Since we have studied Revelation together, there has been discussion on Heaven. So I thought I would explore it a bit more.
What is Heaven?
We see
all kinds of images of heaven in movies and books. They picture clouds, angels with wings and
halos, harps playing, gold streets, and pearly gates with St. Peter standing
guard. We even picture ourselves in
heaven with wings. Some of man’s
interpretation of Heaven is true, but for a true picture of what Heaven is like
we need to look at God’s Word for the real truth.
It is a
physical place that God is preparing for His people, those who believe in Jesus
as their Savior. In John 14:2-3 Jesus tell us, “In my Father’s
house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am.”
It will
be a place where believers will see Him face to face and all our questions will
be answered. All will be revealed to us. “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
Cor. 14:12.
It will be where God will live with believers
for all eternity. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with
them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God.” – Rev. 21:3
Rev. 21:4 tells us it will be a
place of joy and peace and without suffering.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Rev. 21:4
Yes,
music is played and there will be singing and lots of praising and worshiping
of God. See Revelation 4 - 5. No, we
will not have wings. Nowhere in the
Bible does it say we will have wings.
Jesus rose from the grave and He didn’t have wings. Only angels have wings.
Where is Heaven?
In Rev. 21 John saw a vision of a New
Heaven and a New Earth. The old heaven
and old earth had gone and now there were new ones. In Romans
8 Paul tell us that creation groans to be free from the bondage of decay
and evil and eagerly awaits liberation from God. John saw the New Jerusalem or the Holy City
coming down from heaven from God. This
New Jerusalem is Heaven. This will
happen after the final White Throne Judgment where God will judge all
unbelievers. In this New Heaven, God
will live with His people forever. It
will be perfect as God intended for it to be in the Garden of Eden. The Lord is the source and Creator of all
life, the only Redeemer, and the source of our hope of re-creation.
This
Holy City of Jerusalem will be the center of the New Earth. It will be a place where God’s people will
dwell with Him. We will receive our
inheritance and reign with Him in His kingdom.
“… Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take
your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the
world.” – Matt. 25:34.
What will Heaven be like?
It will
be like the original Garden of Eden. The
sky, stars, rivers and oceans, plants, trees, fruit and vegetables, and animals
all were created for God’s pleasure. It
was a place of perfect harmony with beauty and purity. The New Heaven will be like that again. There will be no sin and now worries. People
will live united and in perfect harmony.
There will be no locked doors, no passwords or nothing to disrupt our
lives. We will worship God passionately
and unashamedly. Everything and everyone
will be holy as God is holy. We will
constantly give Him glory and praise. It
will be our perfect home as God intended.
In
John’s vision he described that it as having brilliance like precious jewels,
clear as crystal. It had a high wall
with 12 gates with 12 angels at the gates.
On the gates were written the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. Three gates were on the east, three on the
north, three on the south and three on the west. The city wall had 12 foundations with the
names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.
The city was laid out in a square, as long as it was wide. It measured 12,000 stadia in length, wide,
and high. Its wall was 144 cubits thick
and made of jasper. The city was made of
pure gold as pure as glass. The
foundations of the walls were decorated with all kinds of precious stones –
jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl,
topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst.
The 12 gates were pearls. The
streets were pure gold like transparent glass.
(Rev. 21:9-21)
John
didn’t see a temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its
temple. It didn’t need the sun or the
moon for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. It’s never nighttime. The Lord’s glory will illuminated the
city. This city is full of the glory of
God. At no time will be gates be closed,
because there will be no enemy to enter.
Nothing impure will ever enter it, only those whose names are written in
the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev. 21:22-27)
John
saw the river of life. It was as clear
as crystal that flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle
of the street. On each side was the tree
of life which bearing 12 crops of fruit yielding fruit every month. The leaves are for the healing of the
nations. No longer be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the
holy city and servants to serve Him.
They will be able to see His face.
His name will be written on their foreheads. (Rev.
22:1-4)
There
will be no sea, sun, or moon. There will
be no more death, suffering or pain.
There will probably be no gravity, since we see it described as a
cube. I think there will be eating in
heaven, since we read about the wedding feast of the Lamb. I also think all the things we love will be
there – like our pets, our hobbies, anything that brings us joy.
What will we be like and will we recognize
our loved ones in Heaven?
Our
current bodies are perishable, weak and natural. But in heaven we will have new bodies. They will be perfect imperishable bodies that
will be glorified, powerful, and spiritual.
“So will
it be with the resurrection, of the dead.
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is
sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised
in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” – 1 Cor. 15:42-44. “For the trumpet will
sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” – 1 Cor. 15:52. I think we will still recognize people. After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to many
people who recognized Him.
In
heaven will be no racial differences.
There will be no marriage or sexual differences, because reproduction is
unnecessary. “You
are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry,
nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” – Matt. 22:29-30.
In
heaven not only will we receive a new body, but we will receive a new name and
will be incapable of committing sin. We
will be able to enjoy each other without fear of being hurt. It will be great to be physically and morally
perfect and have perfect fellowship with others.
What will we do in Heaven?
First
we will help judge the world, even the angels. “Do you
not know that the saints will judge the world?
And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial
cases? Do you not know that we will
judge angels?...” – 1 Cor. 6:2-3.
Then we
will reign with God in heaven and will serve Him. “You have made them
to be a kingdom of priest to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
– Rev. 5:10.
Heaven
will be a big celebration. Revelation 4 - 5 tell us of all the
rejoicing and worshiping that will be going on.
We cannot imagine exactly what it will be like. “No eye has seen, no
ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love
him.” – 1 Cor. 2:9.
The
Bible doesn’t answer all our questions about Heaven, but since it will be a
place of pure happiness and joy I am sure in Heaven we will have everything we
enjoy from our hobbies to sports to pets and much more. It will not be boring. We will have work to do, but it won’t be
burdensome. It will be enjoyable and
rewarding. We will serve Him and have
access to Him at all times. We will even
have access to the stars and the galaxies.
Can you imagine?
Do you want to live in Heaven?
We
cannot enter heaven and the presence of the Holy God by our own efforts, but
God has provided a way for us. Jesus
said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3. He went on to
explain that it is not a physical rebirth, but a spiritual birth. We are born once and will die
physically. Those who are born twice
(both physically and spiritually) will die physically, but will be live
spiritually forever. “For God so loved the world, that he have His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
– John 3:16.
If you
want to go to Heaven, you must believe in the gospel – That God send His only
Son, Jesus to earth in human form, that He died on the cross for your sins,
that He was raised to life after 3 days, and that He now sits on the right hand
of God.
You
must:
Admit
you are a sinner – Rom. 3:23, 6:23
Confess
Jesus is Lord – Rom. 10:9-10
Repent
of your sins – Luke 13:5
Believe
in Jesus – John 3:16; 14:6
Then be
baptized in obedience as a testimony.
Then He wants us to walk with Him daily.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”
– John 14:15. Then to promote your spiritual growth – pray,
read the Bible, and witness. These
things are not required to keep your salvation, but they will help you grow in
your faith and experience more joy as you walk with Him.
We all
have eternal life, but it’s your choice where you will spend it. Heaven is not the default place. Your certain future awaits you – Hell or
Heaven. God promises all those who trust
and obey Him will live in Heaven with Him forever. Where do you want to spend eternity?
__________________________________________
If you
have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share
this post with the buttons below.
You can also join this site by clicking on the blue button at the top left "Join this site" or you can "Subscribe by Email". If you follow by email, you will receive an email every time there is a new post.
