*Click on the references to read the Scripture passages.*

According to His promise, we look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(II Peter 3:13II Peter 3:13

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.; Revelation 21:22Revelation 21:22

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.).

Heaven is the dwelling place of God’s throne (Psalm 11:4Psalm 11:4

The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.; Acts 7:49Acts 7:49

Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest?). His throne is the place of judgment (Psalm 9:4Psalm 9:4

For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness.), authority (I Timothy 6:15b-16I Timothy 6:15b-16

He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.), sovereignty (Psalm 47:8Psalm 47:8

God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.), worship (Isaiah 6:1-3Isaiah 6:1-3

in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”; Revelation 5:13Revelation 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”) prayer (Revelation 8:3Revelation 8:3

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.), rejoicing (Luke 15:10Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”).

• There are three heavens mentioned in scripture. In Genesis, God reveals that He created the heavens (plural) and earth (Genesis 1:1, 6-8Genesis 1:1,6-8
  
  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.). The first heaven is the sky that surrounds the earth in which He commanded the birds to fly (Genesis 1:20Genesis 1:20
  
  Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”). The next heaven is the space in which the sun, moon, stars and planets have their dwelling (Genesis 1:14Genesis 1:14
  
  Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years). We believe that it is the third heaven that God has established as the dwelling place of His throne. This heaven is seen as “far above” the other two heavens (Job 22:12Job 22:12
  
  Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are; Ephesians 4:10Ephesians 4:10
  
  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.).
• As believers in Christ, we know that the way to heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:3-6John 14:3-6
  
  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.). We have the hope of spending eternity in heaven after our lives on earth are done (John 14:1-3John 14:1-3
  
  1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."; II Corinthians 5:1II Corinthians 5:1
  
  For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.; I Corinthians 15:50,53I Corinthians 15:50,53
  
  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.).
• Our time on earth is temporary and very short compared to the time we shall spend in heaven (James 4:13-15James 4:13-15
  
  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”; II Corinthians 4:17-18II Corinthians 4:17-18
  
  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.).
• For this reason, heaven should be a focal point of our walk with God (Colossians 3:1-4Colossians 3:1-4
  
  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.; Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33
  
  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.; Hebrews 11:13-16Hebrews 11:13-16
  
  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.), and our lives here should be governed by our citizenship in heaven – including our affections (I John 2:15-17I John 2:15-17
  
  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.), values (Matthew 6:19-21Matthew 6:19-21
  
  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."), and hopes (Romans 8:18Romans 8:18
  
  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.). In fact, Christ teaches us to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10Matthew 6:9-10
  
  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.).
• At the time appointed by God, Christ will return from heaven and take all believers, alive or dead, up to heaven to remain with Him forever (I Thessalonians 4:16-18I Thessalonians 4:16-18
  
  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.). The created heavens and earth will be done away with and a new heaven and a new earth will appear, having a new Jerusalem where we will dwell with God (Revelation 21:1-2Revelation 21:1-2
  
  Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.; Revelation 21:3Revelation 21:3
  
  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.). There we will experience no more crying, death, sadness or pain (Revelation 21:4Revelation 21:4
  
  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.).
• We will stand before God in heaven and be judged for all that we did and said during our life on earth (Romans 14:10c-12Romans 14:10c-12
  
  For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.) and we will be given rewards for our works in this life (I Corinthians 3:11-15I Corinthians 3:11-15
  
  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.; Revelation 22:12Revelation 22:12
  
  And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.).
• Angels are created spirit beings that dwell in heaven with God (Psalm 148:1-5Psalm 148:1-5
  
  Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.), who worship God (Isaiah 6:1-3Isaiah 6:1-3
  
  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”), fulfill His commandments in the heavens and on earth (Psalm 103:20Psalm 103:20
  
  Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.) and are sent to minister to men (Hebrews 1:13-14Hebrews 1:13-14
  
  But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?), sometimes taking on the form of men (Genesis 18:1-2Genesis 18:1-2
  
  Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground; Genesis 19:1-5Genesis 19:1-5
  
  Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2 And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” 3 But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”; Judges 13:3,6Judges 13:3,6
  
  And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 6 So the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name.; Hebrews 13:2Hebrews 13:2
  
  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.). We do not worship angels (Colossians 2:18Colossians 2:18
  
  Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind).