R. That is a loaded term, so let’s clarify a bit. The word heaven(s) appears in the New Revised Standard version of the Bible 787 times. So, it is present, but what does it mean? Well, in both Greek and Hebrew, heaven can mean sky or the abode of God and his heavenly court.
However, most of the language around heaven does not talk much about what the afterlife is like. There are assurances of our presence with God and the church universal, but not many specifics in scripture about what the afterlife will look like. Most of the language of heaven is associated with the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.
So, if you hear anyone talk in detail about heaven, it will be based on tenuous connections to what is in scripture at best.
What then do we do with this? First, we should understand that ,whether in death or life, God has our back. So, at least for myself, I don’t care much to spend time imagining what that life might look like after death. I used to think about it a lot, but without clear biblical witness why spend a lot of time speculating? I know that God has my fate in God’s hands. So why worry? I prefer thinking about the ways in which I live out the kingdom come here on earth.
However, I know that there are those who have recently had a loved one die or who face death themselves who find this question not a small one. To them I am willing to allow their imagination run wild, if it does not contradict scripture.
On the other hand, I think that sometimes we do damage to our theology and understanding of God when we focus on the afterlife too much and forget that God has called us to live out our lives as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven now, here in this life.
Let me know if you have further questions by contacting me.
God’s Blessings,
Pastor Brian
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