Heaven: where is it?

"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven." (2 Corinthians 12:2)

Many will say heaven is here on earth, or there is no heaven, as we explore may we be enlightened.

2 Corinthians 12:2. Speak of a third heaven, therefore there must be a first and a second. So there are three heavens.

Just as it is in the beginning so shall it be at the end when the earth came forth perfect, so the new earth will be glorious. There will be no shadows no clouds. "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of His people, and healeth the stroke of heir wound." (Isaiah 30:26).

The aerial heaven, where the birds fly (Revelation 19:17), where the clouds form, and from which the rain and snow come down. This first heaven will pass away some day, and God will make a new pure atmosphere, a new first heaven to surround the new earth which He will make. 2 Peter 3:10, 13;
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4.

The stellar heaven, where the sun, moon, and stars move in their orbits. Psalm 19:1-4.

The third heaven is Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2, 4), where the throne of God is, where Jesus is now. "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."(2 Corinthians 12: 4),

2. John 14:3. Jesus said that He would prepare a place in heaven for His people.

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Hebrews 11:16, 10. This place that Jesus has prepared is the city of God, or the New Jerusalem. A description of this wonderful city will be found in the last two chapters of the Bible.

 Revelation 21:10-18. This New Jerusalem is 12,000 furlongs, or 1,500 miles, in circumference, or 375 miles to each side. It contains 140,625 square miles. It has a wall of jasper 216 feet high, 12 foundations of 12 precious stones, 12 gates each of one solid pearl, streets of gold, and mansions of gold for the saints.

Revelation 21:4. It is a city where everyone will have a perfect immortal body, where there will be no sickness, trouble, or death, where His people will be perfectly happy through all eternity.

This New Jerusalem will be the capital of the universe. It is foursquare each side being 375 miles long, or the whole 1500 miles in circumference. The walls of jasper are 250 feet high and have twelve foundations of precious stones. There are twelve pearly gates, three on a side, and each gate is one pearl. the street crossing at right angles are paved with pure gold, and are like transparent glass. (Revelation 21: 18-18).

Here flows the "pure river of water of life" and upon its bank stands the "tree of life" bearing twelve kinds of fruit. Jesus, the great architect, is preparing a place for you.

The New Jerusalem is now in, the third heaven, and the saints will all go up to that city when Jesus comes, to reign with Him there for 1,000 years. At the end of that 1,000 years, the earth will be made over into a new earth, free from sin and sinners, and the New Jerusalem will rest on this new earth as its grand capital. With Christ, the saints will reign forever over this new earth. (Revelation 21:1-3).