Heaven as the Ultimate Fulfillment of God's Plan
Heaven, in its broadest biblical sense, refers to the dwelling place of God and the ultimate destiny for his people, representing the culmination of God's redemptive plan [4, 9]. The term "heaven" can refer to several distinct concepts in scripture, ranging from the atmospheric sky to the divine realm itself [3].
The Hebrew word shamayim is the usual term for "heavens" [3]. The phrase "heaven and earth" often signifies the entire universe, as seen in Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 23:24, and Acts 17:24 [3]. Ancient Jewish thought, as noted in Easton's Bible Dictionary, recognized three heavens: the firmament where birds fly, the starry heavens, and "the heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" [3]. This "third heaven" is also referenced in 2 Corinthians 12:2 [3]. The heavens are described as declaring God's glory and displaying his handiwork [1]. God is exalted above the heavens, and his glory is over all the earth [2].
Heaven is consistently presented as God's dwelling place and his throne [4]. It is created by God and is everlasting, immeasurable, high, and holy [4]. God reigns in heaven and answers his people from there, also sending judgments from heaven [4].
The ultimate fulfillment of God's plan is often depicted as a "new heaven and a new earth" [5, 11]. This concept, found in Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, and Revelation 21, signifies a renewed creation [5]. John's vision in Revelation 21 describes this new heaven and earth as a new community and home for God's people, fashioned and given by God [11]. This vision is intended to encourage persecuted Christians [11].
The new Jerusalem is a central image in this ultimate fulfillment, described as the site of holy perfection [11]. It is depicted with precious and luxurious materials, where things considered valuable on earth become common building materials [6]. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of this new city, and the nations and kings bring their glory and honor to it [7]. The gates of this city will never be shut, and nothing defiled will enter it [7]. This new Jerusalem is also portrayed as the ultimate Garden of Eden, a state of perfection that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned [11].
The transformation of believers' bodies into "glorious bodies" is also part of this ultimate plan [8]. This transformation is discussed in 1 Corinthians 15:42-54 and Romans 8:23, indicating a physical renewal alongside the cosmic renewal [8]. The ultimate purpose of God is for his people to know him and share his holy character, recognizing him as the sole God who reigns over all creation [9]. This presence of God provides true security and hope for the future [9].
While the kingdom of God is often understood as being "under the whole heaven," indicating an earthly kingdom, the ultimate fulfillment extends beyond the present earth [10]. The "new heaven and new earth" represent a new universe, encompassing both a new state for the bodies of men and a heavenly state for their souls [12]. This new world is not merely a new creation but a newly opened reality, filled with those who are its heirs [12].
Sources
- Psalms “The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. -- Psalms 19:1”
- Psalms “Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. -- Psalms 57:11”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heaven — (1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Gen. 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps. 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lam. 4:19), etc. (b) The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deut. 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heaven — Created by God -- Ge 1:1; Re 10:6. Everlasting -- Ps 89:29; 2Co 5:1. Immeasurable -- Jer 31:37. High -- Ps 103:11; Isa 57:15. Holy -- De 26:15; Ps 20:6; Isa 57:15. God's dwelling-place -- 1Ki 8:30; Mt 6:9. God's throne -- Isa 66:1; Ac 7:49. God Is the Lord of. -- Da 5:23; Mt 11:25. Reigns in. -- Ps 11:4; 135:6; Da 4:35. Fills. -- 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:24. Answers his people from. -- 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 9:27; Ps 20:6. Sends his judgments from. -- Ge 19:24; 1Sa 2:10; Da 4:13,14; Ro 1:18. Christ As Mediator, entered into. -- Ac 3:21; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24. Is all-po”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21 (introduction): The new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1. The new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. God dwells with men; the happy state of his followers, Rev 21:3-7. The wretched state of the ungodly, Rev 21:8. An angel shows John the holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9, Rev 21:10. Her light, wall, gates, and foundations, described, Rev 21:11-21. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of it, Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it; the gates shall never be shut, nor shall any defilement enter into it, Rev 21:24-27.”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 3:21: 3:21 change them into glorious bodies: See 1 Cor 15:42-54; cp. Rom 8:23. • he will bring everything under his control: See 1 Cor 15:24-27.”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 3:17: 3:17 Then you will know: God’s ultimate purpose is that his people should know him and share his holy character. They must learn that he alone is God and that he reigns over all creation from Zion, his holy mountain (see also 2:27). The only true security in the present, and the only hope for the future, comes from God’s presence.”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 7:27: greatness of the kingdom under . . . whole heaven--The power, which those several kingdoms had possessed, shall all be conferred on Messiah's kingdom. "Under . . . heaven" shows it is a kingdom on earth, not in heaven. people of . . . saints of . . . Most High--"the people of the saints," or "holy ones" (Dan 8:24, Margin): the Jews, the people to whom the saints stand in a peculiar relation. The saints are gathered out of Jews and Gentiles, but the stock of the Church is Jewish (Rom 9:24; Rom 11:24); God's faithfulness to this election Church is thus”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 21:1: We have here a more general account of the happiness of the church of God in the future state, by which it seems most safe to understand the heavenly state. I. A new world now opens to our view (Rev 21:1): I saw a new heaven and a new earth; that is, a new universe; for we suppose the world to be made up of heaven and earth. By the new earth we may understand a new state for the bodies of men, as well as a heaven for their souls. This world is not now newly created, but newly opened, and filled with all those who were the heirs of it. The new heaven and the ne”