In the quiet moments of our lives, a question often whispers in our hearts: \u201cWhere is my true home?\u201d This longing is not a sign of weakness, my friends. It is a beautiful and holy sign that our hearts were made for God. The great Saint Augustine, who knew this restlessness so well, prayed to the Lord, \u201cour hearts are restless until they rest in you\u201d.\u00b9 This journey we take together today is not with a map and compass to find a location with faith and hope to understand a promise\u2014the promise of heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will not find a physical address for heaven in the pages of Scripture. This is not an oversight by our loving God. In His wisdom, God wants to teach us something far more powerful. He wants us to see that heaven is less about a plaats<\/em> and more about a Persoon<\/em>: our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the one who has gone to prepare a place for us, and He Himself is the way to that home.\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n So let us set aside our anxieties and our earthly ways of thinking. Let us explore this beautiful mystery with the gentleness of the Holy Spirit, finding comfort in God\u2019s promises and joy in the glorious destiny He has prepared for all who love Him.\u2074<\/p>\n\n\n\n This first part of our journey helps us gently unwrap the mystery of heaven. We will move from our simple, human questions to a deeper, more spiritual understanding that can bring peace to our hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We must begin with the words of Jesus, for they are the anchor for our souls. In the Gospel of John, on a night filled with sorrow and confusion, Jesus gave his friends a promise that echoes through the centuries: \u201cLet not your hearts be troubled\u2026 In my Father\u2019s house are many rooms\u2026 I go to prepare a place for you\u201d (John 14:1-2).\u2075 This is not just beautiful poetry or a metaphor for a feeling. Jesus, who came to us from heaven, speaks of it as a real, existing place. It is His Father\u2019s house, and He is there preparing it for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice the beautiful, tender language our Lord uses: \u201cMy Father\u2019s house\u201d.\u2079 He does not say \u201ca distant galaxy\u201d or \u201canother universe.\u201d He uses the image of a home, a place of warmth, intimacy, and welcome. This tells us something very important. The reality of heaven is fundamentally relational. It is the place where we will dwell with our Father forever, received with the warmth of an embrace. The way the Bible speaks of heaven is a powerful pastoral gift. When we ask, \u201cWhere is heaven?\u201d often what our hearts are truly asking is, \u201cWill I be safe? Will I be with those I love? Will I finally be home?\u201d The Lord answers this deeper cry not with cosmic coordinates with the promise of His Father\u2019s house, a promise that speaks directly to our need for love and belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Scripture affirms heaven is a real place, it never gives us a location on a map.\u00b2 We will not find it with powerful telescopes or deep space probes. This is intentional. God, in His wisdom, wants us to seek the manier<\/em> to heaven, not the locatie<\/em> of heaven. The Bible consistently speaks of heaven as a realm that exists beyond our physical world, a dimension not bound by our limited understanding of time and space.\u2075 Perhaps the simplest and most powerful answer to our question is this: \u201cheaven is where God is\u201d.\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we read the Bible, we often see heaven described as being \u201cup.\u201d Jesus ascended \u201cup\u201d into heaven, and the angels told the disciples He would return in the same way (Acts 1:9-11).\u00b2 He taught us to lift our eyes and our hearts when we pray to \u201cOur Father who art in heaven\u201d.\u00b9\u2074 This language is beautiful and true it speaks a spiritual truth, not a scientific one. In the language of the human heart, \u201cup\u201d is the direction of honor, of majesty, of looking toward God. It is the posture of reverence, lifting our gaze from our earthly troubles to our Creator\u2019s throne.\u00b9\u2076<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help us understand this, some thinkers, looking at Scripture, have spoken of three \u201cheavens\u201d.\u00b9\u2074 The first heaven is the sky right above us, the atmosphere where the birds fly and the clouds drift. The second is the cosmos, the vast expanse of the sun, moon, and stars that declare God\u2019s glory. But the \u201cthird heaven,\u201d which the Apostle Paul also called \u201cparadise,\u201d is something entirely different. It is God\u2019s unique dwelling place, the realm Paul was \u201ccaught up\u201d into, a place of such wonder that he could not even speak of what he heard there (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). This is the heaven our hearts long for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, heaven is not simply \u201cup\u201d in the way a mountain is up. It is, as some theologians suggest, on a different \u201cplane\u201d or in a different \u201cdimension\u201d of reality.\u00b2 Think of it not as a distant planet millions of light-years away as a reality that is all around us, yet hidden from our eyes. It is like God\u2019s control room for the world, a spiritual dimension that can and does intersect with our own.\u00b2\u2070 This intersection happened most perfectly and beautifully in the person of Jesus Christ, when heaven came down to earth and dwelt among us.\u00b9\u2079<\/p>\n\n\n\n We must be careful not to create false choices where God has made a beautiful unity. If you ask, \u201cIs a marriage a piece of paper, or is it a state of love?\u201d the answer is that it is both, and one gives meaning to the other. So it is with heaven. It is both a \u201cplace\u201d and a \u201cstate of being,\u201d and we lose the fullness of the promise if we discard one for the other.\u00b2\u00b9<\/p>\n\n\n\n At its very heart, heaven is a staat<\/em> of being. It is the state of perfect, unending, joyful communion with the Holy Trinity\u2014the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.