The History Of Heaven

The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews is unknown. Scholars have debated its authorship, suggesting Paul, Barnabas, Luke, and Apollos, among others. What we do know is that the author was thoroughly familiar with first-century Judaism and the Old Testament. The recipients of this letter were Jewish people who trusted Jesus as their Messiah. They had initially received the gospel with enthusiasm and courage, but they now faced bitter opposition. They were tempted to go back to Judaism. But the author of Hebrews warned them not to revert. He encouraged them instead to endure persecution and remain true to their faith in Christ.

The history of Heaven is intertwined with the history of God. And God lives above the timeline of human history. He has always existed, so the same can be said of Heaven. Let us imagine that you are planning an expensive two-week vacation to Costa Rica. The easiest thing to do is to use a travel agent and let them plan the trip for you. But most of us want to do some of our own research, so let’s say you go online to learn everything you can about Costa Rica. But when you Google Costa Rica, there are only three words on the website: “Beautiful, Wonderful, Paradise.” You would not be satisfied. You would want to know more, right? You would want to know the history, the climate, the language, the currency, the places to eat, and the places to stay. If you ask a Christian what Heaven will be like, they will often give short answers like, “beautiful” or “wonderful” or “paradise.” But the truth is, there is more to Heaven than just that.

It is difficult for our minds to grasp the truth that God built Heaven to transcend both time and space—just like Himself. But Heaven is the eternal home for all who come to a relationship with God by faith in Jesus.

Hebrews 11:8-10 As a child, I knew a little about Heaven because my family always attended church where we sang wonderful songs like “When We All Get to Heaven.” As I grew older and many of my loved ones who knew the Lord died and went to Heaven, I longed to know even more about this destination. It was as if they had departed on a journey to a mysterious and far-off place and I wanted to understand exactly where they had gone. Understanding the history of Heaven helps us to grasp the reality of our eternal home.

Many people think that Heaven is going to be some kind of ethereal place where we will float around on soft white clouds playing harps. But the first thing to understand about Heaven is that it is a real place. In fact, I capitalize the word “Heaven” just as I would capitalize the cities of London or Paris. It is a proper noun.

In Hebrews 11 we meet a group of people who are already in Heaven today. This is often called the “Roll Call of Faith” because it contains the names and faithful deeds of many of the heroes of the Bible. When you read this list, you quickly discover that they all had one thing in common besides their great faith. The Bible says they were all looking forward to a better country—a Heavenly country—that awaited them on the other side of this life on Earth. Consider Abraham. God called him to a special role in the history of God’s people and promised him that he would have so many descendants that they would be like the stars in the sky. God told him to leave where he was and follow him to a new land, one he knew nothing about.

The writer of Hebrews does not name this city Heaven, but that is the destination. In fact, there are three words for “Heaven” that are used in the Bible. First, Heaven is used to describe the atmosphere around the earth—what we call “the air.” In Genesis 1:20 God said, “Let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens” (ESV). This is the first understanding of Heaven.

Second, Heaven is used to describe what we would call outer space where God created the moon and stars. The Bible says in Psalm 8:3 how God designed the planetary system. It reads, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers. The moon and the stars, which You have set in place...”

The third description of Heaven is the very dwelling place of God and the focus of this passage in Hebrews. Daniel said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets...” (Daniel 2:28). In saying this, Daniel was describing the place God calls home—and where God’s people will all live with Him one day.

Think of the difference between the three Heavens this way. You can see the first Heaven (the sky) by day. You see the second Heaven (the stars) by night. And you see the

third Heaven (where God dwells) by faith. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul refers to a man in Christ who had a vision of being caught up to this third Heaven where God lives. Most scholars suggest that this was New Testament writer the apostle Paul himself, but modesty prevented him from bragging about the Heavenly experience. 

Paul described this third Heaven as “paradise.” The word “paradise” comes from a Persian word that means “beautiful garden.” This term, “paradise” is found only two other times in the New Testament—both times spoken by Jesus. In his dying moments Jesus said to the thief beside him on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Both on the verge of death, Jesus assured him he would join Him in the dwelling place of God. So, we must understand that Paradise, the third Heaven where God lives, is a real place.

In Hebrews 11:8-10 we read of Abraham as an example of faith. He obeyed God to go to a place, even though he didn't know where that would be. He moved to the place where his son Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob would call home. But Abraham, we read, looked to something greater. Verse 10 describes Heaven as a city, one build by God Himself. Like Abraham, we look beyond this life to a place called Heaven that will far surpass anything in this life.

There are many other ways that Heaven is described, but in every case we are told that God designed and built it. For example, in 2 Corinthians 5:1 we read, “For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.” It is imperative that Heaven is not a place of our own making—it is the creation of God alone. God wants us to know that Heaven is His idea, and He alone is responsible for creating this wonderful destination for those who love and trust Him.

Heaven, described as a "city" here in Hebrews and as a “building” in 2 Corinthians, is not made from matter that will be corrupted over time. No, Heaven will endure throughout all eternity! Nothing in Heaven is built by human hands—not even our bodies we will inhabit at that time.

Hebrews 11:11-16 Here Heaven is described as a country. In the meantime, people who live by faith understand we are only pilgrims passing through this life; we look to a greater country where our citizenship truly lies (verse 13). This is a better country, because it is heavenly, not earthly (verse 16). Therefore, one of the many reasons we are unafraid to identify with God is because He has prepared a place for us, a country and a city whose designer is God.

In spite of impossible circumstances, Abraham trusted and obeyed the one true and living God (Hebrews 11:8). His obedience was the evidence of his faith. Abraham trusted God to lead him to a country not known to him—heaven—and he trusted God to give him a son “even though Abraham was past age” (v. 11).

In the part of Texas where I live it is not unusual to drive past a historical marker outside nearby cities and towns. These plaques usually tell the story of the first settlers or key individuals responsible for building the city. They also have a built-in inexplicable attraction for fathers. Many a family has pulled over on a drive to let Dad get out and read the historical marker, not to mention pose for a picture beside it. The first verse in the Bible (Genesis 1:10) states that there was a time, in the beginning, when God created the Heavens (plural) and the earth (singular). If Heaven had a historical marker outside its gates, it might read something like this: Heaven – Established by God before time began. That is the context of Psalm 90:2, which talks about the eternal nature of Heaven.

This passage teaches that People are God's Treasure. Since God created human beings in His image and for His glory, He desires our wholehearted devotion and dedication to Him. As He did Abraham, God calls us to trust Him. As a result, we should resolutely obey Him. Abraham trusted God to bring “Isaac back from death” so that Isaac would have children and be the foundation of a nation (v. 19). As we see from Abraham’s life, God treasures individual persons and desires to bless those who follow Him.

Abraham and all these great saints in Hebrews 11 were preoccupied with this Heavenly city and “better country” throughout their lifetime. We are the exact opposite, truth be told. We have a lot more time and energy invested into the city and country where we live now, wherever that may be. We drive the roads. We shop the malls. We walk the neighborhoods. We will all live here 70, 80, maybe 90 years at best—but I want to get you thinking about what the Bible constantly reminds us to think about—what is coming next. Where will you spend all of eternity long after your time on earth is over?