Heaven is one word that's used in a variety of ways.  But, what does the Bible say about heaven?  How important is that word to a Christian?  How important should it be to the non-Christian?  That's our discussion today.

1)  OLD TETAMENT
     a.  Shamayim - several different meanings
          1.  sky - Deut 4:7
          2.  realm above earth - 2 Sam 17:9
          3.  sun, moon and stars - Gen 1:14
          4.  totality of creation - Gen 1:1
          5.  dwelling place of God - Psa 2:4

2)  NEW TESTAMENT
     a.  ouranos - the noun form of the adjective to "lift, heave"
          1.  aerial heavens, sky Matt 8:20
          2.  eternal dwelling place of God Matt 5:16
          3.  Son of man descended from there John 3 13, 31
          4.  during ascension passed through the heavens Heb 4:14
          5.  He that descended..ascended far above the heavens - Eph 4: 10
          6.  made higher - Heb 7:26
          7.  seated at God's right hand - Heb 8:1;  1 Peter 3:22
          8.  present activity - Romans 8:34
          9.  appearing in presence of God for us

3)  WHERE IS HEAVEN?
      a.  don't exactly know, but we believe it exists
      b.  what should we also dwell upon?

4)  FUTURE REWARD
      a.  John 14: 1 - 4 - a place prepared by Jesus
      b.  a new heaven and new earth - old passed away Rev 20: 11; 21:1, separate from the current 
           dwelling place of the Lord?
      c.  in Revelation Christians needed encouragement.  under persecution.  
      d.  some scholars say the imagery is of the Church to encourage them
      e.  my conviction is of the future reward for all the redeemed
      f.   Christ victorious - Rev 17:14
      g.  victory over the harlot, beast and Satan himself - Rev 17:3,16; 13: 1-4; 20: 1-15
      h.  deliverance from condemnation at judgment- 20: 11-15
      i.   eternal joy in the heavenly city - 21:1 - 22:5

5)  A GLORIOUS, ETERNAL EXISTENCE
     a. NO TEARS
     b. NO DEATH
     c. NO  MOURNING
     d. NO CRYING
     e. NO PAIN 
     f.  ALL OF THESE PASSED AWAY
     g. LUMINATED BY GOD'S GLORY
     h. A PLACE UNLIKE ANY OTHER
     I.  ETERNAL
     J.  IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

 6)  THE REDEEMED!
    a.  the obedient - Mt 25: 34ff
    b.  Paul's words - 2 Cor 5:1; Eph 2:7; Phil 3: 20-21; 2 Tim 4: 8; 2 Tim 4:18
    c.  Peter's words - 1 Peter 1:4, 2 Peter 3: 13-14
    d.  John's words - Rev 21: 1-7 

7)  CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE!  EVERYTHING PRESENTED ABOUT HEAVEN IS POSITIVE.  EVERYTHING 
     SAID ABOUT HELL IS NEGATIVE.  WHAT CHOICE IS THERE?