9411 heaven, nature of
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  9000 Last things  »  9400 Heaven  »  9410 heaven  »  9411 heaven, nature of

Scripture refers to heaven as God's habitation but also uses the term as an alternative for God himself.

Heaven as God's habitation

It is the place where he dwells

Deuteronomy 26:15 See also Genesis 28:17; 2 Chronicles 6:21; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Revelation 13:6

It is insufficient as God's dwelling-place

1 Kings 8:27 pp 2 Chronicles 6:18 See also Psalm 113:5-6

Heaven as the place of God's throne

Psalm 11:4 See also Exodus 24:9-11; 1 Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah 63:15; Daniel 7:9; Matthew 5:34; Matthew 23:22; Acts 7:49; Isaiah 66:1; Hebrews 8:1; Revelation 4:1-6; Revelation 20:11

Heaven as God's vantage point

Psalm 33:13 See also Psalm 53:2; Psalm 102:19-20; Ecclesiastes 5:2

Heaven as an alternative term for God

Luke 15:18 See also Matthew 8:11; Matthew 13:11 Matthew is writing especially for Jews who, out of reverence, tried to avoid using the word “God”. Mk 4:11 and Lk 8:10 prefer “kingdom of God”; Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18; Matthew 21:25 pp Mark 11:30 pp Luke 20:4; John 3:27; John 17:1

Heaven and the sovereignty of God

Heaven is the place of God's rule

Daniel 4:26 See also Psalm 45:6; Psalm 103:19; Acts 17:24

God's voice from heaven speaks with divine authority

Deuteronomy 4:36 See also Daniel 4:31; John 12:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Peter 1:17-18

Heaven glimpsed by human eyes

At the baptism of Jesus Christ

Mark 1:10 pp Matthew 3:16 pp Luke 3:21-22 See also John 1:32

In visions

Acts 7:56 See also 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Revelation 4:1

Prayer addressed to God in heaven

1 Kings 8:30 See also Deuteronomy 26:15; 2 Chronicles 30:27; Nehemiah 1:4; Psalm 20:6; Revelation 5:8

The association of oaths with heaven

Matthew 23:22 See also Genesis 24:3; Daniel 12:7; Matthew 5:34; James 5:12

The place of Jesus Christ in heaven

His pre-existence in heaven

John 6:38 See also John 3:13

His ascension into heaven after his resurrection

Luke 24:51 pp Mark 16:19 See also Ephesians 1:20

His place is now with God the Father

Hebrews 9:24 See also Colossians 3:1

His second coming will be from heaven

1 Thessalonians 4:16 See also Matthew 25:31; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10

The new heaven

The new heaven completely replaces the old

Revelation 21:1 See also Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13

The new Jerusalem is divinely created in heaven

Revelation 21:2 See also Isaiah 2:2-5; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:10

Fulness of life in heaven is wholly sustained by God

Revelation 21:22-23; Revelation 22:1-2 See also Isaiah 55:1; Ezekiel 47:8-9,12; John 7:38-39; Revelation 2:7

See also

1130  God, sovereignty
1205  God, titles of
1469  visions
2505  Christ, ascension
5429  oaths
5581  throne
7269  Zion
8602  prayer
9105  last things
9160  new heavens & new earth
9230  judgment seat
9430  paradise



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