Any believer may draw near to the throne of God by means of prayer. But besides this avenue, there are very few of us that have been given a chance to see into the heavenly realm. Here are a few:
Moses. I don’t know that Moses ever got a glimpse of heaven as John and Paul did, but he certainly did hear God’s voice a number of times while Israel was in the wilderness. In Exodus 33 we have the account that Moses pitched his tent outside the camp (it was called “the tent of meeting”), and there in that tent the LORD would speak with him just as a man speaks to his friend (v. 11). This I would say is the best glimpse of heaven one could have. To speak verbally with God! But Moses wanted more than to hear God. He wanted to see Him—to see His glory (see verses 18 to 23). Moses was not permitted to see His face, but God did let him see His glory and His back. Here is the account (from Exodus 33:18 to 23):
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” 19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” 21 Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
Now the question we have to ask is why was Moses permitted this special contact with God and so many others have not? I think we have the answer in verse seventeen. God said to Moses, “…You have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”
And so, it is a matter of getting to know God. Moses took time to know Him. He sought Him out. He met Him regularly in his own tent, and so God let him see His glory. And just as God agreed to show Moses some of His glory, He wants each of us to see Him too.
Elisha and his servant. During the time thatthe king of Aram was at war with Israel (2 Kings 6:8-23), it happened one morning that Elisha’s servant saw many troops and horses and chariots circling around them. And being very afraid he reported this to Elisha. But Elisha said,
Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Ki. 6:16-17).
In this very real story we see that God, in answer to Elisha’s prayer, opened up the windows of heaven so that they saw God’s heavenly armies.
We can’t help but wonder how many heavenly angels are around us to help us, and how close to us they are. I think this heavenly, unseen world is very near to us—all around us. Heaven indeed may be a different dimension, here, right with us.
Ezekiel. It happened that when the prophet Ezekiel began his priestly ministry (at age thirty), he was by the river Chebor among the exiles. And God opened the heavens to him, and he saw visions of God (Ezek. 33:1). We don’t know exactly what Ezekiel saw; but it seems that he saw God in some form, and he also saw four living beings, probably Cherubim, each having four different faces, four wings and four wheels full of eyes (Ezek. 33:5-21). I won’t begin to guess at how much of what he saw was literal or how much was symbolic. Certainly, we know that angels looks different from us; but I also think that what he saw was symbolic, showing us the great power, speed, and agility of these creatures to carry out God’s will.
Stephen. Stephen was one of seven men who were chosen to be in charge of serving tables for the daily meals so that the disciples could be free to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:1-4).
And it happened during that time that certain Jewish leaders and scribes rose up and argued with Stephen over what he was doing and saying; for he was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” And he was performing great wonders and miracles among the people (v. 8).
And when the Jewish leaders pressed him and challenged him, he rose to the challenge, and (in Acts 7:1-53) he gave a brilliant defense of the Christian faith and also condemned them for rejecting Jesus.
And when they heard what Stephen said to them, verse 54 tells us, “they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.” They had murder in their eyes! And here at this time and place is where heaven was opened up to Stephen. Verses fifty-five and fifty-six tells us,
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
And they drove Stephen out of the city and stoned him. And in his last breath he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” And he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
So here, we don’t see much of heaven, only the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right hand. But it is my guess that this small vision is vital for our understanding of what we ought to know regarding how God and His Son see us and care about us. It is the central theme of what we should know now about heaven; that God and His Son are waiting for us, and they see us in all our troubles and suffering. And just as they did indeed welcomed Stephen into glory, they are waiting to welcome us.
John. Johnthe apostle was the author of the fourth gospel, three epistles, and Revelation. It was the book of Revelation where John gets a glimpse of heaven—more of a glimpse then others. In chapters four, five, and seven we get a vision of the heavenly throne room; and in chapters 21 and 22 we get a wonderful vision of the new heaven and the new earth, and also of the new Jerusalem. Since we will view the things of chapter 21 and 22 later on in this book, I think for now we will just look at what John saw of the heavenly throne room in Revelation 4:1-11.
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
You may notice that John saw much of what Ezekiel saw—particularly the four living creatures. But here are added the twenty-four elders, which of course represent the church, and came later. I think there is some symbolism found in the costly stones and the appearance of things, which denote God’s greatness and sovereignty; but I also think that much of the scene is real—that it is a real throne room in heaven of which we will one day see and experience.
Paul. The apostle Paul had very little to say about his experience in heaven. He didn’t even say clearly or directly that he was the one who went there. But it seems clear that he was the one. He said,
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows — 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (2 Cor. 12:2-4).
