What Will Heaven be Like? (Part 1)

Rev 21:1-6 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I john saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful...."

What will heaven be like?  In our nature, it is impossible to say but we can draw from the biblical pictures of what heaven is like.

It will be a new heaven and a new earth.  This theme is repeated throughout the bible.  Isaiah 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."  Isaiah 66:22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD.."  These are bible references.  A new heaven and a new earth.  Some people think that a new earth is symbolic but the reality will be more than the symbol.   The earth is created, but the world (people) are sinful.  Why would God ever want to make a new heaven and a new earth?  because God said he will.  The earth will be restored and renewed with all traces of sin gone.  The earth will be filled with the glory and knowledge of God.  In the life to come heaven and earth will be merged.   A brief look at the current earth shows us reasons as to why God would want to make a new one.  Corrupt, greedy, natural disasters, all consequences of the fall of man and the fall of creation from the good creation that God made at the beginning.

What is the current heaven?  It is a habitation of spirits, only the Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven in his glorified body.  But God is making a new heaven, not just for the spirits of just men made perfect, but for the glorified bodies of his people at Christ's second coming, the resurrection of the dead when believers will have bodies as like Christ's glorified body.  What can that mean to a believer that cannot walk, or is blind? 1 Corin 15:43 "it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.." Christ had a real body after he rose from the dead. Luke 24:39 "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." 


There will be a restoration of all things to the way it should be.  Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  The creation, the earth, groans like believers do for the redemption of our bodies.  Just as Adam's sin brought a curse, so Christ brings a blessing.  Something marvelous is going to happen to this earth of ours.   Act 3:21  "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since he world began." That is when Isaiah's prophecies will have their fulfilment.    There is a coming day of a new heaven and a new earth after the wicked are slain by God's word.   We are to pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  

It will be a perfect family.  A large family. In this life believers can feel lonely but in heaven it will be  a large family.  John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you...."   Rev 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb..." throughout eternity we will have the joy of meeting brothers and sisters of whom we have previously been unaware.  It will be a varied family.

It will be a city of God.  Rev 21:10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God:"   Symbolism is used when the reality defies ordinary description.  Every Christian has longed to see heaven, the place of many mansions, John saw it.  "I John saw..."  and John describes what he saw in symbolism emphasizing the glory of the place.  God inspired the human writers of the bible not so Christians could have controversy, but for the encouragement of the church.  Our understanding is limited, we cannot know for certainty what all things mean, but as we read these things it brings into our minds that heaven will be a wonderful place. 

The gates are open, people may become the true children of God from all nations and enter the city of God.  The great wall is founded upon the apostles.  The foundation speaks of permanence, a tent is temporary, but the foundation is permanent.  Heaven will be secure and permanent for those that have believed the apostle's doctrine.  Jew and Gentile believers will be in  heaven.

God provides only the best for his children and the value system for heaven is different from that on earth.  In the world gold is exalted, but Christ is mocked and laughed at.  In heaven Christ is exalted and gold is trodden underfoot.    There is no need for the temple because heaven is the holy of holies.  No light because God is there.

Heaven simply means that God's people will be with God forever, safe with God.  Nothing is better than to be safe in God's arms and that is what heaven means.  Isaiah 40:11  "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,...." Heaven is resting forever in God the Father's arms. 

Anyone not saved will not be there because they are not in Jesus Christ.  Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 Christ is the only way to heaven. 
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The above notes were made by myself from the sermon by Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) at Sermon Audio.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=110161143464