"Where is Heaven?" people may ask. There are a variety of answers given, but many of these answers miss the mark. The athiest says Heaven is something outside of reality. The modernist says Heaven is only in the mind. The religious radicals say Heaven is only here on earth. So where is Heaven? Let's look to the Bible.
Acts 17:27 tells us that God is not far far every one of us. Then we know that God is in Heaven. The conclusion that we must draw is that Heaven is not far from us.
How close people are to Heaven is found in their relationship to Christ and their relationship to the church. Do you want to go to Heaven? Then consider your relationship to Christ and to the church.
The church is the entance hall to Heaven. In the Old Law, the tabernacle contained the Holy Place which housed the table of shewbread, the altar of incense and the candlestick. Once each year, the high priest passed through the Holy Place and into the Most Holy Place. Similarly, Christ has entered into Heaven for His church.
In the Old Testament, the house of God = the gate of Heaven
In the New Testament, the house of God = the churchThe church is the gate of Heaven. What is your relationship to the church - the gate of Heaven? (1 Timothy 3:15)
Can a person enter into Heaven without passing through the gate of Heaven? No. Can a person enter into Heaven without entering via the church? No.
How far is Heaven? It is a far as the church. The church is the kingdom of Heaven on earth. When John the baptist began to preach, what was his message? It was "repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." When Jesus began preaching, He gave the same message. They were not speaking of God's eternal abode, but rather they spoke of something closely associated with Heaven - something from Heaven which would exist on the earth. They called it the kingdom - the church.
The church = the kingdom (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9). This kingdom, which is in this world, will someday be delivered up to God (1 Corinthians 15:24).
How far is Heaven? It is only as far as the kingdom of Heaven on earth. Are you a part of that kingdom? How close are you to the church? Have you been added to that church by what is required - obedience to the gospel of Christ? (Acts 2:47)
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
