Ask God About Heaven - I Thess 4:13-18

3 heavens
Paradise
Abraham’s bosom
New Heaven and New Earth
New Jerusalem
Milk and honey
Angel wings
Streets of gold
Dwelling place of God

Intro: Why do we think about Heaven? Is our interest in heaven based upon how it looks, where it is at, what it is called, or the quality and type of existence in heaven? Anytime the subject is broached, there is no lack of excitement or expertise on display. Hebrew culture speaks of three heavens; the sky, the planets, and the presence of God. ‘Paradise’ is a Syrian word which paints a picture of a large park-like place. Jesus spoke to the thief from the cross and promised him of the certainty of this place. “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The place of the righteous dead was also known as Abraham’s bosom.

Most conversations about heaven are centered around facts that really are not. Nearly every movie made seems to contribute more authority to these conversations than the Bible does. What a movie says, or portrays, should not significantly influence what is believed or known about heaven, but many times these movies do. Floating clouds, beautiful angels, harps, and white robes are all props which are seen as things of comfort. The reason for this is that these movies and all conversations about heaven have one purpose. They attempt to give a happy ending or answer to the question that torments every person that has ever breathed the air of life. What happens when it is all over. Mankind may know many things, and is capable of learning many more. But among the multitude of unknown facts that haunt mankind is the glaring reality of ignorance which continues to raise its ugly head concerning death.

Death is a reality. No living thing looks into the face of death and says, “You don’t scare me. You have no control over me. I am staying here forever.” To all people, the closest thing to guaranteed eternity is that of memories. They soon fade. So, conversations and speculations about heaven are very much like the little boy who whistles as he passes the cemetery at night. It is not how heaven looks that concerns us. It is the fear that we are all like Rover. Because, when he dies, he dies all over.

Our heavenly Father knows that. He knows that because of our nature, our frailty, the short span of our lives, and the witness of everyone who leaves us in death, we seek comfort in our descriptions and discussions of heaven. The real desire which flames our desperate search for heaven is not aesthetic but fear.
The Hebrew word for grave, SHEOL, has a literal meaning of gaping hole. This hole takes their loved ones and never gives back. HADES is the nether world where both the righteous and unrighteous dwell. In this text, we see how God has answered those fears through His Son who will return to receive His own and take them to be in the Presence of the Perfect Father to dwell with Him Permanently. We find three assuring facts about heaven and what it means to us.

I. Heaven is in the Presence of God
Death
Separation
No Absence
II. Heaven is Perfect
Paradise Lost
Nothing lasts
Everything Dies
In this world nothing is sure but death and taxes
III. Heaven is Permanent
There is a truth. Pretty much, all change is resisted.
We get into our comfort zone. In this life, we yearn to live in a rut. But the rut still changes. It just gets deeper.

Only in the presence of a truly perfect God, do we reach true permanence.