Where is heaven? Does heaven have a specific location?
The location of heaven is something about which many have asked. The Bible assumes heaven is a real place and mentions it often. But where is heaven? In 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, the apostle Paul referred to this heaven or "paradise" as a heavenly realm or as the "third heaven." This location was separate from the first heaven (the skies above) and the second heaven (the expanse of outer space). This is the heaven where God dwells.Because God is spirit (John 4:24), it could be said that the heaven where God dwells exists on a separate plane than we currently do. Jesus, of course, in His resurrection body is in heaven. Too, angels and deceased believers are in this heaven with God; as God's creation, they exist in time and space. So heaven is not completely non-physical, but it is not in a location in our physical universe. While the location of heaven is unobservable to living beings on earth at present, the Bible describes a final state of existence in which there will be a new heaven, new earth, and new heavenly city (Revelation 21—22). At this future time, all of God's people will dwell with Him in this new realm for all eternity.
What else do we know about the current heaven where God dwells? Hebrews 11 indicates that the believers of the past are already there with God. The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 teaches, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Heaven is the place of the Father where His name is revered, His kingdom reigns, and His will is done.
Job 1 and 2 offer some additional information regarding what heaven is like. Job 1:6-12 notes that at least at one time Satan had access to come before God and His holy angels and make requests of Him. This heavenly realm is also mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-18 as the realm in which the spiritual forces of evil exist. This does not mean there are evil spirits in heaven, but that there is a spiritual realm in which heaven exists as well as hell and evil spiritual forces.
Revelation 4 offers a vision of the apostle John entering heaven through a door in the sky. He then finds himself in heaven before the throne of the Lord. Again, this is a vision in which John is in the spiritual realm beyond this world. No other identifying location was mentioned, though there were times when references were made of looking down at what was taking place on earth. Where is heaven? According to Revelation 7:1-4, heaven is clearly beyond the earth and larger than the earth since the angels were standing at the four corners of the earth.
So where is heaven? Heaven exists in a realm in which God is present, along with angels, believers, and other creatures apart from the sinful curse of the world. This heavenly realm will one day transition into a final state that includes a new heaven, new earth, and new heavenly city where God and His children will dwell forever (Revelation 21—22).
Is heaven real?
How can I be sure that when I die I will go to heaven?
Does the Bible tell us what Heaven is like?
In heaven, will we have physical bodies?
What happens after death?
Truth about Eternity