\u00b2\u00b9 This is what the great theologians of our like Saint Augustine, called the \u201cBeatific Vision\u201d\u2014the supreme happiness of seeing God \u201cface to face\u201d (1 Corinthians 13:12).\u00b2\u2074 In this vision, every longing of the human soul is finally and completely satisfied. Augustine wrote that in heaven, God Himself will be \u201cthe end of our desires\u2026 Seen without end, loved without sting, praised without weariness\u201d (<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stad van God<\/em>).\u00b2\u2074 This intimate, loving relationship with God is the true substance of heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this is not the whole story. God did not create us to be disembodied spirits, floating in an abstract reality. He created us as whole persons, body and soul. Our ultimate hope, therefore, is not just for our souls to be with God for the \u201cresurrection of the body\u201d.\u00b2\u2079 This is the key that unlocks the mystery. Jesus rose from the dead with a real, physical, yet glorified body, and He promises the same for us. A body, even a glorified one, needs a place to exist. Therefore, heaven must also be a<\/p>\n\n\n\n plaats<\/em>. Our final home is a renewed and glorified creation\u2014what the Bible calls a \u201cNew Heaven and a New Earth\u201d\u2014a real, tangible home prepared for our new, glorified bodies.\u00b3\u00b9 This promise of a resurrected body in a renewed world affirms the goodness of the physical world God made. He will not discard it; He will redeem it. Our hope is for the whole person\u2014body and soul\u2014to live with God in a real, perfected home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our modern world, we hear many stories of people who have had \u201cnear-death experiences,\u201d or NDEs.\u2074\u2078 Some have written books and shared powerful testimonies of what they saw and felt when they were on the very threshold between life and death.\u2075\u00b9<\/p>\n\n\n\n How should we, as Christians, approach these stories? We must do so with pastoral care and great wisdom. These personal experiences are not a new Bible; our faith rests on the solid rock of Scripture alone.\u2074\u2079 But we should not be quick to dismiss them. The Apostle Paul himself spoke with great humility of being \u201ccaught up to the third heaven,\u201d an experience so powerful he could not fully explain it (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).\u2075\u2078 When these modern stories echo the truths of the Bible, they can be a powerful gift from God, a personal reminder that what He has promised is real. They can function like modern-day parables. Jesus did not give theological lectures to the crowds; he told stories about farming and fishing to help them understand the Kingdom of God. In the same way, these personal stories of near-death experiences can help our modern minds, which so often value personal experience, grasp the spiritual truths of God\u2019s love and the reality of life beyond death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is beautiful to see that across so many of these stories, whether from a nurse, a doctor, or an ordinary person, we hear a common refrain. They speak of an overwhelming feeling of peace that erases all fear. They describe being bathed in a brilliant, loving light and feeling an all-encompassing love.\u2074\u2078 Many tell of seeing a beautiful city or a magnificent garden, and of being joyfully reunited with loved ones who had gone before them.\u2075\u00b2 These are not proofs they are beautiful, personal echoes of what the Book of Revelation promises: a city of light where God\u2019s love reigns and there are no more tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many Christians have been taught that our ultimate goal is to escape this world and \u201cgo to heaven.\u201d But the Bible\u2019s final promise is even more wonderful and surprising. As the great scholar N.T. Wright reminds us, the ultimate Christian hope is not just life na<\/em> death life na<\/em> life after death.\u2074\u2077<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final chapter of the Bible does not show us flying away from earth. It shows the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, \u201ccoming down out of heaven from God\u201d to rest upon a renewed and redeemed earth (Revelation 21:2).\u2075\u2077 Heaven and earth, which were separated by sin, will finally and forever be united. God\u2019s own dwelling place will be with His people, right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is our ultimate destiny: to live in resurrected, glorified bodies in a world that has been washed clean and made new. God will not abandon His beautiful creation; He will redeem it completely.\u2076\u00b3 This is the final and glorious answer to the prayer Jesus himself taught us to pray: \u201cThy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven<\/em>\u201c.\u2076\u2074 This hope gives our lives on earth immense purpose and dignity. We are not just waiting to leave; we are \u201cbuilding for the kingdom,\u201d participating in God\u2019s work of healing, justice, and restoration right now.\u2076\u00b3 Every act of love, every work of beauty, every deed of mercy is a foretaste of the new creation to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question of measuring the distance between heaven and earth touches upon the very limits of human understanding and the nature of our relationship with the divine. As we reflect on this, we must approach the matter with both scientific curiosity and spiritual humility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a purely physical perspective, we might be tempted to equate heaven with the vast expanse of the cosmos that surrounds our planet. Throughout history, humans have looked to the skies as the dwelling place of the divine. The Psalmist declares, \u201cThe heavens declare the glory of God\u201d (Psalm 19:1). But we must be cautious about conflating the physical heavens with the spiritual reality of God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our modern scientific understanding has revealed a universe of incomprehensible scale. We now know that the observable universe extends for billions of light-years in all directions. Yet, even as we marvel at these cosmic distances, we must remember that they do not bring us any closer to measuring the distance to the spiritual realm we call heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Scriptures, in their wisdom, do not provide us with a cosmic map or celestial GPS coordinates for heaven. Instead, they speak of heaven in relational terms. