Q: #444. Where is Heaven?
A: Honestly, the Bible does not tell us exactly where Heaven is. All we get are two possible clues: 1. It is “up,” 2. It is “north.”
There are numerous verses which point to it being “up.” Here are some:
(Acts 1:9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he (Jesus) was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
(Rev 21:1-2) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(Mt 14:19) And he (Jesus) commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven…
(1 Th 4:16-17) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(Ps 14:2) The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
(Ex 20:4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Also see: (Rev 3:12)(2 Kin 2:11)(Jn 17:1)(Josh 2:11)
Some of the clues for Heaven being to the north are interesting. It should be noted that no matter where you are on Earth, going “north” always leads to the same place eventually (as does south). In addition, I have read from several sources that some scientists have observed that beyond the North Star (Polaris) is a huge empty space with no stars. Some speculate this is Heaven. I cannot vouch for this as fact, but it does make for interesting reading 🙂 (search it for yourself).
Here are some verses pointing at Heaven being to the “north.”
(Job 26:7) He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
(Isa 14:12-13) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (notice: “throne above the stars”)
(Ps 75:2,6-7) When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. (6) For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. (7) But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
***Notice that in speaking of judgment, these verses say it won’t come from the east, west, or south.
(Ps 48:2) Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
(Ezek 1:4) And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
In (2 Cor 12:1-4), Paul speaks of being “caught up to the third heaven.” The “first heaven” is simply the atmosphere surrounding the Earth, and the “second heaven” is the stars and outer space. The “third heaven” is where God resides (I explain this more here.). Some people, in explaining where God is, simply answer “Heaven is where God is.” Clearly, this is true (Mt 7:21)(Mt 10:32-33)(Mt 5:16,45,48)(Mt 18:10,19)(Rev 18:1)(Rev 20:9). However, it really doesn’t give us much of an answer 🙂 .
It is a little more helpful to note that a number of verses say that you go through the “heavens” (presumably the 1st and 2nd) to get to God (Acts 7:55-56)(Eph 4:8-10)(Mk 1:10)(Mt 3:16)(Heb 4:14)(Ezek 1:1).
Finally, some also say that Heaven lies in another dimension, or on a different plane than us. This is possible too. I speak more about Heaven in the following links.
Q: #12. Will we remember people and events from Earth when we get to Heaven?
Q: #13. Will there be time in Heaven?
Q: #14. Is it true that we will receive a new name in Heaven?
Q: #68. Will we work in Heaven?
Q: #189. Can people in Heaven see us?
Q: #190. Will we be able to sin in Heaven?
