What is heaven like; where is it?

The Beatles did a song that glibly asks us to "imagine there's no heaven." While I would not engage in their philosophical exercise, I'd just like to ask; could you really and seriously entertain the thought?

The word 'heaven' happens in the King James version of the Bible over 600 times. The various references make it clear that there are different meanings or 'places' called heaven in the Bible.

How many heavens are there?

Genesis 1:1 says, "In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Notice the plural, heavens. The Bible actually speak of three heavens:

The atmospheric heaven. This is where the birds fly; where the air/atmosphere. In Jeremiah and in the book of revelation, references are made to the atmospheric heaven where birds fly. See Jeremiah 4:25 and Revelation 19:17.
The starry or astronomical heaven. This is where we see the planets and stars. See Genesis 22:17.
Paradise of the dwelling place of God and the angels. See Psalm 11:4

The apostle Paul also mentioned a third heaven.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. - 2 Corinthians 12:2 (NIV).

If there is a third, then there must be numbers one and two. And again in Genesis 2:1, we read:

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them."

That there are more than one heaven is a consistent theme throughout the Bible.

What does the Bible say heaven is like?

Speaking of Paradise, or the third heaven; no one has ever come back from heaven to tell us what it is like. It would be nice to know what a place is like before we visit it.

If you're planning to take a vacation to a far away country, at least you need to know what the people are like, what the weather is like, what currency is legal tender, and how to get there.

It's the same with heaven. But we have no credible tourist brochure except the Bible. There are many suppositions and propaganda leaflets, but would you plan a vacation using only information gathered from faulty sources? Not if you want to have a good time.

When Jesus was leaving this earth to go back to heaven this is what He said:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." - John 14:1-3 (NIV)

Heaven is the place where God lives. Jesus went back to heaven to prepare residence for those who want to go. Still, all the stretch of our brightest and most vivid imaginations cannot comprehend exactly what heaven is like.

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV).

Still we know it is perfect bliss because there is no sin there. Remember, it was sin that made all the difference.

It will really stretch your mind to really sit and imagine what heaven is really like, because you would actually need perfect intellect to fully visualize and comprehend it - and we all lack that.

But we sure have heaven's hope. And that is as bright and clear His word to us. Let's embrace the hope, for as He said, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."