What is Heaven and Hell?

Heaven - The Tabernacle of God

The Bible describes Heaven as 'up' above the earth; it refers to the first Heaven as the earth's atmosphere, where clouds, weather and birds exist, and the second Heaven as outer space, containing the moon, stars and planets. The third Heaven is the realm beyond the physical universe of time and space, where God, angels and believers in Christ dwell (Deuteronomy 26:15, Luke 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The holy city of Heaven is described with high walls with twelve gates, with twelve foundations; walls of jasper and a city of pure gold, like clear glass and garnished with precious stones of jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardiud, chrysolyte, beryl, topaz, chrysoprasus, jacinth, amethyst and pearls. There is no need of sun or moon, as the glory of God lightens Heaven, and nothing defileth whatsoever will enter, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21). The Bible teaches we are to have a heavenly mindset and focus on things above, where Christ is seated, not on things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2). Listen to accounts of Heaven on our positive NDE testimonials page.

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Hell

The Bible describes Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek) as the land of the dead or pit, located 'down' or beneath the earth (Numbers 16:30, Isaiah 14:15, Ezekiel 31:15-18), marked by weeping and gnashing of teeth, a place separated from God, compared to Gehenna outside Jerusalem, a site where waste was burnt with unquenchable fire and worms fed on the flesh of executed criminals and dead animals (Mark 9:48). In the Bible we learn of the rich man who refused to help the poor man Lazarus, who was covered in sores that were licked by dogs; when they both died, they went to Hades, and the rich man was on the side of torment, while Lazarus was on Abraham's side, in paradise. We know from the Bible that the rich man asked for one drop of water, as the flames were unbearable, but as he had the chance to help Lazarus when alive and refused, the rich man received nothing. He asked if he could go back to warn his five brothers so they don't end up in the place of torment but was refused because if his brothers don't believe Moses or the prophets, why would they be convinced by someone rising from the dead? (Luke 16:19-31). The Bible tells us about the servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready, who will be punished more than the one who does not know his will; both will be punished, but at different severities (Luke 12); this tells us there are areas in Hell that receive worse punishments than others. The Bible also describes a place called the abyss, or sometimes referred to as Tartarus, often believed to be the deepest and darkest part of Hell where those who commit the worst sins go; a place of outer darkness, even demons beg Jesus not to send them to the abyss (Luke 8:19-31). The Bible describes the lake of fire as the final place for Satan and his demons and those that don't accept Christ, with Hades finally being destroyed and falling into the lake of fire for all eternity. Listen to accounts of Hell on our distressing NDE testimonials page.

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Timeline of events

Before sin entered the world, Heaven and earth were united as God dwelled with mankind together, but when mankind fell, sin entered the world, and Heaven and earth were separated. In the Old Testament or Covenant with God, mankind could sacrifice a lamb for their sins; when the lamb died, they were made clean as the sin died with the lamb, and God was able to dwell with mankind via his Tabernacle on earth. In the New Testament, or New Covenant, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb for the whole of mankind and died for all our sins; therefore, it is no longer necessary to sacrifice a lamb for our sins. Jesus offers this gift of grace for the forgiveness of sins to everyone, but we have the freedom to accept or reject it while we are alive. The Bible tells us a time is coming when believers in Christ will be taken up in the clouds to meet the Lord (Thessalonians 4:13-18), and those who remain will be left to endure the seven-year tribulation period when the anti-christ will rule the earth. At the end of the tribulation period, the Bible tells us how Jesus, 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords', will return and defeat Satan and his armies, with Satan bound and sealed for 1000 years in the abyss. Those who had not received the mark of the beast or worshipped the beast or his image or were martyred for Jesus during the tribulation return to reign with Jesus for 1000 years on earth (Revelation 19:11-21). At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released from the abyss before being cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. (Revelation 20:7-10). Those in Heaven and on earth flee from the presence of God while the dead now return from Hades to be judged for what they had done. (Revelation 20:11-15). Finally, the Bible describes the first earth passing away and the holy city coming down from Heaven to a new earth to become the New Jerusalem, and the earth is united with Heaven. The Garden of Eden is restored with the river of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city as clear as crystal, and on each side the tree of life bearing twelve crops of fruit every month, and God's dwelling place is now among the people (Revelation 22). The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and they will reign for eternity. (Revelation 21). Ready to make sure of Heaven? Visit our become a Christian page.