One of our favorite ways to study the Bible is to follow a doctrine through from the first time it's mentioned to the last. This is a great way to develop understanding of the doctrine in the broad narrative of scripture.
The Firmament Rabbit Trail
February 16th
The Apostle Paul refers to the third heaven in which case, logically, there must also be a first and second heaven. If you believe that Earth orbits a sun which is adrift in an infinite universe, you don't have a third heaven.
December 1st
We refer to the life after this one as "heaven" because we haven't paid attention to what the Bible says. We'll eventually live in a new Jerusalem at the the location presently occupied by our Earth.
The Firmament
Many people have struggled with interpreting creation of the firmament. The simple definition is "expanse," so most translations render the meaning as "the expanse of the sky."