The scripture reading for our sermon this afternoon is found in Colossians 3, verses 1 and 2. This is the second in a series of messages on heaven. The title of this message, Where is Heaven? Colossians 3, 1 and 2. If ye then be risen with Christ, Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Now, in our previous message, we saw from God's word that heaven is a place. In John 14, two and three, the Lord Jesus said 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. Since heaven is a place, it must exist somewhere. Where is heaven? In what part of the universe is this happy place located? Unbelieving astronomers and scientists love to mockingly say that they have looked out into space or even have been out into space and they have never seen any evidence of heaven. Well, I have news for them. Science can tell us nothing of this glorious place called heaven. No telescope on earth can bring this glorious place within human view. No spaceship can travel to it. But it is ridiculous to say that something does not exist just because our eyes or our equipment cannot see it. GOD'S WORD SAYS THAT RIGHT NOW HEAVEN CANNOT BE SEEN WITH OUR HUMAN EYES. LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS 4, 18. 2 CORINTHIANS 4, 18. HERE GOD'S WORD SAYS THAT HEAVEN RIGHT NOW CANNOT BE SEEN WITH THE HUMAN EYES. while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Now turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verses 9 and 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verses 9 and 10. This is probably one of the most understood and misrepresented verses of Scripture in the whole Bible. There is a popular misinterpretation and misuse of this passage today. Again and again I have heard preachers at funerals read verse 9 here and commenting that this verse proves that we cannot know anything or at least not very much about heaven. The problem is these preachers don't go ahead and read verse 10, which says that God, by the working of His Holy Spirit, has revealed these things about heaven. Now let's read it, verses 9 and 10. But as it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. Most preachers stop right there. in reading this at funerals, but note the next verse. But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. So we know a lot more about heaven, we're told a lot more about it in the Word of God than many people lead us to believe. All that we know about heaven, God the Holy Spirit has revealed in God's holy written word. There's quite a bit of information in God's word about heaven and about where it is. We Christians can now see heaven only with the eye of faith. It's the only way we can see it. Look at Hebrews 11 and verse 1. Hebrews chapter 11 And verse 1, we can only see heaven right now with the eye of faith. Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By faith, we look at things unseen and eternal. We can see heaven right now by faith. Not with a telescope, not with the eye. As 2 Corinthians 5, 7 says, here in this world, we walk by faith and not by sight, but in heaven, this faith will be turned into sight. In the message this afternoon, we're going to look at how God's word answers the question, where is heaven? First of all, In answering this question, it's important for us to be aware of the fact that God's Word speaks of three heavens. God's Word speaks of three heavens. We need to be aware of this when we read God's Word or we won't have the proper understanding of what it says. We can be easily misled if we don't understand that there are three heavens in the Bible. The first of the three heavens of which God's Word speaks is the heaven of the air, the heaven of the air. And this is where the birds fly and the clouds drift. We sometimes call this the atmospheric heaven. The birds, the clouds, the rain, the hail, the snow, the thunder, and the lightning are in the first heaven, the atmospheric heaven. Look at Genesis 7.23. that speaks of this first heaven. Genesis 7 verse 23. And the flood is the subject here. Genesis 7 and verse 23. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground both man and cattle and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven." You know, there's not any birds up there where God is. This is talking about the atmospheric heaven. The fowl of the heaven. And they were destroyed from the earth, and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. Now turn to Matthew 24, 30. Matthew chapter 24 and verse 30. This speaks of the clouds of heaven. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. So that's the first heaven, the heaven, the atmospheric heaven, the heaven of the birds and the clouds. The second heaven of which God's Word speaks is the heaven of the stars and the planets. In God's Word, this heaven is sometimes called the firmament. Have you ever wondered what that word means in the Scriptures? It's talking about the second heaven, the firmament. This is what modern man calls space. Look at Genesis 15.5 here. Genesis 15 and verse 5. Now this is speaking of God and Abraham and God's covenant with Abraham. Genesis 15, 5. And he, God, brought him, Abraham, forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, or count the stars, if thou be able to number them. And he said, So shall thy seed be. The stars are in the second heaven. Now