I have been writing a book on heaven and also blogging on it. These first few blogs are on a general description of heaven. This is my third post having to do with heaven being boundless and eternal.

Yes, heaven is beyond our universe—beyond the stars; that is, beyond the second heaven to the third heaven. Hence, it is far beyond our telescopes to a place unimaginable, incomprehensible.

This place is never ending and will never pass away. The Psalmist said of it, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…” (Ps. 45:6).

Daniel said of it, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:14).

In Luke’s gospel, speaking of God’s Son who is enthroned with His Father, it was said,

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Lu. 1:32-34).

Now, speaking of being incomprehensible, we really need to look at Isaiah 57:15 (in the KJV).

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

That term “inhabiteth eternity,” deserves further attention. I like what Barnes in Barnes’ Notes says of it.

The word ‘eternity’ here evidently stands in contrast with the ‘contrite and humble spirit;’ and it seems to be used to denote the elevated place of an eternal dwelling or heaven. He dwells not only among human beings, but he dwells in eternity-where time is unknown-in a world where succession is not marked-and long before the interminable duration was broken in upon by the revolutions of years and days.2

In this verse, I think the phrase “high and holy place” (in the NASV) may be a bit deceiving to us. I think this place, the third heaven, is more than just a “faraway place” in terms of distance and time. I rather think we are talking about being in a different dimension and realm. It is a place fit only for those who have transformed bodies, untarnished by sin. It is a real place, yet vastly different. It is a place where God allowed Paul to be, but we must believe that God shielded heaven from any sinful corruption from Paul’s untransformed body.

2 Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.