Which Heaven?
The Bible refers to at least three realms of future blessing after death and not just one called “heaven”. Each one has its own resurrection from the grave and its own inheritance of blessings as a result of an adoption. Until the end of Acts, the idea of man entering God’s realm, the heaven of heavens, was unthinkable. The hope of Israel was a restored kingdom of heaven (Acts 1:6) on the earth. Abraham was promised a land for his seed for ever (Gen 13:15) and looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God (He 11:10). After the Acts period ended with Israel deemed Lo-Ammi, a mystery was revealed that pertains to an election and a hope of a high calling which included spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ (Eph 1:3), where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God (Co 3:1, Eph 1:20) far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age-time, but the coming age also.
Heavenly Places? New Jerusalem? New Earth?
New Earth…Abraham’s Seed
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13: 15-17)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)
New Jerusalem…Elect Israel
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God (Revelation 21:9-10)
Heavenly Places…Elect Body of Christ
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:19-21)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)