look at Genesis 22, 17. Genesis 22, verse 17. That in blessing, I will bless thee and in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven. It is the atmospheric heaven and the starry heaven that David is speaking of when he says in Psalm 19, 1, the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Then the third heaven of which God's word speaks is the heaven where God is. In second Corinthians 12, 2. Paul calls it the third heaven to distinguish it from this atmospheric heaven and the starry heaven. This heaven is beyond the clouds. This heaven is beyond the stars. Paul went to this third heaven and there the scripture says he heard words not lawful for him to repeat. Boy, wouldn't you like to hear those words tell about heaven? Turn to 2 Corinthians 12.2. We'll hear it some day. We'll see it. 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 2. Paul is speaking here. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago. He's talking about himself. 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. Now look down at verse 4 in that same chapter. Paul goes on to call this third heaven paradise. Look at verse 4. How that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Mortal eyes cannot see this third heaven. This is the heaven that is the subject of this series of sermons that I am preaching. Skeptics often mock Christians. I remember I heard this at the university. They mock us for believing in what they call a three-tiered universe, meaning the universe has three layers or three tiers. And they think that's funny and they mock us for that. Where is heaven? One thing we need to be to realize is the fact that heaven is always spoken of in God's Word as up. Heaven's always up. It's important to note that this third heaven at which we're looking in these messages is always spoken of in the Word of God as up. Now I want us to look at several examples of this and some other things to really nail this down. First turn to Exodus 20 and verse 4. Exodus chapter 20 and verse 4. This verse speaks of heaven as up. This is God's second commandment. Exodus 20 and verse 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above," there's the key word, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Now this has reference to all three heavens, heaven above. You're not to make an idol out of a bird, or a cloud, or a star, or a planet, or a constellation. or an angel. Now turn to Joshua 2 and verse 11. Joshua chapter 2 and verse 11. Here Rahab spoke of heaven as being up. She was telling the Hebrew spies why she was helping them and she says in Joshua 2.11, And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of you. For the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. There again the reference is up. Now turn to 2 Kings 2.11. 2 Kings chapter Chapter 2 and verse 11. This scripture tells us how Elijah went to heaven. And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Now turn to Psalm 14 verses 2 and 3. Psalm 14, 2 and 3 tell us that God looks down from heaven. He looks down, meaning He's up. Psalm 14, 2 and 3, the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside. They are all together become filthy. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. So God is pictured as looking down from heaven. Now turn to Isaiah 14. Isaiah 14 and verse 13. And this is Satan speaking, and he talks about going up into heaven. Isaiah 14, 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend or go up into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. Heaven is up. Now turn to John 6, 38. These next few references get even stronger in expressing the fact that heaven is up. John 6, 38. The Lord Jesus refers to himself here as coming down from heaven. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Next look at John 8. And verse 23, just a couple of pages over, John 8, 23, the Lord Jesus spoke of heaven from where He came as being above. And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath, I am from above. Ye are of this world, I am not of this world. Next, turn to Matthew 3, 16 and 17. Matthew 3, 16 and 17 says that the Holy Spirit descended on the Lord Jesus from heaven at the Lord's baptism. Matthew 3, 16 and 17, And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him. And He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, or coming down. like a dove, and lighting upon him, and, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Not only that, the Lord Jesus ascended back to heaven. And the scripture says in Luke 24, 51, that He was carried up into heaven. Let's look at that, Luke 24, 51. Luke 24 verse 51. