only acknowledges the multiple layers of heaven but also credits God as the sole creator of these realms, each serving a distinct purpose in the divine order.

The Dwelling of the High and Lofty One
In Isaiah 57:15–18, the Lord is described as inhabiting eternity and dwelling in the “high and holy place.” This description aligns with the concept of the third heaven as a realm beyond the temporal world, a place of eternal significance where the divine presence resides. It’s a realm that transcends our ordinary understanding of space and time.

Praise from the Highest Heavens
Psalm 148:4 invites praise from the “heaven of heavens” and the waters above the heavens. This reference echoes the Genesis creation narrative and suggests a celestial boundary at the very edge of the physical universe, marked by waters above the heavens. It hints at a creation far more vast and complex than what we can observe.

The Limitless Nature of God
I Kings 8:27 poses a rhetorical question about whether even the heaven of heavens can contain God, highlighting the boundlessness of the divine. This question implies that the third heaven, while being the highest spiritual realm, is still part of the created order and cannot fully encompass the infinite nature of God.

Conclusion
The third heaven, as unveiled in Scripture, emerges as the ultimate spiritual realm — the highest heaven. It is portrayed as the dwelling place of God, beyond the physical confines of the first and second heavens. This heavenly realm invites us to contemplate the majesty and mystery of the divine, reminding us of the vastness of God’s creation and the depth of His transcendence. In this heavenly domain, we find the essence of the divine mystery, a realm that both encompasses and surpasses our understanding of the universe.

Having explored the celestial realms, particularly the third heaven, it’s crucial to understand Jesus’ perspective on these divine domains and their accessibility to humanity.

What Did Jesus Say About Going to Heaven?

In exploring the biblical teachings about ascending to heaven, particularly the third heaven, Jesus provides critical insights that challenge common interpretations. His teachings, especially in the Gospels and as echoed by the apostles, delineate the nature of the third heaven and humanity’s relationship to it.

The Conversation with Nicodemus
In John 3:9–10,13, Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, underscores the misunderstanding about the concept of being born again. Jesus states emphatically, “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven.” This assertion clarifies that humans, formed from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7), do not ascend to the third heaven — a realm exclusively divine, not destined for human habitation.

Dialogue with the Pharisees
In John 8:21–23, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about His divine origin and destiny. He tells them that where He is going — the third heaven — they cannot come. This conversation accentuates the distinction between Jesus, “from above,” and humanity, “from beneath.” It establishes the third heaven as a realm beyond human reach, reserved for God and His angels.

Reiteration to the Apostles and the Promise of Return
In conversations with His apostles, as recorded in John 13:33 and John 16:28, Jesus reinforces that they cannot follow Him to His destination, underscoring the third heaven’s inaccessibility to humanity. Yet, His promise of a return, as mentioned in John 14:2–3, hints at a future convergence of the human and divine realms on Earth. This promise, further affirmed by angels in Acts 1:11 who state that Jesus will return as He ascended, is not merely about understanding the third heaven. It’s a profound revelation of Jesus’ integral role in the redemption of His creation and a foreshadowing of the emergence of other divine beings on Earth, as part of God’s grand plan of salvation and restoration.

Conclusion
Jesus’ teachings make it clear that the third heaven, the realm of God, is not a place humans ascend to at all. Instead, it is a divine realm reserved for God and not intended for human habitation. This understanding reorients our perspective on heaven and humanity’s eternal destiny, focusing on Jesus as the mediator between humanity and the divine.

Now that we have journeyed through the three heavens as revealed in Scripture and understood Jesus’ teachings about the divine realm, our exploration leads us to the final frontier: the concept of eternity. This is where the tapestry of biblical narrative weaves its most profound promise — the ultimate destiny of humanity in relation to the divine. Let us delve into the Scriptures to uncover what eternity looks like, particularly focusing on the transformative vision provided in Revelation 21 and other key biblical passages.

The Descent of the Divine: The City of God and the Destiny of Humanity

In the culmination of the biblical narrative, there emerges a vision of a promised city descending from heaven, a city destined to be inhabited by the saints. This vision, interwoven with the events of Jesus’ return and the final judgment, forms a core aspect of Christian eschatology.