So here is Paul’s description of heaven: it was the “third heaven;” it was “paradise,” and he heard “inexpressible words.” So, I would say that he was quite positive that he went to heaven; but he didn’t know how he got there. He said that he was “caught up.”
I wonder if John or Ezekiel had this same experience of being “caught up? I also wonder if Paul saw some of the same things that they saw. He said that he was in “paradise,” so I take it that he did experience something beautiful. And in particular he heard “inexpressible words.” I wonder if God actually spoke to him. If so, he had something in common with Moses. All in all, with all these who got a glimpse of heaven and of God’s glory we are greatly encouraged and we look forward to heaven.
I would say that the primary abode of angels is heaven with God; but they are also kept busy on the earth doing His will. We may recall in Genesis the story of Jacob’s dream (Gen. 28:12). He dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven. And he saw angels of God ascending and descending. This vision I think, though a dream, is quite true of the movement of angels, back and forth from heaven to earth doing God’s will. Here are four things we see in Scripture that angels are involved in.
Angels are kept busy helping believers. I especially like Psalm 91:11-12, how God commands His angels to help us when we have any needs.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
We also remember the classic occurrence in Jesus life just after He was tempted in the wilderness, when angels came to Him and ministered to Him (Matt. 4:11).
Angels gather people together either for judgment or for blessing. In Matthew 24:30-31, we read that when Christ returns, “He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” I take it that this gathering is to bring all believers from world history into the millennial kingdom.
But angels will also be used at the end of the age to gather all the wicked together to be cast into hell (Matt. 13:39-50).
Angels are used in Judgment. Angels have had and will have the gruesome task of carrying out God’s judgment on evildoers. In Revelation 8:6 we see that they will have the task of announcing His judgments by blowing trumpets.
Also, in Revelation 16:1, by the command of God they were told to pour out on the earth seven bowls of the wrath of God, bowls filled with deadly plagues that will torture and kill many.
And then during the battle of Armageddon certain angels will be given the task of killing evil ones by the thousands. In this passage in Revelation 14:14-20, it seems that these angels along with Christ had this task.
I [John] looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man” with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. (NIV)
Angels are in heaven worshipping God. In Revelation 7:11-12 we read,
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
In James 1:13-18 we read of a contrast between good and evil, or between our own evil desires and what God gives us from heaven. We could say that man is naturally sinful and prone to do wrong, and God is always good—and all He gives us from heaven is good. Here are seven good things that God gives us (or has given us) from heaven.
Light (Genesis 1:3-4). From the first day of creation God gave us (from heaven) the wonderful gift of light from which we perpetually receive such great blessings (see pages 20-23 above).
Manna (John 6:30-34). In this passage a crowd of people around Jesus were asking Him to shows them a miraculous sign so that they could believe in Him.
So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
Jesus the Living Bread (John 6:35, 47-51). Here, in the same conversation (as above), Jesus abruptly changes the dialogue from talking about manna to living bread—Himself. He is the living bread that gives life. Hence here Jesus provides the real miracle of eternal life—if they would believe in Him.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst…
47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 “I am the bread of life. 49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Our Daily bread (Matthew 6:11). In Matthew 6:9 through 13, Jesus instructs His disciples on how to pray. And in all that He taught them about it they were to first of all, as a preface, say to God, “Our Father who is in heaven…” Hence, they were to realize that God, the giver of all they ask for, dwells in heaven. And each day they could be sure that He would provide for them what they needed for nourishment—if they prayed the third request: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Food for the hungry (Matthew 14:19). When Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, He made it clear that the miracle would come from heaven. Hence, after He ordered the people to sit down on the grass, He took the loaves and fish and looked up toward heaven as He blessed it and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the crowds. Yes, all the bread and fish that were multiplied came directly from heaven from the Father.
Food for God’s servant Elijah (1 Kings 17:2-6). Here is the most wonderful miracle. God provided for Elijah by His command from heaven to the ravens.
The word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.
Provision for those who seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19). Here are two special promises to those who seek Him first and for those who do His will. They will be supplied by our heavenly Father for all we need.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Here is my fifth piece from my book on heaven.
From the beginning of earth’s creation, on the very first day, God said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). But this light was not the light of the sun or the moon or the stars; that happened on the fourth day. This light, I believe, came to us from God as a gift from heaven. It was just a sample of the everlasting light of heaven; however, it is a light that is much lower in brightness and intensity. Nonetheless, this light has been a great blessing to us—it has been “good” and “very good” (Gen. 1:4 and 31).
