Some practice with types.

Canaan as symbolic of heaven

It is called the land of promise in Heb 11:9. It was a land that was promised to Abraham, Gen 12:1, etc.

The first occupants of that land, were to lose it
because of sin.

And Abraham was promised that his descendants would get this land in later times. This was a prophecy.

“In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
Gen 15:16 WEB

Abraham could have said, “What??? That’s a long way off. Oh well, I guess we’ll see?” Instead, of Abraham it is written,

“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
Gen 15:16 WEB

Abraham was counted righteous BECAUSE he BELIEVED the prophecies of the Lord!

Israel inherited a country they did not build.

“10… to give you, great and goodly cities, which you didn’t build, 11 and houses full of all good things, which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full;”
Deut 6:10-11

Joshua repeats these promises in Josh 24:13.

Many inhabitants of heaven were unfaithful.

The angels that sinned were cast out of heaven in Revelation 12:7-9. Man is made to rule. He is made for a little while, “a little lower than the angels,” Heb 2:7 WEB. But that will change in the world to come.

“ You make him ruler over the works of your hands.
You have put all things under his feet:”
Psa 8:6 WEB

“2 Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? … 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? …”
1Cor 6:2-3 WEB

And we will inherit a land we did not build.

And we will inherit houses we did not build.

“2 In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.”
Jn 14:2-3 WEB

And Abraham himself was NOT just seeking an
earthly home.

“But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Heb 11:16 WEB

And so we sing of heaven:

“To Canaan’s land I’m on my way, where the soul of man never dies,” and many other songs of Canaan and the promised land, as symbolic of heaven.

Some cautions on types.

What then are the proper limits to be observed? I would suggest that as a start, we not try to make symbolism to say anything plainly contrary to the open statements of Scripture. If used properly it will generally supplement and enforce what we should already know.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901