The Misconception of Ascension to Heaven
A common misunderstanding in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 is that Jesus’ return signifies a rapture where believers are taken up to heaven. However, Apostle Paul clarifies that the Lord will descend from heaven, specifically from the third heaven. This descent is not to gather believers to take them away but to resurrect those who have died in Christ to meet Him in the clouds. This meeting in the clouds is often misinterpreted as a rapture away from Earth. Adding to this misconception is a belief that Jesus will return before the great tribulation. However, Matthew 24:29 counters this idea, explicitly stating that Jesus’ return will occur ‘immediately after the tribulation of those days.’ This emphasizes that Christ’s return and the associated events are post the great tribulation, further aligning with the scriptural narrative of end-time events.

Jesus’ Return and Earthly Reign
Revelation 19:11–14 depicts Christ coming down to Earth to engage in a decisive battle against the nations, known as Armageddon (Joel 3). After His victory, Revelation 20:4–6 and Zechariah 14:1–5,9 describe Christ ruling over the Earth for a thousand years. This period of reign contradicts the idea of believers being taken to heaven, instead emphasizing a divine dominion established on Earth.

God’s Desired Habitation and the New Jerusalem
Psalms 132:11–14 alludes to the Earth as God’s desired habitation, further reinforcing the notion that God’s plan involves a divine-human interaction on Earth, not in a distant heaven. This connection between the divine and the earthly becomes most explicit in Revelation 21:1–8. After the millennium, the Father Himself will descend, from the third heaven, with the New Jerusalem, a celestial city for the redeemed to inhabit post-judgment.

The Final Judgment and the New Creation
The New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21 and 22, represents the fulfillment of God’s plan for those who keep His commandments, granting them access to the tree of life. This city descends after the final judgment, where all are judged (Revelation 20:11–15). I Corinthians 15:50 emphasizes that “flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” indicating that the inhabitants of this new city will be transformed beings, beyond their physical existence. Revelation 21:8 depicts the fate of those not part of this kingdom — the second death in the lake of fire.

Conclusion
This scriptural journey reveals a powerful narrative: humanity does not ascend to heaven to meet God; instead, God descends to create a new Earth and dwell among His people. The saints, transformed and made new, will inhabit the New Jerusalem, a divine city that descends from heaven to Earth. In this, we see a story not of escape from the physical realm, but of its transformation and redemption, aligning with God’s eternal plan for humanity and creation.

Reflective Questions

As we conclude our exploration, take a moment to ponder these reflective questions:

1. First Heaven — Earth as a Celestial Realm:

• How does recognizing Earth as the first heaven influence your perception of its role in God’s plan?
• What are the implications of this understanding for how you interact with the world and steward the environment?

2. Second Heaven — The Celestial Expanse:

• Reflect on your personal reactions to the vastness and beauty of the night sky. What does this stir in you about the nature of creation?

3. Third Heaven — The Divine Realm Beyond:

• In what ways does acknowledging the third heaven as God’s exclusive domain impact your understanding of divinity and spirituality?
• How does this concept challenge or affirm your own beliefs and experiences of faith?

Concluding Call to Action: Embrace the Journey

This journey from Earth to eternity is an invitation to engage deeply with the wonders of God’s creation and the mysteries of His ultimate plan. Let this exploration inspire you to:

• Discuss these themes with friends, family, or your faith community, expanding the conversation and enriching your collective understanding.
• Integrate these insights into your life, allowing them to shape your worldview, actions, and interactions with others.
• Share your reflections and learnings, perhaps through writing, teaching, or in casual conversations, to spread this profound understanding.
• Continue exploring and questioning, keeping the spirit of discovery alive in your spiritual journey.

As we step forward from this reading, let us carry the insights we’ve gained into every aspect of our lives, transforming our understanding into actions that reflect our role in God’s cosmic narrative and eagerly anticipating the fulfillment of His promises.

Grace and peace to all, in the mighty name of Jesus.