Monday, April 22, 2019

Heaven

The Bible student is first introduced to the concept of Heaven in the beginning of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. – Gen. 1:1; (KJV), cf. also 2:1.. The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" In this verse "the heavens" is referring to the sky, clouds, stars, where birds fly, etc., it is not referring to "Heaven" referred to as the dwelling place of God. It does, however set up the comparison of two different places, the Earth which can be seen and Heaven, which is higher than the Earth and is more difficult to fully comprehend. Since God his higher than the Earth, His place of residence must be in the Heavens.
Throughout the ages, men tried to describe a picture of the Heavens, where God lives, compare, Deut. 10:14; 1Kngs 8:27; Psa. 115:16; 148:4: Jer. 23:24; Acts17:24; 2 Cor. 12:2.}. Jesus also added to this contrast, when He desired that things on Earth would be done as they are in Heaven, (Matt. 6:9-13). This was the place to which Jesus returned after His time here on Earth, (Matt. 28:18ff.; Acts 1:2). The concept of Heaven is then where God lives and where Jesus returned. The Hebrew word marom is also used (Psa, 68:18; 93:4; 102:19) as equivalent to shamayim , "high places," "heights." Heb. galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Psa. 77:18  (RSV, "whirlwind"). Heb. shahak, rendered "sky" (Deut. 33:26; Job. 37:18; Psa. 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Psa. 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. Heb. rakia is closely connected with above, and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Gen. 1:6; Deut. 23:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse.
Jews, Christians and Muslims believe that heaven is the paradise their souls will enter after death, either as a reward for believing or also as a reward for good works. The intertestamental literature proposed that there were actually seven heavens physically located above the earth, with God enthroned in the highest heaven.
Elijah, Jesus and Muhammad were all believed to have been physically transported upwards to heaven. Modern belief is that heaven is a purely spiritual place that cannot be physically located.
In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings forever, a deliverance from all evils (2 Cor. 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Tim. 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lk. 20:36; 2Cor. 12:2; Lk. 4:16-18; 1 Pet. 1:4; 5:10; 1 Jn. 3:2). The believer's heaven is a place of everlasting blessedness, prepared for him (Jn. 14:2).
Since the Bible was written in ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, some translations vary greatly, so there is no single count for the occurrence of the word "heaven." As shown earlier, its appearance differs according to section and which translation is used. In English, the word heaven comes from Old English, “heofon” "home of God," earlier "the visible sky, firmament," or Germanic, “*hibin-“, or “heben.”
The King James version of the Bible mentions the word "heaven" 327 times in the Old Testament and 255 times in the New Testament. Meanwhile, the word appears only 186 times in the New International Version's Old Testament and 236 times in its New Testament. In the New Revised Standard Version, "heaven" appears 246 times in the Old Testament and 248 times in the New Testament. I doubt we atre able to comprehend what is heaven and how we will interact with other resurrected people, but one thing is sure: we will be free of evil, completely with God, and doing what He wants - that is enough.

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