The concept of heaven as the reward of the saved is a belief that originated with pagan cultures like the Greeks and Romans, who envisioned their heaven as Elysium, a place for deified heroes and favorites of their gods. Various cultures developed their own versions, but the idea of going to heaven is not supported by the scriptures as understood in this context. Instead, the Bible indicates that Christ will descend from heaven to earth, as described in I Thessalonians 4:16-17, where the Lord Himself will come down with a shout, and the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by those alive being caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air. This meeting occurs in the earth's atmosphere as Christ descends, not as an ascent to heaven. Scriptures such as Zechariah 14:4 clarify that Christ's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, a physical location on earth, where He will be accompanied by the resurrected saints. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Heaven refers to possession, not location, meaning it is Heaven's Kingdom, with its headquarters in heaven but destined to be established on earth. Numerous passages confirm that Christ will return to earth to stay, ruling as King over all the earth, as stated in Zechariah 14:9, and the saints will reign with Him on earth, as affirmed in Revelation 5:10. Thus, the reward of the saved is not a journey to heaven, but participation in God's Kingdom on earth upon Christ's return.

The common notion of heaven is that it is a place where one can eternally enjoy earthly delights, similar to the pagan concept of Elysium or Paradise. Many believe that in heaven, one walks on streets of gold to a heavenly mansion prepared by Jesus, as mentioned in John 14. People imagine spending eternity pursuing leisure activities like golfing, painting, or playing a harp in a heavenly choir. Some envision heaven as a place to meet biblical figures or earn wings to become guardian angels. Others see it as a place to engage in spiritual battles against evil forces. Catholics believe in the beatific vision, enjoying God's presence eternally, while others picture cherubs floating on clouds. These ideas reflect a transfer of earthly desires and lifestyles to a heavenly setting, suggesting that heaven is the ultimate in human existence.

In the model prayer, Jesus instructs His disciples to address God as "Our Father in heaven," emphasizing the reverential nature of the conversation between a humble supplicant and the Most High God. This salutation identifies God the Father as the Receiver of our petitions and establishes the proper frame of mind for the requester. The phrase "in heaven" raises our sights from the earthly to the heavenly, inspiring a focus on godly, spiritual things rather than material concerns of this world. It serves as a reminder that, even while living on earth, our true position is seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This distinction also points to our responsibilities as God's children to live godly lives and be witnesses of His way before the world, seeking a better, heavenly country as our ultimate homeland. Thinking on these things as we begin our prayers helps us communicate effectively with our heavenly Father.