Where Is Heaven?

[Faith1960]

I’ve been wondering where, exactly IS Heaven? We’ve had astronauts all over, the Hubble Telescope is sending us photos of the universe – why hasn’t Heaven been seen or Jesus been found? Will it be seen? Why? Why not?

 

[duffyk4]

God, and heaven, exist outside of time and space. We could explore and take pictures to the very end of the universe and we would never find it. The old cartoons depicting God and the angels floating on clouds is meant to be symbolic.

 

[Pieman333272]

that is a good question. First of all, who says we don’t/can’t see Jesus? There are tons of stories of a person or people seeing visions of Jesus in the last 2 centuries!

And as for the location of heaven, I think it is outside the boundaries of the universe, or at least the galaxy. While on the topic, this is why I fail to see why atheists think the multiverse theory disproves the existence of God - heaven, or all 3 types of afterlife according to Catholicism (purgatory, heaven, hell) could be one of the other universes! And even if not that, it proves that something (i.e., a divine creator ) can exist outside our universe!

 

[Faith1960]

that is a good question. First of all, who says we don’t/can’t see Jesus? There are tons of stories of a person or people seeing visions of Jesus in the last 2 centuries!

And as for the location of heaven, I think it is outside the boundaries of the universe, or at least the galaxy. While on the topic, this is why I fail to see why atheists think the multiverse theory disproves the existence of God - heaven, or all 3 types of afterlife according to Catholicism (purgatory, heaven, hell) could be one of the other universes! And even if not that, it proves that something (i.e., a divine creator ) can exist outside our universe!

There’s a ban on athiest threads…let’s watch it. I don’t want my thread stopped.

 

[pinctor]

Within you!

 

[The_Scott]

It would be more accurate to say that Heaven is not necessarily a physical place, but a state of eternal being with the Triune God.

 

[Faith1960]

It would be more accurate to say that Heaven is not necessarily a physical place, but a state of eternal being with the Triune God.

When Jesus’ glorified body rose to Heaven, then where did he go? Also, when all of our bodies are resurrected, where will they actually go?

 

[The_Scott]

When Jesus’ glorified body rose to Heaven, then where did he go?

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
“To say that He was taken up or that He ascended, does not necessarily imply that they locate heaven directly above the earth; no more than the words “sitteth on the right hand of God” mean that this is His actual posture. In disappearing from their view “He was raised up and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9), and entering into glory He dwells with the Father in the honour and power denoted by the scripture phrase.”

(here)

And from Summa Theologica, Part 3, Question 57, Article 4:

"On the contrary, It is written (Ephesians 4:10): “He ascended above all the heavens that He might fill all things.” I answer that, The more fully anything corporeal shares in the Divine goodness, the higher its place in the corporeal order, which is order of place. Hence we see that the more formal bodies are naturally the higher, as is clear from the Philosopher (Phys. iv; De Coelo ii), since it is by its form that every body partakes of the Divine Essence, as is shown in Physics i. But through glory the body derives a greater share in the Divine goodness than any other natural body does through its natural form; while among other glorious bodies it is manifest that Christ’s body shines with greater glory. Hence it was most fitting for it to be set above all bodies. Thus it is that on Ephesians 4:8: “Ascending on high,” the gloss says: “in place and dignity.” "
(here)

Also, when all of our bodies are resurrected, where will they actually go?

Revelation 21: 1-5:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them (as their God).
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away.”
The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.””

 

[WJL]

I was just going to start a thread about this very subject, but I noticed this thread before I did so. I’ve always understood Heaven as, like God, existing outside of time and space but, I wanted to be sure about the issue.

I have a related question though; where is Hell?

The Catholic Encyclopedia says the following:

Where is hell? …] The Bible seems to indicate that hell is within the earth, for it describes hell as an abyss to which the wicked descend. We even read of the earth opening and of the wicked sinking down into hell (Numbers 16:31 sqq.; Psalm 54:16; Isaiah 5:14; Ezekiel 26:20; Philippians 2:10, etc.). Is this merely a metaphor to illustrate the state of separation from God? Although God is omnipresent, He is said to dwell in heaven, because the light and grandeur of the stars and the firmament are the brightest manifestations of His infinite splendour. But the damned are utterly estranged from God; hence their abode is said to be as remote as possible from his dwelling, far from heaven above and its light, and consequently hidden away in the dark abysses of the earth. However, no cogent reason has been advanced for accepting a metaphorical interpretation in preference to the most natural meaning of the words of Scripture.

This, however, doesn’t make sense to me (i.e. hell being located inside the earth), because hell is eternal and thus couldn’t (at least, I don’t think) be located within the physical universe which isn’t eternal. Further, we know from the Book of Revelation that, after the consummation of the world, heaven and earth shall be made anew while hell itself will be cast into the lake of fire. Could someone help me understand this?