How can we know that heaven is real?

First. The late Bishop Youannis of Gharbia proposes that the first piece of evidence is that sense or intuition present in every person that there is a heaven. He cites the French scholar Fustel de Coulanges who undertook extensive academic research that was published in 1864 [in French] under the title of La Cité Antique ( The Ancient City ). De Coulanges writes: “Go back far as we may in the history of the Indo-European race, of which the Greeks and Italians are branches, and we do not find that this race has ever thought that after this short life all was finished for man. The most ancient generations, long before there were philosophers, believed in a second existence after the present. They looked upon death not as a dissolution of our being, but simply as a change of life … when a body was buried, those ancient peoples believed that they buried something that was living … It was a custom, at the close of a funeral ceremony, to call the soul of the deceased three times by the name he

had borne. They wished that he might live happy under ground. Three times they said to him, Fare thee well. They added, May the earth rest lightly upon thee.’”¹³⁵³

Second. This innate intuition is found throughout the world. Even if a person tries to suppress it, at the moment of impending death it often happens that he will feel a deep regret at having tarnished his life by ignoring or denying this instinct. Many of those who denied faith in their youth returned to it in the latter part of their life, especially as they wrestled with their own death and felt great remorse over their denial of divine providence and eternal life. By way of example, the following are said to have had this kind of experience: Napoleon Bonaparte; the famous French philosopher Voltaire; the American scientist Edison; and the Russian philosopher and author Tolstoy.

Third. The joyful manner in which the martyrs and saints faced death, proclaiming their longing to meet their Savior, the Giver of joy to every heart. Similarly, St. Paul says, “For I am hard pressed between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:23). On the other hand, we hear that many famous atheists were struck with terror and dismay when they felt their moment of death drawing near.

Fourth. The testimony of the word of God. David says, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). After building the temple, Solomon says, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27). The Lord Jesus says, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13). And He also told Nathaniel, “Most assuredly I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending upon the Son of Man” (John 1:51).