The disposition of ouranological scholarship, that is the study (ology) of Heaven (ouranos), has been to emphasize its eschatological nature. This thesis offers an exegetical study on the subject of Heaven in Scripture, particularly in the book of Revelation, which is considered the most erudite work on Heaven in literature, in order to determine whether the scriptures show Heaven as having a vital noneschatological nature, too. This thesis concludes that Revelation presents Jesus as inimitably involved with Heaven, and that this involvement presents Heaven as having a past, present, and future nature. Moreover, within these three chronological eras exist seven specific epochs of Heaven, which are fashioned by the ministry of Jesus Christ. The exegetical data in this thesis will therefore show Heaven is best understood when it is expanded beyond the boundaries of eschatology.
Thesis_PhD_2018_WellmanJAuthor: Wellman, Jared C.