What the Bible says about Heaven

What the Bible says about Heaven

Nearly all of us are curious about where we will end up after we die.  But how much do we really know about this place called heaven where we will spend eternity? Many Christians picture heaven as an unending church service.  A never ending sing-along in the sky!  An enthusiastic pastor once told us that we would spent all of eternity with our hands up in the air praising God.  His eyes were shinning with enthusiasm and he couldn’t wait, but I worried that my arms would get tired. We picture ourselves in heaven sitting on clouds in long white robes playing harps on and on!  And we wonder if we may get bored.

Part of the problem is that human language has many limitations and it is impossible to describe the indescribable. And basically heaven is indescribable.  Scripture says this about heaven.  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of humans, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (I Corinthians 2:9) In other words, heaven is beyond our wildest imaginations.  We have never seen anything like it - so alive and so over the top beautiful and we have never heard of anything that is so good and glorious and uplifting.  

 There are many images of heaven recorded in the Bible. Several of these mentioned in Scripture are harps, crowns and gold.  Bible scholars believe that the mention of harps is just an image of music or a symbolic attempt to suggest that we will have praise and worship and ecstasy in heaven.  We will sing a new song.

In Scripture we read that we will be given crowns perhaps to illustrate that those who are in heaven will rule or reign with Christ.  The Bible tells us that: “If we endure, we will reign with Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:12) Scripture also says: “To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” (Revelation 2:26) And also: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne,…”( Revelation 3:31)  We will have important work in heaven it seems! No time to get bored like we thought! And gold is also mentioned possibly to suggest the timelessness of heaven (gold never rusts) and the richness too.  We are only guessing.

The Bible describes a River and the Tree of Life in heaven. “On each side of the River stands the Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”  (Revelations 22:2) It seems that we will eat the fruit from the Tree of Life.  In Scripture we also read about the Marriage Feast or Supper of the Lamb. (Revelations 19:9) We will enjoy eating and drinking in the kingdom of heaven and I imagine the food will be more delicious than anything we have ever tasted here on earth!

In the Bible we read that God will create a new heavens and a new earth.  “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”  (Isaiah 65:17) God will create new heavens and a new earth because sin has entered and spoiled them.  The angels and Satan sinned and then we humans sinned with Adam and Eve first disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit.  Paradise was lost.  Scripture says that the earth has been broken by sin and creation groans to be made new.  And it will be.  It will be a new earth and heavens, redeemed and transfigured. 

And our bodies will also be made new when we die.  In Scripture we read: “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. “(2 Corinthians 5:1)

 Scripture says: “What is mortal (a body that will die) will be swallowed up by life.” (1 Corinthians 5:5a) Our age old imagery of death is reversed.  When we die we will be swallowed up by life, not by death.  We are participating in the resurrection life of Jesus our Savior. Scripture says: “You (Christ) will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”  ((Psalm 16:11) Jesus says: “To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelations 21:6b)

In heaven we are told in Scripture that there will be no more sorrow or crying or sickness or sin or death.   We read in Scripture: “God will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  (Revelations 21:4)

In this new world “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 65:25) “And there will be no person or animal harming another or killing on my holy hill”.  (Isaiah 11:9) “The leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. “(Isaiah 11:6)  It will be a new world , that is for sure!   

And then when God brings down the final curtain of history there will be the judgment.  And the judge will be Christ. He is our Savior and our Judge.  Scripture says: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) 

But we need not be afraid.  Jesus himself said: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life.”  (John 5:24)   It seems that we receive rewards “crowns” for the good we have done here on earth.  And again believing in Him is the most important thing that we can ever do. 

Many of the Scriptures and ideas from this blog were taken from “Heaven and the Afterlife” by James L. Garlow with Keith Wall

 

What the Bible say about Heaven

Nearly all of us are curious about where we will end up after we die.  But how much do we really know about this place called heaven where we will spend eternity? Many Christians picture heaven as an unending church service.  A never ending sing-along in the sky!  An enthusiastic pastor once told us that we would spent all of eternity with our hands up in the air praising God.  His eyes were shinning with enthusiasm and he couldn’t wait, but I worried that my arms would get tired. We picture ourselves in heaven sitting on clouds in long white robes playing harps on and on!  And we wonder if we may get bored.

Part of the problem is that human language has many limitations and it is impossible to describe the indescribable. And basically heaven is indescribable.  Scripture says this about heaven.  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of humans, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (I Corinthians 2:9) In other words, heaven is beyond our wildest imaginations.  We have never seen anything like it - so alive and so over the top beautiful and we have never heard of anything that is so good and glorious and uplifting.  

 There are many images of heaven recorded in the Bible. Several of these mentioned in Scripture are harps, crowns and gold.  Bible scholars believe that the mention of harps is just an image of music or a symbolic attempt to suggest that we will have praise and worship and ecstasy in heaven.  We will sing a new song.

In Scripture we read that we will be given crowns perhaps to illustrate that those who are in heaven will rule or reign with Christ.  The Bible tells us that: “If we endure, we will reign with Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:12) Scripture also says: “To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” (Revelation 2:26) And also: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne,…”( Revelation 3:31)  We will have important work in heaven it seems! No time to get bored like we thought! And gold is also mentioned possibly to suggest the timelessness of heaven (gold never rusts) and the richness too.  We are only guessing.

The Bible describes a River and the Tree of Life in heaven. “On each side of the River stands the Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”  (Revelations 22:2) It seems that we will eat the fruit from the Tree of Life.  In Scripture we also read about the Marriage Feast or Supper of the Lamb. (Revelations 19:9) We will enjoy eating and drinking in the kingdom of heaven and I imagine the food will be more delicious than anything we have ever tasted here on earth!

