The Bible describes a world that is divided into three parts: the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. A firmament, sometimes known as an expanse, separates these three realms from one another.
In addition, the Bible makes reference to a new heaven and a new earth. This is the world that will be created after God destroys the current one. His objective is to make everything new, including the heavens and earth. These will be further discussed below, so keep reading.
What Does The Bible Say About The Three Heavenly Realms?
People believe that there is only one world, as Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created heaven and the earth.” In contrast, some believe the opposite. They think that since God is all-powerful, He has created multiple universes. But what’s really the truth? What’s the Bible’s stance on this matter?
The Book of Genesis tells the existence of the three heavenly realms: Earth (the world that we live in), Heaven (the world where God dwells), and Hell (the underworld). Let’s discuss these in detail below.
Earth
Heaven
Hell
This three-part world is also seen in the New Testament. In Matthew 24:29, Jesus says that “immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” Here, Jesus is talking about the end of the world as we know it. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, and the stars will fall from heaven. This describes what will happen to our world when God destroys it and creates a new heaven and a new earth.
This three-part world is also seen in 2 Corinthians 12:2, which says, “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.”
In this verse, Paul is talking about a man who was taken to heaven. He doesn’t say which heaven this man was taken to, but based on the context of the verse, it is most likely the third heaven. This is because Paul says that this man was caught up “to” the third heaven, which implies that there are multiple heavens.
Does the Underworld Truly Exist?
The Bible mentions Hell, or the underworld, numerous times. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” This is an apparent reference to a place called Hell where the wicked will be punished forever. Even though the Bible speaks of Hell as a real place, many people today doubt its existence. Here are a few of them:
- “What you see is what you believe.” People question whether Hell exists or not because there is no scientific evidence, or even a living testimony that it’s really true.
However, we could say that just because we cannot prove the existence of Hell scientifically does not mean that it doesn’t exist. There are many things in our world that we cannot prove scientifically, but we still believe them to be real. For example, we cannot prove scientifically that love exists, but we believe that it does through our feelings and beliefs.
- People argue that the concept of Hell is incompatible with a loving God. If God is good, they say, then He would not send people to an eternity of suffering in Hell.
Taking a counterclaim on this matter, the fact that Hell is incompatible with a loving God does not mean that it doesn’t exist. If we take the Bible as our authority, we must believe that God and its teachings, including everything about Hell, are real. The Bible clearly teaches that God is good (Psalm 100:5), but it also teaches that Hell is real (Matthew 25:41).
- Mankind contends that the Bible doesn’t really teach that Hell is a real place. They claim that passages, like Matthew 25:41, are merely symbolic or figurative—just a mere symbolism of evil.
As for rebuttal, a claim that the Bible doesn’t really teach that Hell is a real place is simply not true. There are many passages in Scripture that speak of Hell as a real place, such as in Matthew 5:22, 29-30; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:10-15, among others. While these verses do not give us a detailed description of Hell, they do make it clear that Hell is a real place where the wicked will be punished forever.
So, does the underworld truly exist? The Bible indicates that it does. In fact, the Bible teaches us that there is an afterlife, and so, living our lives righteously matters because it will determine where we spend eternity. In Luke 16:19-31, we read the story of a rich, selfish man who shows no pity to a poor man named Lazarus who is filled with a good heart. When they both died, the former was tormented in Hell, while the latter enjoyed a comfortable life in Heaven. This is another clear reference to an afterlife in which people are rewarded or punished based on their actions in this life.
What Are the Things That Could Lead Us to Hell in the Afterlife?
The Bible clearly states that there are things that can lead us to Hell in the afterlife. In Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 21:27, Jesus says that those who are sent to Hell will be there because of their wickedness or sinful deeds. And in Matthew 13:41-42, we are told that those who rejected God will go to Hell and be punished in agony.
Here are a few more things that will send a person to Hell:
1) Refusing to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
2) Denying that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
3) Rejecting the forgiveness that God offers through Jesus Christ.
