I believe you will find that heaven is what our lives turn in to when we repent of our sin. I suspect there will be those who protest vigorously, but for those who have ears to hear, try it, if you haven’t already. Another name for it would be New Jerusalem.
Thanks resurrection33 for sharing this. I basically agree with you. The Bible says that: "
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne" (Isaiah 66:1). I believe this is likely God's way of saying that when he is on the throne, so to speak, in people's hearts, he can use the term heaven to describe them. In fact, that is why people are said to be gathered from one end of heaven to the other in Matthew 24:31; "...
shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." The trumpet being used to gather the elect (the term elect means the true believers) is the gospel and the elect are referred to as heaven in this verse. Anywhere they are, from one end to the other, they are gathered from. The apparent fact that true believers can be referred to as heaven is also seen in the Bible verse that says that believers are seated with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8), and it means this beginning right immediately after being born again.
Further, the Bible uses various cities to describe types of persons. The New Jerusalem is not a physical city but a way of describing people whom Christ has saved who are also called his bride.
You will find that many people think of the Bible as a very literal book, and they see many many verses in a very physical way, a carnal way really to my mind. The Bible says that it is actually written in parable form (Mark 4:34, Psalm 78:1-2) and parables are physical stories but the real interpreted meaning is a spiritual one.
Thanks for sharing.