Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” … I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing on his right and on his left.

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.”

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Mr 1:10; 2Co 5:1; La 3:41; Ec 5:2; Ac 7:55-56, 2Ch 18:18; Je 23:23-24; Is 66:1; 2Pe 3:13

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.