What this light from heaven is, I’m not sure we can say, whether it is all natural or somewhat miraculous. But whatever combination it is, it is very good for us. It helps our bodies produce Vitamin D; it improves our sleeping patterns; it helps us focus; and even makes us feel happier.
Now as we said, this light of heaven is eternal, much brighter, and I would say miraculous. It is eternal because its source is God who is eternal. And there are several verses that declare that He is light. Here are a few: “The LORD is my light and my salvation” (Ps. 27:1); “O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance” (Ps. 89:15); “You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a cloak” (Ps. 104:1-2).
As for its brightness and durability, Isaiah 60:19-20 (which speaks of the days after the millennium—on the new heaven and earth) tells the entire story.
“No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
Nor for brightness will the moon give you light;
But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light,
And your God for your glory.
20 “Your sun will no longer set,
Nor will your moon wane;
For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning will be over.
As we see here, the light of the sun and moon and stars (if we even have them any more) are no longer needed. The heavenly light in the future will come down on the new heaven and earth. It will be an “everlasting light,” and even a miraculous light that will bring a new and spiritual vitality for all.
For now, being in our mortal bodies, we wouldn’t be able to survive such light. It is the light of immortality of which to us is “unapproachable” (1 Tim. 6:16). It is the same heavenly light that came down and flashed around Paul (then Saul), knocked him to the ground, and blinded him for three days (Acts 9:3-9).
Now if you want further proof of this light of heaven let us examine Revelation 21:2 and 23-24 (speaking of the holy city, new Jerusalem). As we see in verses 23 and 24, this city (spoken of here as in our future) is quite illuminated. It has no need of the sun or the moon; and the nations (people) will walk by its light. In other words, the light of God will shine into and through that city and light up all the new heaven and earth.
This city is eternal. It has always existed in the heavens and has always been a focal point of light. It is, we could say, the capitol city of heaven and the primary place of God’s abode and throne. Hence, it is the focal point of God’s light.
As we will talk about later, this city will come down from heaven from God and will be “made ready as a bride adorned for her husband”—which means that it will be a city made ready for us, His bride.
Notice carefully that this city is not created; it will “come down” out of heaven. In other words, before it appears over the earth, it was in heaven, and it has (as far as we know) always been in heaven. It is the primary dwelling place of God who is light.
Now God’s light is not just light as we know it (natural/literal light). His light has deep spiritual meaning for us and will always be teaching us about Him. Here are a few verses to ponder.
Psalm 27:1 – It is light that brings us salvation.
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
Psalm 36:9 – It is light that brings us truth.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
Psalm 119:105 – It is God’s Word as a light to our path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Isaiah 9:2 – This speaks of Jesus the Messiah as a great light.
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
John 8:12 – Jesus God’s Son is the light of the world.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 – We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
1 John 1:5-7 – Jesus calls us to walk in Him in His light.
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
In Revelation 21:3-4 it says,
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Here in this passage, it almost seems as if this promise is just for all those future believers that will experience the new heaven and earth. But I’m sure that it holds true for all believers—all who have died in the past and will die in the future. Those believers who died hundreds of years ago, their souls immediately went to be present with the Lord, and He then, at that time, wiped away every tear from their eyes. In like manner, it will happen to us too, and to all those in our future. Likewise, all who are living and are raptured, they too will be comforted with this same promise when they see Him.
As I see it from these verses, there are two things that work to fulfill these promises of His comfort: 1) they will come to us because “the tabernacle of God” has come to us—which means God’s abode, or presence. Hence, where He is, there can be no pain or fear or death or sorrow. And 2) the promise comes to us because He make all things new (v. 5). The old is past and the new has come.
The old things is the old sinful flesh, and the old body that lives only so long and dies; and it is all the pain and sorrow that goes along with it. All these things pass away with death and in their place comes new things: a new incorruptible body; and in place of sorrow and pain we will be given joy, pleasure, and delights of every kind. Psalm 16:11 tells us,
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Now I’m sure someone will ask; Won’t all these pleasures get old after thousands and millions of years? Won’t we get bored of all His delights? All the same old pleasures?
Well, that might be true if they were pleasures of the sinful flesh; but not from God. Not what He gives us. All that He gives us will be new and sweet every day. All that we do for Him and what He does for us will be “new every morning” (Lam. 3:23).
Prayer A to Z 