There are actually three heavens. We read in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (NKJV) First, there is the heaven where the birds fly. (Genesis 7:23) Second, there is the great expanse where the sun, moon and stars are. (Genesis 1:14) Then there is the heaven where the Lord dwells. Psalm 11:4, “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.”

It’s this third heaven, where the Lord sits upon His throne that we will dwell on. I am sure this is the heaven you enquired about. There is so much that could be said about heaven. Let’s look at just a few of the things we know about this wonderful place.

• THE CHRISTIAN’S HOME IS IN HEAVEN – Philippines 3:20 tells us, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Since heaven is our home, we naturally wait for our savior to come get us and take us home. We read of that glorious day in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven (the Third Heaven) with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds (the First Heaven), to meet the Lord in the air (the First Heaven): and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
• THE LORD HAS PREPARED US A PLACE THERE – Christ said in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The Lord prepared us a place in heaven by dying for us on Calvary. He took our sins upon Himself and endured the full wrath of God for us. To those who are saved, we know that salvation comes only through the Lord’s sacrificial death for us. The Lord proclaimed from the cross in John 19:30, IT IS FINISHED.” The price of salvation had been paid. It is a finished work, and Christ did it all.
• PAUL VISITED HEAVEN – 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, “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. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” When the Apostle Paul was taken to heaven, it was so glorious, he could not even talk about what had happened. In these verses, he says very little, but even that took him 14 years just to mention it. He didn’t even say anything about what he saw, and what he heard, he could not repeat!
• STEPHEN SAW HEAVEN – As Stephen was being killed because of his testimony, the Lord opened up heaven so that Stephen might see where he was soon going. I can imagine this sight gave him incredible comfort and strength as he faced certain death. We read in Acts 7:55-56, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” He saw the glory of God and saw His blessed savior standing beside God, waiting to receive him into glory.
• NO MORE TEARS OR SADNESS – Revelation 21:4-5 says, “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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Throughout eternity, all sadness, tears, and pain will forever be gone. Above all…what makes heaven so great? It’s because Christ is there! (236.2)