4) Living a life of unrepentant sin.
5) Refusing to turn away from wickedness.
6) Continuing in a lifestyle of lying, stealing, murdering, etc.
7) Accepting false doctrine as truth.
8) Worshiping false gods or idols.
9) Committing sexual immorality (including premarital sex, pornography, homosexual activity, etc).
10) Disobeying His 10 commandements, in general.
It’s important to note that none of us are perfect and we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). The good news is that though we have all sinned, we can be forgiven if we repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). If you have never done this, I urge you to do so today before it would be too late. It’s the only way to be sure that you will go to Heaven when you die.
If you are ever confused about the things that could or could not send you to Hell, always remember that it’s important to live a life that is as close to being completely free from sin as possible. And even though no one can completely avoid sinning, we need to strive to do good things and grow in our relationship with God.
Hebrews 11:25-26 tells us that, “if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” In other words, if we continue to sin willfully, after we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior, then there might be no longer any hope for us, and so we will suffer to God’s punishments.
How Can We Avoid Sin?
Humans are not perfect. So it’s normal that we can make mistakes and sin. But, we can avoid sin by repenting of our sins, which means turning away from them and living according to God’s laws.
We must also make sure to stay away from things that could lead us into sinning, such as evil thoughts, bad company, and temptations. This requires discernment, or the act of making wise choices.
If we keep ourselves close to God, He will help us avoid sin and live a righteous life. He will also give us the strength to overcome any temptation that comes our way. This way, we glorify God and can hope to live eternity with Him.
Does Sin Push Us Away From God?
Definitely. Sin does push us away from God. In Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” This verse makes it very clear that sin drives a wedge between us and God. And we are telling that we don’t need Him as we can handle things on our own. This is a prideful sin that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of His presence.
How Can We Get Closer to God Every Day?
Even though sin has separated us from God, He has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness, we are cleansed of our unrighteousness and can once again have fellowship with God.But what does it mean to have fellowship with God? And how can we get closer to Him on a daily basis?
Fellowship with God is an intimate relationship in which we commune with Him and He reveals Himself to us. It’s a two-way relationship in which we not only receive from God, but we also give to Him. When we spend time with God, whether it’s in prayer, reading His Word, or worshiping Him, we are drawing near to Him.
As we develop our relationship with God, He will begin to reveal Himself to us in new and intimate ways. We will start to see Him working in our lives and we will better understand His will for us. The closer we get to God, the more we will desire to please Him and live our lives according to His plan.
Here are some things you can do to draw closer to God:
1. Pray regularly. Talking to God is one of the best ways to get to know Him better. So spend time each day talking to God about your joys, your concerns, and anything else in your heart.
2. Read the Bible. As you read Scripture, you will gain a greater understanding of who God is and what He has done for us. Reading the Bible is like having a conversation with God, and the more time you spend in His Word, the more you will get to know Him.
3. Worship God. As you worship God, you are proclaiming His greatness and your dependence on Him. Worship is an act of humility that reminds us that we are not self-sufficient, but we need God in our lives.
4. Serve others. When we serve others, we are serving God. It’s an opportunity to show His love to those around us and to make a difference in the lives of others.
5. Spend time with other believers. As we share fellowship with other believers, we are encouraged and challenged to grow in our faith. We can also learn more about God as we hear about His work in the lives of others.
These are just a few ideas to help you get started on your journey of getting closer to God every day. The most important thing is to take the first step and begin seeking after God with all your heart. As you do, He will meet you where you are and lead you into a deeper relationship with Him.
Bottom Line
Most of us know that there are three worlds: Heaven, Earth, and Hell. We are also aware of each of its purposes that may affect our lives in the afterlife. Thus, it makes sense to be mindful of our actions, as we will all be judged according to what we have done in this world; that is, depending on our verdict, we will either spend eternity in Heaven or suffer in Hell—the stake is yours!
