Many people are always curious about Heaven and its existence. There are many questions about Heaven since it’s believed to be where God lives. Non-believers do not think that it exists, while believers believe that it exists and that it will be their home when they die. One of the things that people wonder about is how old Heaven is.
2 Corinthians 5:1 reads, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ma house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” The verse teaches that Heaven is eternal; hence it is impossible to know its years, for its existence is immeasurable. Christians believe they will have eternal life after death and live in Heaven. Hence, they think they will spend their eternal life in the Kingdom of God, Heaven.
Did Heaven exist before the creation of the earth? Does the Bible give Christians a clue about how old Heaven is? Bible verses that prove Heaven is eternal. What does the new Heaven mean? Read on to find the answers to these questions.
Did Heaven exist before the creation of the earth?
According to Genesis 1:1, the Bible implies that God created the heavens and earth. One thing that we should note is that Heaven and the heavens are two different things. Heaven is the dwelling place of God and the promised eternal dwelling place of the righteous when they die, while the heavens are the dwelling place of the heavenly bodies, the stars, the sun, and the moon.
Therefore, from the verse, we learn that God created the heavens and did not create Heaven, which means that it already existed. Genesis 1:1-27 vividly describes how God created everything from the skies to creatures in the water, wild and tame animals, and even man. However, there is no mention of God creating Heaven, which Christians believe to be his dwelling place.
According to Mathew 6:9, the Bible states, “Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” The verse teaches that God lives in Heaven. We also learn from the Bible that God existed before He created everything. Since God dwells in Heaven, it existed before creation, for that is where God lived.
Does the Bible give Christians a clue about how old Heaven is?
The Bible uses the term heaven in different ways. Biblically, Heaven is God’s dwelling place, and the term heaven means the earth’s outer atmosphere where the heavenly bodies are. From the Bible, we learn that Heaven (the dwelling place of God) is eternal while Heaven (the earth’s outer atmosphere) has a beginning since it was created by God, according to Genesis 1:1.
Heaven being eternal means that its existence is immeasurable in years. We cannot find the age of Heaven, for we do not know when it started to exist. According to 2 Corinthians 5:1, the Bible reads, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
The verse teaches that Heaven is eternal and hence has always existed. Since we do not know when Heaven started to exist, we cannot tell how old it is. The Bible does not explain how old Heaven is or when it existed.
Bible verses that prove Heaven is eternal
There are so many Bible verses that teach that Heaven is eternal. Some verses clearly state this fact, while others are unclear since they may be in a parable that the readers need to understand to know the real meaning. However, from reading the verses, you learn that Heaven is eternal and exists forever.
Hebrew 10:34 “For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and a long-lasting one.” This verse talks about eternal Heaven even though it does not use the word Heaven. That is the promised long-lasting possession of Christians when they die.
2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” The verse clearly states that Heaven is eternal, which awaits to be inherited by Christians.
2 Peter 1:11 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Believers learn that the kingdom of God is eternal. The kingdom of God is where God dwells, and His dwelling place is Heaven.
Hebrews 13:14 “For here, we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” The Bible implies that the things we have here on earth are not long-lasting; hence we should seek eternal Heaven.
1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”. The verses teach that God has promised a place that cannot perish and will live forever. From the Bible, God promises Heaven to his people; hence that is the eternal place.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The promise of believing in Jesus Christ and leading a righteous life is eternal life that will spend in Heaven, which is also infinite.
What does the new Heaven mean?
According to Isaiah 65:17, the Bible suggests that God will form a new heaven where the former things do not exist, and no one will think of them. Therefore, from the verse, we learn that a new heaven is a place righteous and purified by God. God will make a new heaven for Christians to inherit when in their eternal life.
2 Peter 3:13 reads, “But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” The Bible implies that only the righteous will dwell in the new Heaven from this verse. This teaches that in the new Heaven, there will not be sin. It, therefore, means that a new heaven is the eternal kingdom of God that He promises to those who lead righteous life.
The Bible talks a lot about a new heaven and a new earth, and from the verses, we learn that God will create them for his people to inherit. This means God plans to give his people a paradise where sin does not exist. Those who live according to God’s will live in the new Heaven and have eternal life.
Therefore, from the Bible, a new heaven is a sacred place that awaits Christians to inherit it. It will consist of righteous people who follow God’s will. A new heaven will not have suffering or sin, and those there will rejoice in God’s name.
Reference
- The things that God created
- Heaven is God’s dwelling place
- Different meanings of the term “heaven” from the Bible
- Bible verses about Heaven and eternity
- What is a new heaven?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
