I like N.T. Wright’s description of Heaven as God’s space and the earth (stand in for the whole cosmos) our space. It emphasizes that neither Heaven or the earth are temporary phases of creation but permanent elements of it. As far as “going to heaven,” I think the best way to think about Heaven is as a future time when humanity is reconciled with God and humans and other sapient beings are living out our intended role as created co-creators. What it will look like is unclear. What is more important is that we should prepare for it by figuring out how to be created co-creators now. Although I would agree that there could be other universes and dimensions and beings inhabiting those dimensions that could correspond to angels and demons, I think the most important part of Heaven is the relational element not whether it is a physical place where God dwells. God is omnipresent so he dwells in all things, all dimensions, all timelines, and all possible logical realities. Heaven is being able to connect with him in those realities. I know that is starting to sound like the multiverse from Marvel comics, but if a multiverse exists, orthodox theology would require this to be true.
2Kon 6:15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
2Kon 6:16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
2Kon 6:17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Do we simply miss a sixth sense to see heaven and that God is all around us?
I am not an expert of the topic but I have understood that the view of heaven has changed from Genesis towards our time.
In the old cosmology, there was a hard firmament above the earth and heaven was situated above the firmament. In principle, you could enter to heaven if you rised high enough above the earth and found an opening in the firmament.
A later interpretation has been that heaven is somehow around us, as an invisible reality. Some have compared it to another dimension, although that would not be technically correct(?).
Another interpretation has focused on the future Kingdom and presence of God, without taking a clear standpoint about where the heaven is now. There are also other viewpoints.
After we dropped the old cosmology and the idea of the heaven above the firmament, heaven has become a mysterious and difficult concept.
Sure, another invisible dimension sound somewhat weird, but not impossible.
Besides the Elisha example there are more hints from Scripture -
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The Transfiguration in Matt 17.
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Joh 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
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1Kor 4:9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
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1Kor 11:10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
[3] and [4] are interesting, it seems that besides God angels can (are allowed to?) watch us.
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