In the Bible we read that God will create a new heavens and a new earth.  “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”  (Isaiah 65:17) God will create new heavens and a new earth because sin has entered and spoiled them.  The angels and Satan sinned and then we humans sinned with Adam and Eve first disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit.  Paradise was lost.  Scripture says that the earth has been broken by sin and creation groans to be made new.  And it will be.  It will be a new earth and heavens, redeemed and transfigured. 

And our bodies will also be made new when we die.  In Scripture we read: “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. “(2 Corinthians 5:1)

 Scripture says: “What is mortal (a body that will die) will be swallowed up by life.” (1 Corinthians 5:5a) Our age old imagery of death is reversed.  When we die we will be swallowed up by life, not by death.  We are participating in the resurrection life of Jesus our Savior. Scripture says: “You (Christ) will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”  ((Psalm 16:11) Jesus says: “To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelations 21:6b)

In heaven we are told in Scripture that there will be no more sorrow or crying or sickness or sin or death.   We read in Scripture: “God will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  (Revelations 21:4)

In this new world “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 65:25) “And there will be no person or animal harming another or killing on my holy hill”.  (Isaiah 11:9) “The leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. “(Isaiah 11:6)  It will be a new world , that is for sure!   

And then when God brings down the final curtain of history there will be the judgment.  And the judge will be Christ. He is our Savior and our Judge.  Scripture says: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) 

But we need not be afraid.  Jesus himself said: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life.”  (John 5:24)   It seems that we receive rewards “crowns” for the good we have done here on earth.  And again believing in Him is the most important thing that we can ever do. 

Many of the Scriptures and ideas from this blog were taken from “Heaven and the Afterlife” by James L. Garlow with Keith Wall

 

What the Bible say about Heaven

Nearly all of us are curious about where we will end up after we die.  But how much do we really know about this place called heaven where we will spend eternity? Many Christians picture heaven as an unending church service.  A never ending sing-along in the sky!  An enthusiastic pastor once told us that we would spent all of eternity with our hands up in the air praising God.  His eyes were shinning with enthusiasm and he couldn’t wait, but I worried that my arms would get tired. We picture ourselves in heaven sitting on clouds in long white robes playing harps on and on!  And we wonder if we may get bored.

Part of the problem is that human language has many limitations and it is impossible to describe the indescribable. And basically heaven is indescribable.  Scripture says this about heaven.  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of humans, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (I Corinthians 2:9) In other words, heaven is beyond our wildest imaginations.  We have never seen anything like it - so alive and so over the top beautiful and we have never heard of anything that is so good and glorious and uplifting.  

 There are many images of heaven recorded in the Bible. Several of these mentioned in Scripture are harps, crowns and gold.  Bible scholars believe that the mention of harps is just an image of music or a symbolic attempt to suggest that we will have praise and worship and ecstasy in heaven.  We will sing a new song.

In Scripture we read that we will be given crowns perhaps to illustrate that those who are in heaven will rule or reign with Christ.  The Bible tells us that: “If we endure, we will reign with Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:12) Scripture also says: “To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” (Revelation 2:26) And also: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne,…”( Revelation 3:31)  We will have important work in heaven it seems! No time to get bored like we thought! And gold is also mentioned possibly to suggest the timelessness of heaven (gold never rusts) and the richness too.  We are only guessing.

The Bible describes a River and the Tree of Life in heaven. “On each side of the River stands the Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”  (Revelations 22:2) It seems that we will eat the fruit from the Tree of Life.  In Scripture we also read about the Marriage Feast or Supper of the Lamb. (Revelations 19:9) We will enjoy eating and drinking in the kingdom of heaven and I imagine the food will be more delicious than anything we have ever tasted here on earth!

In the Bible we read that God will create a new heavens and a new earth.  “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”  (Isaiah 65:17) God will create new heavens and a new earth because sin has entered and spoiled them.  The angels and Satan sinned and then we humans sinned with Adam and Eve first disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit.  Paradise was lost.  Scripture says that the earth has been broken by sin and creation groans to be made new.  And it will be.  It will be a new earth and heavens, redeemed and transfigured. 

And our bodies will also be made new when we die.  In Scripture we read: “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. “(2 Corinthians 5:1)

 Scripture says: “What is mortal (a body that will die) will be swallowed up by life.” (1 Corinthians 5:5a) Our age old imagery of death is reversed.  When we die we will be swallowed up by life, not by death.  We are participating in the resurrection life of Jesus our Savior. Scripture says: “You (Christ) will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”  ((Psalm 16:11) Jesus says: “To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelations 21:6b)

In heaven we are told in Scripture that there will be no more sorrow or crying or sickness or sin or death.   We read in Scripture: “God will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  (Revelations 21:4)

In this new world “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 65:25) “And there will be no person or animal harming another or killing on my holy hill”.  (Isaiah 11:9) “The leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. “(Isaiah 11:6)  It will be a new world , that is for sure!   

And then when God brings down the final curtain of history there will be the judgment.  And the judge will be Christ. He is our Savior and our Judge.  Scripture says: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) 

But we need not be afraid.  Jesus himself said: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life.”  (John 5:24)   It seems that we receive rewards “crowns” for the good we have done here on earth.  And again believing in Him is the most important thing that we can ever do. 

Many of the Scriptures and ideas from this blog were taken from “Heaven and the Afterlife” by James L. Garlow with Keith Wall