There are a lot of misconceptions about heaven in the world today. Below are two major points that all must know concerning heaven.

What Heaven Is Not

Contrary to what many believe, heaven is not the place where everyone goes after this life is over. We often hear some say, "He finally went to a better place." In this present age, no one has gone to heaven yet, and in the after life, not everyone will be going to heaven, such as the fearful, the unbeliever, abominable, murderer, fornicator, sorcerer, idolater, and the liar. No, the place for these will not be heaven but the second death, the lake of fire, or as we most commonly call it, hell (Rev. 21:8; Mk. 9:43, 47).

Heaven is not a place where death, pain, sorrows, and physical suffering torment us like they do here on earth, for these things will have passed (Rev. 21:4). Neither is heaven a place like anything we have here on earth, such as time, space, and matter. No, heaven is not a place of limit, end, or corruption. The greatness of heaven out does and excels anything that our minds can think of or reach for.

What Heaven Is

Heaven is the dwelling place of God. Scripture makes reference to it as the "heavenly places" where God resides. Jesus once told His disciples to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven" (Mt. 6:9). It is also the dwelling place of Christ, who at this very moment reigns at the right hand of God "in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:20). Peter said of Christ, "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angles and authorities and powers being made subject also unto him" (1 Pet. 3:22). The Scriptures say that heaven is the throne of God (Isa. 66:1). The Book of Psalms says, "the LORD'S throne is in heaven" (11:4). So, heaven is the place where Deity dwells and governs.

Heaven is also the final destination of the saved, the church. Here, she will for eternity be in the presence of God, enjoying unhindered fellowship (Rev. 21:3). Under the Old Covenant, only the priests could enter into the holy place, and only the High Priest could go into the holy of holies. In the present sanctuary, the church, the priests of Christ serve in the holy place, and the High Priest, Christ Jesus, in the most holy. In this final sanctuary, however, the priests, who are Christians (1 Pet. 2:9), will serve in the holy of holies forever before their God. So, heaven is a place where the church will worship God face to face. It is a place where the church will have constant access to God. In the face of God, the saved will see the fulfillment of all the longing they ever had. The bride will be dressed in all His justice, truth, holiness, goodness, glory, and beauty. Heaven is the place where forever more we will sing the song, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Rev. 4:8).