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray, \u201cOur Father, who art in heaven\u201d (Matthew 6:9), emphasizing not a spatial distance, but a spiritual connection. The prophet Isaiah reminds us of God\u2019s transcendence: \u201cFor my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts\u201d (Isaiah 55:8-9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychologically we can understand the desire to measure the distance to heaven as a manifestation of our human need for certainty and control. We live in a world where nearly everything can be quantified and mapped, and it\u2019s natural to want to apply this same approach to spiritual realities. But this desire can also reflect a misunderstanding of the nature of our relationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, we see how different cultures and epochs have attempted to conceptualize the distance between heaven and earth. Ancient cosmologies often depicted a series of celestial spheres, with the divine realm at the outermost edge. Medieval Christian thinkers, influenced by Neoplatonic philosophy, sometimes spoke of a \u201cgreat chain of being\u201d stretching from earth to heaven. These models, while no longer scientifically tenable, reflect the persistent human desire to bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our modern era, we might be tempted to dismiss the question of heaven\u2019s distance as meaningless. Yet, I believe it still holds powerful spiritual significance. Perhaps the true measure of the distance between heaven and earth is not found in light-years or parsecs, but in the degree to which our hearts are aligned with God\u2019s will. As Saint Augustine famously wrote, \u201cYou have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this light, we can understand the distance to heaven not as a spatial measurement, but as a spiritual journey. It is a distance crossed not by rockets or spaceships, but by prayer, love, and acts of mercy. As we contemplate this mystery, let us remember that while heaven may be beyond our ability to measure, God\u2019s love reaches across any distance to touch our hearts and transform our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet, Jesus also spoke of heaven in terms that implied distance or futurity. In the Lord\u2019s Prayer, He taught His disciples to pray, \u201cYour kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven\u201d (Matthew 6:10). This suggests a distinction between the heavenly realm where God\u2019s will is perfectly realized and our earthly existence where it is not yet fully manifest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus often used parables to describe the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to seeds growing, yeast leavening bread, or a pearl of great price (Matthew 13). These metaphors imply a process, a gradual unfolding or discovery of heaven\u2019s reality, rather than an instantaneous arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychologically we can understand this tension between nearness and distance as reflecting the human experience of the divine. We have moments of powerful spiritual intimacy, where heaven seems to touch earth, and other times when God feels distant and heaven seems far away. Jesus\u2019 teachings validate both of these experiences while calling us to live in the light of heaven\u2019s reality regardless of our emotional state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, we see how Jesus\u2019 teachings about heaven challenged the prevailing Jewish expectations of His time. Many were looking for a political messiah who would establish God\u2019s kingdom through military might. Instead, Jesus proclaimed a kingdom that was already present in His person and ministry, yet would find its full realization in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important to note that Jesus often spoke of heaven (or the kingdom of heaven) as a present reality within the believer. He declared, \u201cThe kingdom of God is within you\u201d (Luke 17:21), suggesting that heaven is not merely a future destination but a transformative power that can work in our lives here and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Jesus clearly taught about a future, eschatological dimension of heaven. He spoke of preparing a place for His followers (John 14:2-3) and of a coming judgment when the full reality of God\u2019s reign would be established (Matthew 25:31-46).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus presented heaven as both near and far, both present and future. This paradoxical teaching invites us to live in a state of \u201calready but not yet,\u201d experiencing the reality of God\u2019s kingdom in the present while eagerly anticipating its full realization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the earliest and most influential views came from Saint Irenaeus of Lyons in the 2nd century. He emphasized the goodness of God\u2019s creation and saw the relationship between heaven and earth as part of a divine plan for the maturation and perfection of humanity. Irenaeus spoke of a \u201crecapitulation\u201d in Christ, through which all things in heaven and on earth would be brought together under one head. This view presented a dynamic relationship between heaven and earth, with Christ as the bridge uniting the two realms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Origen of Alexandria, writing in the 3rd century, offered a more allegorical interpretation. He saw the physical world as a symbol of spiritual realities and viewed the journey from earth to heaven as primarily an interior, spiritual ascent. For Origen, heaven was less a place than a state of being in perfect communion with God. This perspective emphasized the spiritual continuity