The wonders of heaven are revealed by God all throughout the Bible. In fact, the word “heaven” appears 582 times in the Bible and in 50 of the 66 books of the Bible. God’s word is his testimony about heaven and God speaks the truth plainly and without any exaggeration. The Lord our God cannot lie. We also have the personal testimonies of two Apostles, John and Paul, who went to heaven in the spirit and described it for us in the books of Revelation and 2 Corinthians, respectively. God doesn’t allow sin to enter heaven so man can’t go there in the flesh but we can go to heaven in the spirit if called upward by God. John was brought to heaven so he could record what he saw in the book of Revelation. The Bible also records that Paul visited the third heaven on one occasion.
Revelation 4:1-2 – After these things I (John) looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
2 Corinthians 12:3-4 – And I (Paul) know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
As the Apostle appointed by God to preach the word to the Gentiles, Paul met with Jesus several times personally and he spoke with Jesus Christ often in the Spirit. Many of the mysteries of God and secrets of heaven were revealed to Paul and he wrote them down in his epistles, which later became books of the New Testament. I look to Paul as an example of how to lead a Christian life in service to God. Paul uses the analogy of a competitive race to explain what believers are to do with their lives here on earth in their personal walk with God. No two people will run the same race before the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things, now they do it for a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
The one who receives the prize from God is the believer who uses his time wisely on earth to witness for Christ at every opportunity and saves people for the kingdom of God. The prize spoken of in this verse is a crown which is in reality the heavenly rewards referred to as precious stones, silver and gold. Which prize, reward or treasure the believer receives will depend largely on the total number of souls saved for the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 – Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
For the believer to witness for Christ effectively he must be in fellowship with God and live his life in obedience to the commandments of God so that the nonbeliever can see the light of God in the believer’s actions and be drawn to the gospel message of Christ. This takes personal discipline on the part of the believer and a plan of action to witness for Christ effectively over a long period of time.
Philippians 1:21-22 – For to me (Paul), to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I choose I cannot tell.
The Apostle Paul had seen the wonders of heaven and he knew he would be better off going to heaven as soon as possible. But Paul also knew God had chosen him to preach the word of God to the Gentiles and so establish God’s church so that more people could be saved unto heaven. Paul took the harder road of obedience to God’s word and accepted his hardships and persecutions because he knew all his labors (saving the lost) would earn him honor, glory and riches in heaven that he would receive from Jesus Christ on the last day. No Christian will receive more honor, glory, and riches in heaven than the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul set an example for us all to follow and we would be wise to emulate the actions of Paul to the best of our ability.
Philippians 1:23-24 – For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Paul made the decision to remain on this earth and endured his hardships persecutions for God for more than forty years so he could save all the people he could for the kingdom of God. At the end of his forty year ministry, and just before he was beheaded in Rome by the Emperor Nero, Paul said he had fought the good fight and run his race for God to the best of his ability. He surely did and if all believers can accomplish even a small fraction of what the Apostle Paul was able to accomplish then they will be great in heaven.
Philippians 3:13-14 – But one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 4:18 – But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
1 John 5:11 – And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).
Ephesians 5:15-17 – See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
The bottom line for all believers is we need to be determined in our walk with God; immovable and resolute in our witness for Christ in order to save as many people from the fires of hell as we possibly can and we need to continue in that calling while we have breath in our bodies. All we can do is our best at all times and in all circumstances. After that it’s up to God to sort out the details and judge us based on our body of work once we get to heaven. Our ultimate goal on the last day is to hear Jesus say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.
James 1:7 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Proverbs 11:24-25 – There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.
1 Corinthians 3:9 – For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
One last thing. Some believers are under the false assumption that when they die they will sleep until they are resurrected on the last day. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that when we die our eternal spirit, which is the real us, returns to heaven immediately to be in the presence of Jesus. I think the confusion stems from Paul’s Scripture about the rapture where he says the dead in Christ will rise first to get their new glorified bodies; then followed by those still alive at the appearing of Jesus in the air. What Paul doesn’t say is that all the dead in Christ are already with Jesus in the air when he comes.
It’s only natural that those saints arriving with Jesus in the air should get their new bodies first. So, in a sense, they are risen first but it has nothing to do with their rotting corpses rising out of the grave or believers sleeping until the last day. Our human bodies are corrupted by sin and not one molecule will be used in the creation of our new heavenly bodies. God doesn’t allow sin in heaven. After all believers, both dead and alive, receive their new incorruptible bodies in the air Jesus will take them back to heaven with him. Praise the Lord!
1 Thessalonians 4:18 – Therefore comfort one another with these words (the gospel).
Job 22:2 – Can a man be profitable to God, though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Hebrews 13:16 – But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 – Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 – But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will be no means precede those who are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort on another with these words.