God Doesn’t Live In Heaven: Johnson Suleman, Abel Damina and Others Are Wrong

CHRISTIANS GENERALLY believe that God lives in heaven just as the Bible states. But today, Apostle Johnson Suleman, Dr. Abel Damina, two pastors in Nigeria and others, teach that God does not live in heaven.

Their teaching supports the views of unbelievers who doubt the existence of God. The pastors mockingly ask the question: “If God lived in heaven, where then was He living before He created the heavens and the earth?

A pastor who asks this question exposes himself as a poor student of the Bible. That is why these erring pastors are not able to state clearly and specifically the place where God lived before He created the universe, thereby leaving their ignorant members in confusion.

This article attempts to prove that God lived in HEAVEN before He created the HEAVENS and the earth. And He still dwells in heaven. Several books of the Bible support this view. Genesis 11:5,7 hint that “…the LORD CAME DOWN to see the city…LET US GO DOWN and confuse their language…”

Then, in Exodus 3:7-8, it is written: “Then the LORD said…I HAVE COME DOWN to deliver…”  Similarly, in Genesis 22:11, 15, we read that God called Abraham from heaven. These passages of Scripture clearly suggest that God lives above the earth.

Moreover, in the New Testament, Jesus Christ emphatically stated on several occasions that God dwelt in heaven. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Then, in Matthew 5:9, Jesus Christ taught that, “Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven…”

Now, the problem Johnson Suleman, Abel Damina and others have is Genesis 1:1 which reads: “In the beginning, God CREATED THE HEAVENS and the earth. So, they ask: Where was God living before He created the heavens? They ask this question because they are unable to interpret the text in connection with other passages of Scripture which are stated in this teaching.

In answering the question, an emphasis should be put on the difference between the words “HEAVENS”, AND “HEAVEN.” And you should remind yourself that God lives in HEAVEN and not HEAVENS. The word “heavens” suggests the availability of different types of heavens. Actually, the term “heaven” literary means “expanse.” Thus, the word “heavens” used in Genesis 1:1 to refer to different expanses which God created.

First, heavens may refer to the region where birds fly, which we call the sky or the atmosphere. So the Bible says, “I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the BIRDS OF THE HEAVENS were fled (Jeremiah 4:25, KJV). Other translations of the Bible use the word, “AIR” FOR HEAVENS in the verse above.

Second, heavens may refer to the region occupied by the planets and stars, which we call OUTER SPACE. “For the STARS OF THE HEAVENS and their constellations will not give their light” (Isaiah 13:10).

Finally, however, THERE IS UNIQUE HEAVEN BEYOND THE HEAVENS WHERE BIRDS FLY AND OCCUPIED BY THE PLANETS AND STARS. THIS IS THE REGION WHERE GOD LIVED BEFORE THE CREATION AND CONTINUES TO LIVE AFTER CREATION.

The Bible has a lot to say about this special heaven: The writer of the book of Hebrews states that, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but INTO HEAVEN ITSELF…” (Hebrews 9:24).

This verse is accurately validated by Acts 1:11 which says, “…This same JESUS, WHO WAS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, will come in the same way as you saw him go to heaven.”

Paul adds that, “He who descended is the one who also ascended FAR ABOVE ALL THE HEAVENS …” (Ephesians 4:10).

Also, in Hebrews 4:14, it is written, “Since we have a great high priest who has PASSED THROUGH THE HEAVENS, Jesus, the Son of God…”

You can clearly see from the scriptural verses above that God does not live in heavens. In other words, God does not live in the sky or outer space but in heaven. This is the heaven where the Jesus Christ was taken to. And this heaven is far above all the heavens. That is why Jesus Christ had to passed through the heavens before He could go there.

Remember that Paul wrote about A THIRD HEAVEN which he described as paradise. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was CAUGHT UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN —whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man CAUGHT UP INTO PARADISE—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2).

Clearly, God, a self-existing Supreme Being, dwells in an uncreated self-existing heaven knowledge of which is beyond thorough human comprehension and discussion. Certainly, it is the third heaven that Paul briefly wrote about.

Now, it is clear that the word “heavens” used in Genesis 1:1 does not refer to a place where God was living before creation. but the regions where birds fly and occupied by the planets and stars.

Consequently, Johnson Suleman, Abel Damina and others are wrong in teaching that God does not live in heaven. They should be bold to admit that they erred, apologise and come again with correct teaching.

By James Quansah