What is heaven? And where did it come from? And What does it mean for me? These questions can be answered directly by God Himself. Consider the following statements as recorded in the Scriptures.
Isa 66:1-2
God said He created heaven to be His throne and is stated by Jesus Christ to be His Father’s dwelling place. Matthew 16:16-17 states: And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (NAS)
What does this mean for me? Jesus said that Heaven is a place that He will prepare for His people. His people are defined as those who are born again and have become the adopted sons of God. Consider the following Scripture:
John 14:1-6
"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. "And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. (NAS)
Jesus is saying that God the Father is in heaven and the only way to get there is through Him. Jesus is then, metaphorically speaking, the door into heaven and that there is no other door.
The Scriptures speak of God one day remaking the Heavens and the Earth. The Scriptures teach that in the end times of God’s plan for man’s existence, He will create a new heaven and a new earth. This will take place after great turmoil and war. But in the end, it will become the final resting place for God, His Angels, and His people. Consider the following Scriptures:
Revelation 12:7-12
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
"Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." (NAS)
Isaiah 65:17
Revelation 21:1-4
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. (NAS)
As you search the Scriptures it is clear that heaven is not for all mankind or created beings. Heaven is a place of reward for those who come to place their faith in the only one that can save them from the wrath of God and that person is Jesus the Christ the only door.
