Discussion Outline for 2009 YP Convention

1. Its origins
2. When was heaven created and by whom? (Gen. 1-2; Psa. 8:1-4, 33:6; Col. 1:16-20)
3. Can heaven be merely a state of being or feeling? (Eph. 1:3, 20, 2:6, 3:10)
4. Scripture speaks of heavens (plural).
5. How many there are? (Deut. 10:14; Neh. 9:6; 2 Cor. 5:2)
6. What are their names—biblical, common & scientific (Gen. 1:8; Deut. 10:14; Luke 23:43).
7. Why is there is more than one heaven? (Luke 8:10, John 3:12; 1 Cor. 15:47-49; Rev. 21:2).
8. Its nature and life there:
9. For the physical heavens noted above, discuss the following:
10. The creatures God created to live or exist there (Gen. 1:14-20, Isa. 66:1).
11. The various blessings or judgments God sends to earth from there (Gen. 8:2, 27:39, Exo. 16:4; Josh. 10:11King 1:10; Isa. 55:10; Luke 21:11; Act. 14:17; Rev. 8:10).
12. From your own experience and knowledge of the physical heavens, discuss their many attributes and list adjectives that describe it, e.g. spiritual/physical, far/near, vast/small, over/under, etc.
13. Discuss what the above qualities of the physical heavens teaches us about the spiritual heaven.
14. Its spiritual inhabitants and the quality of their life

1) God (1Kings 8:22-54; Psa. 57; Psa. 68; Psa. 89; Isa. 6:1-6, 66:1; Zech 12:1)

2) Human beings—saints (2 Cor. 5:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:39-49; Heb 10:34; 1 Pet 1:4; Luke 16:26).

1. a) Are the human beings who live there, spiritual creatures or physical? (1 Cor. 15:50)
2. b) Are there any living in heaven in their bodies? (Matt. 17:3; Heb. 11:5; Acts 7:55-56)
3. The spiritual blessings and judgments God sends from heaven (Mal. 3:10; Eph 1:3; Psa. 57:3, 85:11; Rom. 1:18; 2 Chr. 6:21; Psa. 76:8; Matt. 5:12; Matt. 6:20, 13:44-46, 19:21; Rev. 19:1)

1) What is the primary spiritual blessing God has sent from heaven? (John 3:13, 6:58; 1 Pet 1:12)

2) What does Jesus do in heaven? (Matt. 28:18; Acts 3:21; Rev. 8:4; Eph. 4:8; Rom. 8:34)

1. Its end
2. Did Satan ever live in or have access to heaven? Does he now? Why or why not? (Job 1:6-7; 1 Kings 22:19-22; Jude 1:6-9; Rev. 12:1-12)
3. Will all the heavens continue to exist in their present form forever? If not, what will happen to them and why is this necessary? (Matt. 24:29-36; Isa. 13:5-13; 2Pet. 3:7-13; Rev. 6:13-14)
4. Heaven itself should not be confused with the new creation of heaven and earth.
5. What are some differences between them? (Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 21:1-2)
6. What happens to humans living in heaven when Christ returns? Where will they live after he returns, and will they live only in their souls? (Rev. 19:14; Jude 1:14; Rev. 21:1-2).
7. What will be the new relationship between the new heaven and the new earth? (Luke 16:26; Eph. 1:10 & 2:14 1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 20:11; Heb. 10:19-20; 2 Pet. 2:10-13).