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Next turn to Acts chapter 1 and verse 9. Acts 1-9 refers to the same event when it says the Lord was taken up. Acts 1-9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. In 2 Corinthians 12-2 that we read earlier, Paul, when he received God's special revelations, was caught up into this third heaven. So, and I believe there are maybe 200 references to heaven being up in the scriptures. So we know from scripture that heaven is up and therefore it is somewhere away from this planet. Now significantly, I don't know if you've thought about this or not, but Any direction from this earth is up. Ever think about that? The earth is a ball, and up is that way, up is that way, up is that way. Any direction from the earth is up. And up from Kansas City is a different direction than, say, up from Rio, Brazil, or up from Chiang Mai, Thailand. According to God's Word, heaven is up, somewhere out there beyond space. And by the way, hell is always spoken of in God's Word as down. For example, Proverbs 9, 18 says, and this verse is speaking of the adulterous woman. It says, but he knoweth not that the dead are there, that is in the house of this immoral and that her guests are in the depths of hell. Depth meaning down. And 2 Peter 2 verse 4 says, God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment. Now, I don't know, you know, you shouldn't go beyond what the Word of God says, but I These verses and many others that refer to hell as hell are what cause many Bible students to believe that hell is actually in the heart of the earth someplace. So, where is heaven? God's Word says next that heaven is where God is. Heaven is where God is. The scriptures tell us that God is omnipresent. He's everywhere. But it also tells us that His presence is especially manifested in heaven, in a place, in heaven. Heaven is where the glorious manifestation of God abides. Turn to 1 Kings chapter 8 and verse 30. 1 Kings 8 and verse 30. This also speaks of heaven as God's dwelling place. 1 Kings 8 and verse 30. Solomon in this verse is praying to God at the dedication of the temple. And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place, that is the temple, and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place. And when thou hearest, forgive. So God's presence is manifested especially in heaven. Now turn to Matthew 5 16. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 16. Here the Lord Jesus says that God the Father is in heaven. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Now the Lord Jesus says that God the Father is in heaven. Matthew 6, 9. Since you're close by there, just turn the page and look at Matthew 6, 9. The Lord Jesus teaches us here to PRAY to the Father in heaven. After this manner, therefore, pray ye, Our Father which art in heaven. Turn to Psalm 11 and verse 4. This says that God's throne is in heaven. God actually has a throne and it's located in heaven. 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. Now look at Acts 7, 49. Acts chapter 7, verse 49. Stephen is speaking here and he says that God's throne is in heaven. He is quoting God in Isaiah 66 here. Actually, Stephen is preaching and he quotes God from Isaiah 66. But in Acts 7, verse 49, he says, HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL. WHAT HOUSE WILL YE BUILD ME, SAITH THE LORD, OR WHAT IS THE PLACE OF MY REST? One other reference here, Matthew 3, verse 17. We've already read this. But it says that at the Lord's baptism, the voice of God the Father came from heaven. Because it says, and lo, a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Thirdly, heaven is where the souls of the dead saints are at this moment. Heaven is where the saved who have died are. HEAVEN IS THE HOME OF THE SOULS OF THE REDEEMED WHO HAVE DIED. THE SOULS OF ALL BELIEVERS WHO HAVE DIED ARE THERE TODAY. LOOK AT HEBREWS 12, 22, AND 23. HEBREWS CHAPTER 12, VERSES 22 AND 23. PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT HEAVEN HERE. But ye are come unto Mount Sinai, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." So in heaven we have the spirits of just men who are just men, justified men, men who are CONSIDERED BY GOD AS JUST BECAUSE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST HAS BEEN CREDITED TO THEIR ACCOUNT. NOW TURN TO LUKE 16 AND VERSE 22. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HEAVEN IS WHERE THE SOULS OF DEAD SAINTS ARE. LUKE 16 AND VERSE 22. THE LORD JESUS SAYS HERE THAT WHEN THE BIGGER LAZARUS DIED, He went to heaven. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. Remember that first message? We recognize that Abraham's bosom was one of the names the Bible gives heaven. The rich man also died and was buried. Heaven is where the soul of the repentant thief went when he died from the side of Christ there on the cross. Look at Luke 23, verse 43. Luke 23, verse 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. So when that thief died, he went immediately into the presence of God and went into heaven. The souls of the saints who have died are now in heaven, waiting for the resurrection of their bodies when the Lord Jesus comes again. And then those souls will be reunited with those bodies and they will be forever in heaven, body and soul. Where is heaven? Next, the Lord Jesus tells us in Matthew 6, 19-21 that heaven is where the Christians' treasures are. Heaven is where the Christians' treasures are. Turn to Matthew, I've forgotten where that was, Matthew 6. I'm sure you'll recognize it when I read it. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Heaven is where our treasures are. You got any treasures in heaven? Got any gold laid up there? Got any wealth laid up there? Next, where is heaven? Most important of all, heaven is where Christ is. Turn to Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 14. Hebrews 4, 14. This scripture tells us that Christ is passed into the heavens. Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Now that could apply to all three of the heavens. He's passed into them. When He left earth, He went through the atmospheric heavens and then through the starry heavens and finally into the third heaven at last. Turn to Mark 16, 19 for the next reference. Mark chapter 16 and verse 19 says that Christ was received up into heaven and sat down on the right hand of God. Matthew 16 verse 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. That's where He is right now. He's seated on the right hand of God. Our text in Colossians 3, 1 and 2 says that WE CHRISTIANS ARE TO SET OUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. Let me read that again. IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. Now turn to 1 Peter 3, 21 and 22. 1st Peter 3, 21 and 22. Tells us where Christ is. Heaven is where Christ is. 1st Peter 3, 21 and 22. The like figure, whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ WHO IS GONE INTO HEAVEN AND IS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, ANGELS AND AUTHORITIES AND POWERS BEING MADE SUBJECT UNTO HIM. Look at Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 9. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 9. You should have read this in your daily Bible readings today if you're reading through the Bible with us on this particular program this year. Ephesians 6, 9. He's telling children to obey their parents and employees or servants to obey their masters. And then he says in verse 9, And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your master, that's Christ, also is in heaven. Turn next to Hebrews 9, 24. Hebrews 9, 24. This scripture says that Christ has gone to heaven in order to appear before God for His people. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. I'll turn over just a couple pages back to Hebrews chapter 6 and verse 20. This is speaking of the same thing when it says that in entering heaven Christ is the FORERUNNER of His elect. Hebrews 6.20. The writer is speaking of the Holy of Holies in heaven here when he says Whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. So Christ has entered into heaven, into the Holy of Holies. According to John 14, 2 and 3, Jesus Christ is now in heaven preparing the many mansions for His people. Let me read it again. 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." Look at Acts 3, 20 and 21. Acts chapter 3, verses 20 and 21 says that Christ has been received into heaven. and will remain there until He comes back to the earth someday. Acts 3, 20 and 21. And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive until the time of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. in whatever part of the universe heaven is located, that is where Christ is today in His resurrected body. The scriptures also tell us that someday Jesus Christ will come back from heaven. Turn to 1 Thessalonians 4, 16. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 16 says, 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 16, For the LORD Himself shall descend from heaven, or come down from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. So before He comes back, He's in heaven. Now look at Philippians 3, verse 20. That's two or three pages back. where our conversation or our manner of living is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. One more reference. 1 Thessalonians 1 10. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 10 says that Christians are now waiting for Christ to come back from heaven. and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." So, in conclusion, where is heaven? We do not know the exact physical location of this place because we're not told in God's Word. But by faith we know THAT HEAVEN EXISTS SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE GOD'S WORD SAYS IT DOES, AND WE ARE WAITING FOR HEAVEN WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION. WHAT PRACTICAL APPLICATION CAN WE MAKE OF ALL THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY? FOR ONE THING, LET US THINK OF HEAVEN AND HEAVENLY THINGS. in the scriptures ought to cause us to think a lot about heaven and heavenly things. The proper object of our thoughts is heaven and heavenly things, things future and invisible. Look at our text again in Colossians chapter 3 and verse 2, Colossians 3, 2, which says, set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. The more we come to know about heaven, the more we will become weaned from the world. Setting our affections on heaven serves as a check on being consumed with earthly riches and glory. Isn't it easy to just get bogged down on the job and savings and all the things of this earth? our thoughts on heaven, serves as an anchor to keep us from being swept away by the desire for earthly fulfillment. Let us pray. Now, Father, we're thankful for Your Holy Word and what it tells us about heaven. We're grateful that heaven is a place, a real place, and that it is at least we know that it's up from the earth. And, Father, we pray that You'd help us to think about it all of those wonderful things that are there, especially about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank you for the opportunity of looking into this great subject today and in all these messages. We pray these things in Christ Jesus' holy name and for His sake. Amen.