Is there really a Heaven?

In the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, this world’s history is coming to a close. In Revelation chapter 21, God shows us the establishment of His eternal kingdom – heaven. Up until the very end of the Bible, we know very little about what heaven will be like.

In these final chapters, we are told there will be three heavens. The first heaven will include the atmosphere including the clouds and oxygen we breathe. The second heaven is outer space where all the planets, constellations, and galaxies exist.  And beyond that, there is a third heaven.

Paul gives us a slight hint at how incredible this third heaven will be when he says in I Corinthians 2:9, “…but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.’"  

The Bible refers to the holy city in heaven as a bride, dressed up for a wedding celebration, symbolizes for us the intimacy we will have with God in heaven. And what this tells us is that heaven is, first of all, a relationship. And by using this illustration of a man and woman becoming husband and wife, God wants us to understand what our relationship with Him will be like in heaven.  The most intimate relationship humans can share will only be a shadow of the intimacy we will have with God…for eternity!

This new city will be specially created for Christians, who will be the bride of Christ, as we are told in the New Testament