between earthly and heavenly existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saint Augustine, in the 4th and 5th centuries, developed a powerful theology of the \u201cTwo Cities\u201d \u2013 the City of God and the City of Man. Although these were not strictly equated with heaven and earth, Augustine\u2019s concept highlighted the interpenetration of heavenly and earthly realities in human history. He saw the Church as a sacrament of heaven on earth, a visible sign of the invisible reality of God\u2019s kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychologically we can see in these early teachings a recognition of humanity\u2019s dual nature \u2013 beings of both spirit and matter, citizens of both heaven and earth. The Fathers grappled with how to understand and live out this complex identity, offering guidance that still resonates with our modern experiences of feeling caught between two worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, the early Church Fathers were writing in a context where Gnostic and Neo-Platonic philosophies often denigrated the material world in favor of purely spiritual realities. Many of the Fathers, therefore, emphasized the goodness of creation and the ultimate redemption of the physical world, not just human souls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saint John Chrysostom, known for his eloquent preaching, often spoke of how Christians could make earth like heaven through their actions. He exhorted his congregation: \u201cFor nothing prevents us from having our conversation in heaven even Although we walk on earth.\u201d This perspective saw heaven not as a distant realm, but as a reality that could be partially realized in the present through virtuous living and communion with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cappadocian Fathers \u2013 Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus \u2013 developed a rich theology of deification or theosis. This concept saw the relationship between heaven and earth in terms of humanity\u2019s gradual transformation into the likeness of God. Gregory of Nyssa described this as an eternal progress, an ever-deepening participation in the divine life that begins on earth and continues in heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a scientific perspective, our universe is vast beyond comprehension. Astronomers have discovered billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars, stretching across distances measured in light-years. This cosmic expanse reminds us of the psalmist\u2019s words: \u201cThe heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands\u201d (Psalm 19:1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it would be a mistake to equate the physical universe with the spiritual realm of heaven. As Jesus taught us, \u201cThe kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, \u2018Look, here it is!\u2019 or \u2018There it is!\u2019 For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you\u201d (Luke 17:20-21). This suggests that heaven\u2019s \u201clocation\u201d may not be a physical place at all, but a state of being or a dimension beyond our current perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern physics has revealed the existence of dimensions beyond the three spatial dimensions and one time dimension we experience in our daily lives. String theory, for instance, proposes the existence of multiple dimensions beyond our perception. Although these theories are not direct evidence of heaven, they remind us that reality may be far more complex than what we can observe with our senses or scientific instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neuroscience and psychology have also provided insights into altered states of consciousness and near-death experiences. Although these phenomena do not prove the existence of heaven, they suggest that human consciousness may be capable of perceiving realities beyond our normal waking state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically we see that human understanding of the cosmos has evolved dramatically over time. Ancient cosmologies often placed heaven in the sky or above a dome covering the earth. As our knowledge of the universe expanded, so too did our conception of heaven\u2019s possible \u201clocation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I urge you not to limit your understanding of heaven to a physical location that can be pinpointed or measured. Instead, let us embrace the mystery of heaven as a spiritual reality that intersects with our world in ways we may not fully comprehend. St. Paul reminds us, \u201cFor now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known\u201d (1 Corinthians 13:12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The diversity of beliefs among Christians regarding the proximity of heaven reflects the richness and complexity of our faith tradition. This variation in perspectives stems from multiple sources: scriptural interpretation, personal experiences, cultural influences, and theological traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who believe heaven is close often draw inspiration from passages such as Jesus\u2019 proclamation that \u201cthe kingdom of heaven has come near\u201d (Matthew 4:17). This nearness is understood not necessarily in spatial terms, but in terms of accessibility and immediacy. The idea of heaven\u2019s closeness can provide comfort and a sense of God\u2019s immanence in our daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychologically, the belief in a close heaven can foster a sense of divine presence and support, particularly during times of hardship. It aligns with the concept of God as a loving, ever-present Father, ready to hear our prayers and intervene in our lives. This perspective can lead to a more intimate and personal relationship with the divine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, we see examples of Christian mystics and saints who experienced powerful encounters with the divine, suggesting a thin veil between earthly and heavenly realms. St. Teresa of Avila\u2019s interior castle and St. Francis of Assisi\u2019s stigmata are but two examples of experiences that seemed to bridge the gap between heaven and earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, those who view heaven as distant often emphasize its otherness and transcendence. They may point to passages like Isaiah 55:9, \u201cFor as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.