HEAVEN

Heaven

Pastor JR

A Christian’s home, our final resting place, the place we will spend eternity. So, why isn’t it talked about more? Out of sight, out of mind. And heaven is definitely out of human sight.

The only way to keep heaven in our minds eye is to read and imagine the truths about heaven found in the Word of God. So, let’s take a journey through the Word of God to reveal this wonderful place.

The Bible refers to three distinct “heavens”, each representing a different realm of creation and divine presence:

 First Heaven – The Atmospheric Heaven

• Description: The sky or firmament where birds fly and weather occurs.
• Scriptural references: Genesis 1:20 (“...let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky”), James 5:17-18 (rain from heaven).
• Function: The visible atmosphere surrounding Earth.

 Second Heaven – The Celestial Heaven

• Description: Outer space, including the sun, moon, stars, and galaxies.
• Scriptural references: Genesis 1:14-18 (lights in the firmament), Psalm 8:3 (“...the moon and the stars, which you have set in place”).
• Function: The cosmic realm beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

 Third Heaven – The Dwelling Place of God

• Description: The spiritual realm where God’s throne resides.
• Scriptural reference: 2 Corinthians 12:2 (“...caught up to the third heaven”).
• Function: The ultimate divine presence, sometimes equated with Paradise.

Understand that when a saint dies, his/her soul and spirit go to be with Jesus in Heaven. However, this is still not our final home. As wonderful as this place is today, God has something even better. 

Revelation 21:1-5 (NLTse) [1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. [2] And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." [5] And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." 

Let’s examine the New Jerusalem

The Bible explains it as a cube, in Revelation 21:16 states that its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. A 1,400-mile length, width, and height are so enormous that it’s almost impossible to visualize without comparing it to things you already know. Here’s a clear, structured way to grasp the scale:

A cube that is 1,400 miles × 1,400 miles × 1,400 miles would be larger than many countries, taller than the atmosphere, and so massive it would reach far into space.

1. Compare the size to the United States

The continental U.S. is about 2,800 miles wide east-to-west.

So, a 1,400-mile length is:

• Half the width of the entire United States
• Roughly the distance from California to Kansas
• Similar to driving from Los Angeles to Houston

Now imagine that distance in all three directions.

2. Compared to countries

A 1,400-mile width is larger than:

• The entire country of India (1,000 miles wide)
• The entire country of Mexico (1,200 miles long)
• The entire country of South Africa (1,000 miles long)

This cube would cover multiple countries at once.

3. Height comparison: 1,400 miles upward

Earth’s atmosphere:

• The breathable atmosphere is only 62 miles thick.
• Even the outermost thin layers extend only 300 miles.

1,400 miles high goes far beyond the atmosphere.

Space comparison:

• The International Space Station orbits at 250 miles.
• Most satellites orbit between 300–1,200 miles.

A 1,400-mile height would extend above many satellites and deep into space.

4. Volume comparison

A cube of this size has a volume of: 14003=2.744 trillion cubic miles
For perspective:

• Earth’s total volume is 260 billion cubic miles.
• Your cube would be 10× the volume of Earth.

So, this “shape” is not just big — it’s planet-scale.

5. A mental picture

Imagine a cube so large that:

• Its base covers half the United States in both directions.
• Its height reaches far beyond the atmosphere, past satellites.
• Its total size is bigger than Earth itself.

Now let’s look at the beauty of the wonderful place:

The walls are 216 feet thick (Revelation 21:17). To give you a concrete mental picture:

Imagine a wall as thick as a 20-story building is tall.

If you laid a 20-story building on its side, that’s the thickness we’re talking about.

The wall was made of Jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass (Revelation 21:18). The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones;

• Jasper (Jas-per)
• Sapphire (Saf-fire)
• Agate (a-gat)
• Emerald (em-uh-ruhld)
• Onyx (ah-niks)
• Carnelian (kaar-neel-uhn) 
• Chrysolite (kriss-uh-light)
• Beryl (beh-ruhl)
• Topaz (tow-paz)
• Chrysoprase (Krai-sow-prayz)
• Jacinth (Ja-sinth)
• Amethyst (am-uh-thist)

There are 12 gates guarded by 12 angels (Revelation 21:12), the gates are made of pearl coming from a single pearl. 

Inside; the city is made of pure Gold, and the streets are as clear as glass (Revelation 21:18). A river flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, down the center of the main street (Revelation 22:1-2). On each side of the river there is a tree called the tree of life that bears 12 different fruits with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations (Revelation 22:2).

The leaves symbolize God’s ongoing life-giving grace that brings everlasting wholeness, unity, and peace to all peoples in the New Creation. Not medicine for illness—because by Revelation 22, all sickness, death, and pain are already gone. The leaves on the tree can be likened to supernatural vitamins, since vitamins are taken not to treat illness, but promote general health. LIFE IN HEAVEN WILL BE FULLY ENERGIZED, RICH, AND EXCITING. 

There will be no need for the sun or moon to produce light, the glory of God illuminates the city, and Jesus is the light.