In OT Hebrew you could combine two opposites in what is called a 'merism' to make an all encompassing single concept (Show PPT first)
We do the same today
The shop is open "day and night" means all hours of the day, not just during the day and night but not dusk
They looked "Far and near"
They searched "high and low"
She cared for the "young and old"
There was no Hebrew word for universe which is why this reism is needed to describe everything that God created
Atmosphere/Sky
1 Kings 21:24
Isaiah 55:10
2 Chronicles 7:1
Outer space
Jeremiah 33:22 (host of heaven/stars)
Some of the ways Heaven (sky/space) is described
2 Kings 7:2
Has a window
2 Samuel 22:8
Has a foundation
Genesis 28:17
Has a gate
Isaiah 20:22
Is like a curtain
God's home
Ecclesiastes 5:2
Psalm 11:4
Mark 11:25
John 6:38
1 Peter 1:12
Revelation 4:1-2
Also angels home
Mark 12:25
Mark 13:32
Luke 2:15
Perhaps they spend lots of time here too
Genesis 28:12
2 Kings 6:17
What definition(s) would you use?
Exodus 16:4
Deuteronomy 10:14
Psalm 19:1
1 Kings 8:27
2 Kings 2:11
Amos 9:6
Mark 14:62
Acts 1:11
2 Corinthians 12:2
Open vs closed
Closed
Deuteronomy 11:17
2 Chronicles 7:13
Is your understanding of the word 'heaven altered when you heave of it opening instead of closing?
Open
Ezekiel 1:1
Mark 1:10
Acts 7:56
John 1:51
What if there is no distinction between these definitions?
Is it possible that they all refer to the universe in a spiritual universe?
1 Corinthians 2:9
What does that mean?
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Notice that what hasn't been seen, heard, or imagined up till this point is now revealed
Also, the entire passage has nothing to do with Heaven nor does Isaiah 64:4 which it is quoting
That's not to say we know everything about Heaven, just this verse has nothing to do with Heaven and even if it did then it is saying that we already know about it through the Holy Spirit
God created Heaven (Genesis 1:1)
Therefore God did not need Heaven as a place for Him to live and He is not confined to be in things He created
God is therefore greater than Heaven
Psalm 113:4
Psalm 148:13
Heaven without God is nothing compared to Heaven with God
About 1 thirds of the time it is plural
Believers & Heaven
We live on earth but our citizenship is in Heaven
Philippians 3:20-21
Our names are written in Heaven
Luke 10:20
We have a Heavenly inheritance
Luke 18:22
1 Peter 1:4
Romans 8:17
Our bodies
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
We will have a heavenly body
Romans 8:23
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Like Christs
Acts 24:15
All people will be resurrected like Christ was
Isaiah 45:23
This can literally come true since everyone will get a new body
Philippians 3:20-21
It will be glorious and (I think) have the same abilities Jesus' body had
Job 19:25-26
It was an OT hope too
If you want further reading:
1 Corinthians 15:35-55
The current Heaven is temporary
Isaiah 65:17
Isaiah 66:22
2 Peter 3:13
Revelation 21:1-2
In light of this:
When you hear of people seeing Heaven what should we make of it assuming it wasn't just made up?
Does it contradict Scripture?
John saw both the current Heaven and the future Heave
Which Heaven did they see?
Why do we need a new earth?
Why do we need a new Heaven?
Perhaps it is also affected by sin
Ephesians 6:12
Job 1:6
Luke 10:18
What it will be like
Revelation 22:3
Worship
Revelation 22:1-3
Could it be that just as God put Adam to work in Eden looking after the plants and stuff that God could also put us in charge of the same sort of stuff in the future?
What about the parables that Jesus told of people looking after a little on earth and when the master comes back they are put in charge of even more
Luke 19:17
Could it be that when Jesus comes back and sees us doing a good job that He will give us more responsibility rather than an eternal vacation?
Remember that Jesus was faithful as a carpenter on earth and is now preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:2)