Heaven Opened - until Christ came to die and rise again, heaven was closed, for nothing unclean could enter there, and death had “passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Even those who died in faith could only be “comforted” in “Abraham’s bosom” deep “in the heart of the earth.” Christ promised a future reality in which He Himself would be the ladder to the opened heaven. Since that day when Christ ascended back to heaven, “to be absent from the body” is “to be present with the Lord.” Heaven someday will even receive our resurrected bodies. “The gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” Heaven thenceforth will be open eternally to all the redeemed

“And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” - (John 1:51)

In Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28:12), angels were ascending and descending on a great ladder between Earth and heaven. 

Christ promised a future reality in which He Himself would be the ladder to the opened heaven.

But that was to be “hereafter.” 

Until Christ came to die and rise again, heaven was closed, for nothing unclean could enter there, and death had “passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” -  (Romans 5:12). 

Even those who died in faith could only be “comforted” in “Abraham’s bosom” deep “in the heart of the earth” (Luke 16:22, 25; Matthew 12:40).

Because “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” - (Hebrews 10:4).

Then Christ died and rose again
“to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” - (Hebrews 9:26). 

In His spirit, “he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth.” 

And “when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8-9), leading all pre-Calvary saints with Him into heaven. 

Then was fulfilled the wonderful scene predicted in Psalm 24:7: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”

Since that wonderful day when Christ ascended back to heaven, “to be absent from the body” is “to be present with the Lord” - (2 Corinthians 5:8). 

Heaven someday will even receive our resurrected bodies. 

John prophesied it this way: “I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice … said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” - (Revelation 4:1). 

Heaven thenceforth will be open eternally to all the redeemed. 

“The gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there” - (Revelation 21:25). 

BY HENRY M. MORRIS, PH.D. 

Days of Praise

the Institute for Creation Research 

At the Institute for Creation Research, we want you to know God’s Word can be trusted with everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

icr.org

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The Reality of Heaven - heaven will be the destiny of those who take God at His Word, believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, and coming, by faith, to salvation . . . without cost. Salvation is the single most important, urgent issue in all of life — and it’s yours for the taking

Loved Ones in Heaven - the Bible emphasizes the concept of eternal fellowship and unity among believers in heaven. It speaks to the idea that not only will we be with God, but we will also be together with our loved ones in perfect harmony

Problems Prepare You for Eternity - the troubles you’re experiencing now aren’t fun. They may even be painful. But the Bible makes it clear that they’ll make your faith stronger. Then, your faith will produce perseverance. That’s why you can have hope, no matter what’s going on in your life right now

Dogs in Heaven - The Bible suggests the presence of animals in heaven, God gives "good things to those who ask Him" and "gives us richly all things to enjoy"

Do Dogs Go to Heaven?

The Bible does not clearly state whether we will see our pets again in heaven, but Scriptures suggests the presence of animals in heaven.

In Isaiah 11:6, we are told that during the Millennial reign of Jesus on earth, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." 

A similar scene is painted later in Isaiah 65:25. It's clear there will be animals on earth during the Millennium and that predator and prey will live in harmony.

Later, John gives us a glimpse of heaven in Revelation 19:11, 14: "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war...And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." 

Jesus and His armies will ride white horses to capture Satan and the false prophet and cast them into the lake of fire forever.

It seems clear that there will be animals in heaven. It is uncertain whether the ones we loved on earth will be there. 

Whatever the case, we know the character of God and His love for us. 

He gives "good things to those who ask Him" and "gives us richly all things to enjoy" (Matthew 7:11; 1 Timothy 6:17). 

Heaven will be a place of joy and peace and the richest of blessings as we live in the presence of God and enjoy His good gifts for eternity.

perhapstoday.org

Related Links:

Our Heavenly Bodies Will Be Like the Body of the Resurrected Jesus - death is not the end of life - your new body will be designed for eternity -It will never die; it will outlive the stars!

Heaven on Earth - What we think of as heaven in the presence of God will not be in heaven but on the recreated new earth

Smile! You're On CCTV - God makes a record in Heaven of what is done by people on earth