Mark 16:19 ESV states, “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
Hello everyone. Today, I wanted to discuss and answer your questions concerning Heaven.
Did you know the Bible contains over five hundred references to Heaven? Yes, Heaven is the real future home where all born-again believers/followers of Jesus Christ will reside when we pass from this life on earth.
So, let’s get started answering your questions.
1. Question: I heard that the Bible describes more than one Heaven. Is this true?
Answer: Yes. There are three different heavens described in the Bible.
1a. Heaven #1- Isaiah 55:10 NLT states “ “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.”
This first heaven is the realm that encompasses the atmosphere surrounding the earth, where the clouds and the birds dwell.
1b. Heaven #2- Genesis 1:16-18 NLT states:
Genesis 1:16 (NLT)
“God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars.
Genesis 1:17 (NLT)
God set these lights in the sky to light the earth,
Genesis 1:18 (NLT)
to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
This second heaven is where the sun, moon, and stars reside.
1c. Heaven#3—And then there’s the third heaven. People refer to this when they speak about going to heaven.
God and Jesus dwell in the third heaven, which is beyond the first and second heavens.
The Apostle Paul references this third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2 NLT: “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows.”
In this third heaven, all truly converted Christians will live with God and Jesus for all eternity.
As Christians, we can look forward to our life in Heaven with our wonderful Heavenly Father God and our amazing and loving Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Question: Will we recognize our Christian relatives/friends in Heaven who died before us?
Answer: A few passages of scripture state that those believers who had passed on were recognizable to others, and many theologians conclude that we will also be able to recognize our Christian loved ones in Heaven. Let us explore those Bible verses now.
Matthew 17:3-4 NLT States :
“Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials —one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Here Moses and Elijah, who had long since died, were now suddenly talking with Jesus at the event of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36. Briefly stated: The Transfiguration of Jesus occurred while Jesus, Peter, James, and John were up on a mountain. While Jesus prayed, His appearance transformed into a glorified form, and His clothing became brilliantly white. Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.)
Peter recognized Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration, though they had long since died centuries before.
I encourage you to read all of Luke 16:19-31 NLT. But for this post, let’s just look at these verses:
Luke 16:19 (NLT)
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
Luke 16:20 (NLT)
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
Luke 16:22 (NLT)
“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,
Luke 16:23 (NLT)
and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
Luke 16:24 (NLT)
“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
Luke 16:25 (NLT)
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
Luke 16:26 (NLT)
And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.”
In these verses, Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man are recognizable, even after their deaths.
Please note that some debate whether this account of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable or a real-life event.
What’s important to realize here is that Jesus used this story to educate us on the fact that there truly is a heaven and hell. Jesus also points out with this account that after death, the unsaved will be eternally separated from God and in torment in hell and that they will be aware of the fact that it was their rejection of the Gospel message of Jesus that landed them in hell.
Many Theologians agree that just as Jesus was recognizable after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; John 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7), we will also recognize others and be recognized by others in our glorified bodies.
It will be wonderful to collectively worship, adore, honor, and serve God, our creator, and our beloved Savior and Lord Jesus while in their very presence.
3. Question: I heard that unborn children lost from miscarriages, stillbirths, and abortions will be in heaven. Is that true?
Answer: God Almighty, the creator of life, informs us in the Bible that life begins at the moment of conception and not just at birth, as today’s culture would like you to believe. The Bible says in Psalm 139:13-17 NLT, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!”
Job 10:10 NLT states: “You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.
God creates life, and in His infinite wisdom, there are times when that life may be cut short, as with miscarriages and stillbirths. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
So, in our finite minds, we may not understand why God allows this to happen, but we can be sure from the scriptures that God loves His creation, including all of the unborn.
In the Biblical account of the death of David and Bathsheba’s first child together, David states in 2 Samuel 12:23 NLT: “But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”
Many theologians believe that David is concluding that he will see his son again in heaven when he passes from this life into the presence of the Lord in Heaven.
Luke 18:16 NLT states: “Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.”
Jesus loves the children. It is concluded that infants/children go to Heaven.
4. Question: Do I still go to Heaven if I am already saved but have committed a sin just before suddenly dying and before I was able to ask God for forgiveness?
Answer: The Bible says in Romans 8:1 NLT, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Condemnation means the expression of extreme disapproval or the action of condemning someone to punishment).
Therefore, the answer is that when a person is genuinely saved (sincerely repented and asked Jesus to forgive them for their sins and trusted Jesus to be their Savior and Lord over their life), then they are forgiven. The punishment for their sins past, present, and future are all paid for by Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. Again, if a person is already saved, commits a sin that day, then dies suddenly, say in a car crash, without asking Jesus for forgiveness, Romans 8:1 reminds us that yes, that saved person will go to Heaven.
Now, please, let me say that even though Jesus paid the penalty for each saved person’s sins (again, including future sins), they should be careful not to take advantage of God’s forgiveness and grace by knowingly continuing with this pattern of sin; just because they want to gratify themselves without regard to God’s standards or laws found in the Bible. As humans, we still have struggles, and that’s where the power of God’s Holy Spirit steps in to help the saved person; He assists them with not yielding to temptations and, ultimately, sin.
I pray that these answers will help give you clarity on your questions.
Trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord is the only way to have eternal life in Heaven.
If you have not done so and would like to be saved or are unsure of your salvation, these are the steps you can take to have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Savior and Lord and eternal life in Heaven.
Steps To Salvation:
1. ADMIT that you are a sinner (the Bible says in Romans 3:23 ESV, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”)
2. REPENT and be willing to turn from your sin.
3. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
4. RECEIVE, through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life. The Bible says in Romans 10:13 ESV, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” That includes you, no matter what you may have done in the past. Jesus loves you and is forgiving, and He wants to walk with you in your life as your Savior and Lord.
Here is a sample prayer for you to pray (and you can use this prayer if this is what you sincerely believe or say your own words), but what matters most is that you pray your words from your heart because Jesus knows your heart.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen. (https://peacewithgod.net/steps/ paraphrased)
Please feel free to contact me by filling out the contact form on this website with any questions or just say “Hello.” It’s always great to hear from you!
God bless you! And remember to Seek Jesus 4 Life!!!
