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Does God Live in Heaven?

T

TRUTH over TRADITION

Member
Today my answer to this is 'I don't know', in the past, I would have said yes in a heartbeat based on Job alone. But as I reread Job I noticed that when the sons of God went to stand before God that we are not told the whereabouts of their location. This subject in interesting to me because it causes me to re-examine what my view of Heaven is.

I take for granted that Heaven is a real specific place and is the place that is for all intents and purposes God's home. Verses like Isaiah 57:15 and Isaiah 66:1 were texts I'd accepted as 'proof texts' for my view of Heaven, but upon examination I found that they don't exactly say what I thought they said.
 
I like the phrase "the Sons of God" and wonder about that one too, sometimes. There is much that can go behind the attempt to understand this. More than what occurs and/or springs up in the mind of one member only.

But this thread is about the habitation of God. Not about those who rightly call him Father. The two seemed linked to me.
 
I'm not convinced that "heaven" is a specific place as such but rather the surrounding atmosphere, from the ground up. That is to say that it is not necessarily some place "out there," somewhere out in space or beyond the universe.
 
TRUTH over TRADITION said:
Today my answer to this is 'I don't know', in the past, I would have said yes in a heartbeat based on Job alone. But as I reread Job I noticed that when the sons of God went to stand before God that we are not told the whereabouts of their location. This subject in interesting to me because it causes me to re-examine what my view of Heaven is.

I take for granted that Heaven is a real specific place and is the place that is for all intents and purposes God's home. Verses like Isaiah 57:15 and Isaiah 66:1 were texts I'd accepted as 'proof texts' for my view of Heaven, but upon examination I found that they don't exactly say what I thought they said.
Click to expand...

I applaud you for looking into and realizing that certain passages may not mean what you've always thought. This is how we grow.
 
Free said:
I'm not convinced that "heaven" is a specific place as such but rather the surrounding atmosphere, from the ground up. That is to say that it is not necessarily some place "out there," somewhere out in space or beyond the universe.
Click to expand...


Neither am I at this point. From reading, I am not sure if Heaven is a specific place as opposed to being descriptive of the aboad of the righteous post resurrection in the presence of God.

What I have noticed of the many mentions of Heaven in the scriptures is that oftentimes 'heaven' is but a reference to the skies of Earth and beyond as opposed to referencing the home of God. And if you think about it; why would God need a 'home base' when He is the all in all?
 
If we were taken to a valley. If we were shown some dry bones there. Would any say, "That is what I'm talk'n about!"

No? Why not?

God identified the bones for us: 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel' (verse 11).

He spoke of a time of resurrection: "Thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord" (verses 12-13).

He spoke and promised something that believers (O My people) would behold.

Might we find ourselves there? If we do, what are we to do? What did Paul say? The greatest division in our Bible is between that which was spoken since the foundation of the world and that which was kept secret (see Acts 3:21, Rom 16:25). But what did Paul say about Prophecy (I"m not trying to say something about the Office of Prophet, but rather, the Gift of Prophecy and the utterance). Here is what I think:

The gift of prophecy edifies, exhorts, and comforts (I Corinthians 14:3); helps us build up or strengthen; and should lead us to the Word of God. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come (John 16:8-11). Prophecy, aligned to the purpose and ministry of the Holy Ghost, seeks to do that same thing.

Prophecy is divinely inspired and anointed utterance; a supernatural proclamation in a known language. It is a gift and also a manifestation of the Spirit of God.

Paul says that we should earnest desire (seek to chase down) gifts of the Holy Spirit knowing that He is utterly holy and apart from sin, that He gives good gifts to His children and that this particular gift is efficacious for building.

Back to those bones, bodies unbuilt: What are we told to do?
 
TRUTH over TRADITION said:
Today my answer to this is 'I don't know', in the past, I would have said yes in a heartbeat based on Job alone. But as I reread Job I noticed that when the sons of God went to stand before God that we are not told the whereabouts of their location. This subject in interesting to me because it causes me to re-examine what my view of Heaven is.

I take for granted that Heaven is a real specific place and is the place that is for all intents and purposes God's home. Verses like Isaiah 57:15 and Isaiah 66:1 were texts I'd accepted as 'proof texts' for my view of Heaven, but upon examination I found that they don't exactly say what I thought they said.
Click to expand...

Heaven lives in God.

God is heaven.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

God is the Spirit realm.


JLB
 
"...set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1 NIV)


"We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord...."
5 They (the priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
(Hebrews 8:1-2,5 NIV)


"55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”" (Acts 7:55-56 NIV)


Honestly, I can't think of any reason why these are speaking figuratively, but are talking about a very specific place, up there, called 'heaven'.
 
JLB said:
Heaven lives in God.

God is heaven.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

God is the Spirit realm.


JLB
Click to expand...
Sounds awfully similar to some form of pantheism. I am confident that the only Scriptural statement there is "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." I certainly would like to see some biblical proof of the rest of those assertions.
 
Jethro Bodine said:
"...set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1 NIV)


"We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord...."
5 They (the priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
(Hebrews 8:1-2,5 NIV)


"55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”" (Acts 7:55-56 NIV)


Honestly, I can't think of any reason why these are speaking figuratively, but are talking about a very specific place, up there, called 'heaven'.
Click to expand...
Well, that's the problem with language, isn't it? "Looking up" and "above" can be referring to people looking up two feet. It can be someone on their knees with their head bowed simply lifting their head. In no way does it have to mean way up above the clouds.
 
When Nick looks up ( he is in Australia ) which way is looking ? When i look up it is about 180 the other direction.
 
I dont know

We can get caught up in a tornado as in physically... we can get caught up in love .... caught up in the moment .... I dont care if haven is a place that could have an address... i do care that heaven is the presence of God. My Grandma went someplace
 
reba said:
When Nick looks up ( he is in Australia ) which way is looking ? When i look up it is about 180 the other direction.
Click to expand...

ah the motion of the earth and space is weird thing for us to ponder and perceive.

when nick and you are looking up its at what ever angle from the earth you are on and into space eventually . his looking up and yours would never if a line, was drawn, meet.
 
Free said:
JLB said:
Heaven lives in God.

God is heaven.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

God is the Spirit realm.


JLB
Click to expand...
Sounds awfully similar to some form of pantheism. I am confident that the only Scriptural statement there is "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." I certainly would like to see some biblical proof of the rest of those assertions.
Click to expand...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Where was heaven, before God created it?

Where was the spirit realm, before God created it?

Where were the angels before God created them?


JLB
 
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