Question
What is Heaven going to be like?
Response
Imagine a car maker showed you a rough sketch of a car they intended to build. The sketch would enable you to get an idea of what the car was going to be like, however, only once you saw the finished car could you really examine it, touch it, smell it, sit in it, drive it and discover what it was really like.
It’s a bit like that when it comes to heaven; it’s hard for us to get our minds around it, because, quite literally, it’s out of this world! However, the Bible does provide us with a few ‘sketches’ to wet our appetites and help us understand a little about what it’s going to be like.
A place or just a state of being?
Many people believe that heaven is just a ‘state of being’. However, the Bible clearly describes it as a place (John 14:2-4). In Acts 1:9-11 we read of Jesus’ resurrection body returning to heaven and Paul in his letters to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:35-49 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10) speak of how in heaven we will have resurrection bodies that will last forever. Heaven is not just a state of being, nor is it a place where just our ‘spirits’ live forever; it’s a real place where we will have real bodies.
A new heaven AND a new earth
Christians often speak of ‘living with God in heaven for ever’. However, the Bible provides us with a much fuller picture. It speaks of the destruction and subsequent renewal of all creation (2 Peter 3:10-13) - a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). All of creation will be set right (Romans 8:18-21) and there will be no more pain and suffering (Revelation 21:4).
Worship
Bruce Milne, in his book Know the Truth says, “To see and know God is the essence of the heavenly life, the fount and source of all it’s bliss…We may be confident that the crowning wonder of our experience in the heavenly realm will be the endless exploration of that unutterable beauty, majesty, love, holiness, power, joy and grace which is God himself.”
It’s hardly surprising that in heaven everyone will worship God, we have no way of knowing exactly what that will look like, but we are provided with a sketch. “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory.”” (Revelations 19:6-7)
Service
It appears that there will be work for us to do in heaven! Revelation 22:3 says, “his servants will serve him”, in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 Paul speaks of saints judging the world and angels, and the Parable of the Talents suggests that the faithful will be given responsibilities. “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:21)
Relationships
In the beginning humans were in relationship with God, the earth and each other. The fall damaged these relationships, but each of them will be perfectly restored in heaven. All the ‘sketches’ of life in the new heaven and new earth are corporate rather than individualistic. For example, a perfect city (Hebrews 13:14) and a wedding feast (Revelation 19:7-10). Despite the importance of relationships in heaven it appears that marriage won’t be a component of our heavenly life. Matthew 22:30 says, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
Heaven in the present and heaven in the future
When Christians speak of ‘heaven’ they are usually referring to the place where they’ll go when they die – they are talking about something that will happen in the future. The Bible often speaks about heaven in this way. Philippians 3:14 says that heaven is the goal we should be aiming at. Romans 8:18 explains that the thought of heaven can provide great comfort in difficult times. Matthew 6:19-21 stresses that our lives should be focused on heaven rather than on earth.
However, the Bible doesn’t just speak about heaven in this way. In fact, when the Jews (the people Jesus spent the majority of his time speaking to) spoke about heaven they were usually referring to the present place where God is – his throne room from where he rules the world.
It’s important that we do not loose sight of this aspect of heaven. It’s not just a future possibility, it’s a present reality. In Philippians 3:20 Paul states, “Our citizenship is in heaven”. Being a citizen of a country involves living our lives under the authority of its ruler, as Christians, we are primarily citizens of heaven; therefore we need to live our lives under God’s authority.
When Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God/Heaven he wasn’t just speaking about where we go when we die, he was speaking about living under God’s rule in the present. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
This response was written by Phil Green. Copyright © August 2007.
FAQ Disclaimer:
FAQ responses are designed to promote clear biblical thinking about subjects that are often difficult and confusing. The responses are all considered to be compatible with the Evangelical Alliance’s basis of faith but beyond that should not be assumed to represent the Evangelical Alliance’s ‘official standpoint’ on any particular doctrine or issue.