\u201d This perspective underscores the vast difference between our fallen world and the perfection of heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conceiving heaven as distant can reinforce the idea of it as a goal to strive towards, motivating believers to live righteously in anticipation of a future reward. It can also provide a framework for understanding the apparent absence of divine intervention in the face of earthly suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, the concept of a distant heaven has been influenced by Platonic philosophy, which posits a perfect realm of forms separate from the material world. This idea was incorporated into Christian thought by theologians like St. Augustine, shaping Western Christianity\u2019s understanding of heaven for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cultural factors also play a role in these differing perspectives. Societies with a more immanent view of the divine may tend towards a \u201cclose heaven\u201d theology, while those emphasizing divine transcendence may lean towards a more distant conception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These perspectives are not mutually exclusive. Many Christians hold a nuanced view that embraces both the immanence and transcendence of heaven. I encourage you to reflect on how both perspectives can enrich your faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tension between these views reflects the paradoxical nature of our relationship with God \u2013 at once intimate and beyond comprehension. As St. Augustine beautifully expressed, \u201cGod is closer to us than we are to ourselves, and yet higher than our highest thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have come to the end of our journey together, and we arrive at the simple, beautiful, and powerful answer. After all our questions about where heaven is, we return to Jesus. When the disciple Thomas, full of honest doubt, said, \u201cLord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?\u201d, Jesus did not give him a map. He gave him Himself. \u201cI am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me\u201d (John 14:5-6).\u00b2<\/p>\n\n\n\n The way to heaven is not a set of complicated rules, a secret password, or a reward for being a good person. The way to heaven is a living, loving relationship with Jesus Christ.\u00b3 To follow Him, to trust Him, to love Him, to imitate His life of service and humility\u2014this is the path that leads directly to the Father\u2019s house. He is our compass for reaching our true homeland.\u00b9\u2070<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us not be overwhelmed by the present. Let us look up. Let us remember our destination. We are made for heaven.\u00b3 Let this hope be an anchor for your soul, firm and secure, as the Letter to the Hebrews tells us, and as I have reminded you before.\u2074 Let this hope purify you. Let it give you courage in times of trial and overflowing joy in times of blessing. And know, with a certainty that does not disappoint, that the God who loves you has prepared a place for you, and He is waiting to welcome you home with the warmth of an eternal embrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. And may He give you His peace, now and forever. Amen.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ontdek bijbelse perspectieven op de locatie van de hemel, de spirituele en fysieke aard ervan en inzichten van vroege kerkvaders tot de moderne wetenschap.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-18595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-mysteries"],"mb":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/api.robolly.com\/templates\/656df2bd6a094828c339896d\/render.jpg?dl&scale=1&image=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianpure.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fblogimg%2Fpainting_of_an_obscure_apostle_deep_in_prayer_2.1_ffb63_01367.webp&titleBG=%23006073E6&title=How%20Far%20Is%20Heaven%20From%20Earth%3F","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"mfb_rest_fields":["title","jetpack_publicize_connections","jetpack_featured_media_url","jetpack-related-posts","jetpack_sharing_enabled"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/api.robolly.com\/templates\/656df2bd6a094828c339896d\/render.jpg?dl&scale=1&image=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianpure.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fblogimg%2Fpainting_of_an_obscure_apostle_deep_in_prayer_2.1_ffb63_01367.webp&titleBG=%23006073E6&title=How%20Far%20Is%20Heaven%20From%20Earth%3F","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18595"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianpure.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=18595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Where Is Heaven? Is It a Real Place?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is Heaven \u201cUp\u201d in the Sky?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is Heaven a Physical Place or a State of Being?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Can We Learn from Those Who Say They Have Seen Heaven?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Is the \u201cNew Heaven and New Earth\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can we measure the distance between heaven and earth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What did Jesus teach about the nearness or distance of heaven?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did early Church Fathers view the relationship between heaven and earth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does modern science give us any clues about heaven\u2019s location?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why do some Christians believe heaven is close while others think it\u2019s far away?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do We Find the Way to Heaven?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n