A Trip to Heaven

A Trip to Heaven

Heaven - It’s a place we all dream about and aspire to go to. I think we all have preconceived notions about what Heaven must be like. After all, the Bible in many places refers to Heaven as Paradise!

I once heard a funny story about an old time preacher preaching about Heaven. He implored his audience to raise their hands if they wanted to go to Heaven. Everyone eagerly raised their hands; except one old drunk who had staggered in at the end of the preachers sermon. 

The old preacher, amazed that the drunk didn’t raise his hand, walked down the aisle and asked the old drunk; “you mean to tell me that you don’t want to go to Heaven?” The old drunk responded, “ well yes, but I thought you were recruiting a bus load to go tonight!”

And so it is, everybody wants to go to Heaven, but not many want to go right now, since it requires death! But, in fact, there have been a few folks that have gone to Heaven without ever dying. 

Those fortunate few taking “A Trip to Heaven” include Enoch, Elijah, John and Paul; although John and Paul would fatefully return to earth and die later on. 

According to the Bible, Enoch and Elijah are the only two people that God took to heaven without them ever dying. Apparently, God has purposed those two men for future revelations. 

But both John and Paul each were “caught up” into Heaven on a temporary visit, and then were returned to earth. The only other person to have been in Heaven and visited the Earth, was Jesus Christ himself. The only information we have about what Heaven is really like, comes from these three sources!

Ironically, Jesus talked much more about Hell than he ever did about Heaven! The reason for that fact is very important. Jesus came; not so much to advertise the glory of Heaven, but to warn us specifically about the horrors of Hell. 

This brings us to John’s trip to Heaven. In the fourth chapter of The Revelation, John was granted a trip to Heaven. He is the only person ever accorded an opportunity to try to describe what he saw there. 

But even John’s “trip to Heaven” doesn’t reveal very much detail about Heaven itself. Most of what John heard and saw revolved around scenes about God’s throne and visions he was allowed to review concerning earths latter days. Only late in chapter twenty-one and twenty-two does John offer us a descriptive visual glimpse of Heaven; and even that data concerns only one city, the New Jerusalem.

Still, I find myself personally at a loss to be able to gain an understanding of just how wonderful Heaven must be. Sometimes, in my mind, I try to imagine “Taking a Trip to Heaven” myself. But every imagination of my mind ends up trying to describe something that is simply indescribable for human beings! 

Then, there is one other mystical instance of a “trip to Heaven.” It was taken by Paul, who was perhaps the greatest minister of the Gospel ever. 

II Corinthians 12:1-4 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

In these verses, we discover that Mr. Paul, speaking of himself in a third-person analogy actually took a “Trip into Heaven.” 

Paul’s trip is the only instance in the Scriptures of anyone who was taken to heaven, either in reality or in a vision, and who returned again to the earth and was then qualified to communicate important truths about the heavenly world from a personal observation. But he does not do that! Why not?

Enoch and Elijah were taken on trips to heaven; and Elijah returned to earth to in a transfiguration meeting with Jesus for his coming hour, but he, nor Moses were not permitted to converse with anyone on Earth about Heaven. Why not?

Of all the millions of people who have taken the trip to heaven, albeit via death, not one has ever been permitted to return to Earth to bear a personal account of Heaven’s glories; or to be a witness for God that he is faithful to his many promises; or to encourage the rest of us to persevere; or to glamorize to impenitent sinners the majestic wonders of Heaven! Why not?

Paul states in his discourse about his private “trip into Heaven;” that his privilege to take that trip was not arranged so that he could magnify himself in the eyes of others; but rather only to point men to the Lord and the “Way to Heaven!”

Obviously, the most important thing about taking any trip, is the Way that you get there; for if you don’t know the Way; you aren’t likely to arrive in the place you wish to go, 

But Paul, in verse four adds some startling words about his “trip to Heaven.” Paul says: “it is not lawful for a man to repeat what he heard or to try to describe the places that he saw in Heaven!” Again, why not? Why has God, seemingly made it unlawful for Heaven to be described to others by eye-witness accounts? 

Apparently, God in his omniscience, built the “Way of our salvation” on our faith, and not on the place (Heaven) that might appeal to our senses of sight and imaginations more than what should be the simple appeal of “his great love.”

In verses five and six, Paul affirms that the only thing that should be accorded glory is God! In fact, Paul previously expounded upon this fact in II Corinthians 5:6-7. Therein he affirms that to leave this earthly body is to “Take Our Own Trip to Heaven.” In the meantime, while we anxiously await taking our “trip to Heaven;” we must walk by faith and not by Sight!”

God providential designs, therefore, are to try our faith, and to furnish an abundant evidence that his people are disposed to obey his commands and worship him only and to put their trust in his faithfulness. 

Besides, if all the glories of God’s heaven were revealed; if all were told of it that might be; and if heaven were made as attractive to mortal view as much as possible, then it might appear that his professed people were influenced solely by the hope of the reward of the place; and not the Lord himself; who by himself; makes “A Trip to Heaven” possible for us in the first place!

II Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

Focus on the Bible

by: Darrell G. Young

October 30, 2021