Is Heaven Real?

Jesus:   “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust (believe, have faith) in God, and trust (believe, have faith) also in Me. There is more than enough room in My Father’s home (heaven). If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am (Jesus’ seconding coming or advent). And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we do not know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him (Thomas), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!” John 14:1-7 (NLT)

The Holy Bible clearly teaches that heaven exists!  Heaven is a real place. In the Holy Bible, heaven refers to the atmosphere just above the earth (e.g., Genesis 1:20); to the sky in which the sun, moon, and stars are located (e.g. Genesis 1:17); to God’s home (e.g. Psalm 2:4) and to the home of the angels (e.g. Matthew 22:30). Jesus and the Apostle Paul called heaven paradise (Matthew 27:27-31; 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4) and a place with constant joy and love (Revelation 7:17). Heaven is the spiritual realm or sphere were God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the spiritual powers (e.g., angels, messengers), and the redeemed of God exist (see Psalm 33:13-14; Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:11; Ephesians 1:3, 20). 

Everyone who wholeheartedly trusted in God found in Jesus Christ (also called the redeemed of God) will be in heaven with God (John 14:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:3). The redeemed will see God – the All Holy-One of heaven – face to face (Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 4:8). God’s presence will be visible to all (Revelation 22:4). There will fellowship with loved ones and the redeemed of God with no unfulfilled desires. In summary, the redeemed of God will see God in and through Jesus Christ face to face with all love, fellowship, heart-peace, rest and worship (Revelation 7:9-10; 15; Revelation 14:13; Revelation 19:1-9) – a never ending paradise (Revelation  22:5). 

Also in heaven, God abides on His throne before the heavenly court. The sons and daughters of God or divine beings also reside with God. These divine beings are called angels. Angels serve in God’s heavenly court and also act as His messengers. To be clear, there is no polytheism; these divine beings are NOT to be worshiped. These divine beings have no authority of their own, and can only do what God commands or permits them to do. 

God created humans to be His imagine bearers and to reflect God’s heavenly court (see Genesis 1:26; see also Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; 1 Kings 22:19-23; Job 15:8; Jeremiah 23:18).  Humans were created in the image of God and for God’s glory. Access into God’s heavenly court is secret to those on earth. Only certain prophets have received access and revelation into God’s heavenly court (see Amos 3:7). The Holy Bible discusses God’s heavenly court with God enthroned as King (e.g., see I Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6; and Zechariah 3–4). The Holy Bible speaks of true prophets of God being allowed to see into God’s throne room or heavenly court (see e.g. Isaiah 6:1-7; Jeremiah 23:18-22; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4; Revelation 1:1-3; Revelation 22:18-19). All true prophets starting with Enoch (Jude 14), Abraham (Genesis 20:7) through Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist to the ultimate King-Prophet-Priest, Jesus Christ all had access into the God’s heavenly court. In essences, these prophets received a face-to-face encounter with the true and living God and His heavenly court.

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. So do you think you can build a house for Me? Do I need a place to rest? My hand made all things. All things are here because I made them,” says the Lord. “These are the people I am pleased with: those who are not proud or stubborn and who fear (respect, honor) My Word. 

Isaiah 66:1-2 (NCV)

References: 
KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994. 
Douglas, J.D. and Tenney, Merrill. NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan Publishing House, 1989.
Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Book House Company, 2001.
Packer, J.I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Carol Stream, IL:  Tyndale House Publishers, 1993.