When bible says "heaven" does it refer to up physically or is it more deep than that as a metaphysical world?

[Willowwww]

In Christian belief, when we pray, "Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," does the word "heaven" refer to the metaphysical, Platonic realm that is beyond matter—like the domain of free will, spirits, angels, and souls of the deceased, a place beyond our universe that we cannot fully understand or access scientifically? Or does it refer to the physical sky, the heaven as we know it? What is the perspective of the Bible on this matter? And when bible says "ın the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" does 'earth' mean whole physical universe that we can understand with science and our senses or is it just the earth we know as a planet?

[Subglacial]

I might putting my foot in my mouth here because this is not something I have studied in any real amount of depth, but from what I have read and heard from others...

At the time the books of the Hebrew Bible were written, my understanding is that Heaven was understood to be a real, physical place above the Earth. The firmament, or the dome above the Earth, was its lowest layer, and the "waters above" mentioned in Genesis were real rivers and oceans within God's kingdom, not just clouds. The underworld (Sheol, not Hell) was similarly seen as a real place under the Earth and ocean. Some of that is in the Holy Bible, but I think you'd need to read extrabiblical texts for a more complete picture.

I'm unsure how much of that was still believed at the time of the Gospels, but Revelation does go into great (and specific) detail describing the "New Jerusalem" as part of the "New Heaven", even detailing the shape and dimensions of its walls and the precious stones that compose them. It sounds to me like a very real, physical place, where people live and time passes, even if it goes on for eternity.

Opinions vary a lot among modern Christians, but many people I've read or talked to see those at metaphor, and they think of Heaven not as an actual place but a metaphysical state of being one with God, while Hell (if they believe in it; not all do) is a state of being without God. I think this is a modern idea, though, not described in scripture, and a lot of people still preach streets of gold and lakes of fire.

Different Christians disagree on what's obviously literal and obviously metaphor, so the answer to your question will really depend on who you ask.

That's the answer: depends who you ask. Sorry it's boring, but it's true.

[strateguy632]

in that prayer you are right about angel. but the same word means both options. "birds in the heaven" and "stars in the heaven". some interpret heaven is the "biblical garden by the tigris river."

[Crimsyjo]

It's not a physical place (if it exists) because it's not for physical beings. It's spiritual for spirits.

[slatyb]

It means whatever you want it to mean. There are 45,000 Christian denominations with different interpretations of the Bible.

[Willowwww]

But i am trying to be a catholic. So there must to be one truth right? Or does it not work like that and all of the interpretations can be aceepted?

[slatyb]

It's literally up to you. You realize that Catholic doctrine has changed over the centuries?

[Dargil]

To me, of is in the spiritual realm that we came from and hope to return to in the afterlife.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

It's a physical place.