How do we know that heaven really exists? – Because we have the word of Jesus; we have the resurrection of Jesus; we have miracles that clearly speak of the nature of the kingdom of God and point to its coming, and we have the Holy Spirit who dwells within us and gives us just a foretaste of what it is to know God and be known by him. Paul said to the Corinthians, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12.) The truth is we don’t really know what heaven is like, but we do know Jesus is there and we know what Jesus is like so we can trust what he says. Jesus referred to heaven as paradise: He said to the thief who acknowledged him on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”