HEAVEN
Infinity Future
Unless stated otherwise, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible or the New Living Translation of the King James Version.
The Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture. Please look up the Scripture references in your Bible, read along, and listen to the Holy Spirit. If one shortcuts Bible doctrine, one cuts off the many blessings from the ministering voice of the Lord. The Lord’s voice is the most beautiful sound you will ever hear this side of Heaven. Listen often by reading Scripture and conversing with the Lord, daily. Portions of this study can also be found in other studies here on WOTM, but repetition and inculcation are they keys to learning.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ (if you are saved), keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above (the spiritual things contained within the Word), not on the things that are on earth (social and material things of the world)“ (Colossians 3:1-2).
HEAVEN
The great Apostle Paul was “caught up” to glimpse Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). This is why in Philippians 1:21, Paul stated that living (after being saved), we are to live for Christ and not ourselves, and that Heaven is a promotion for every believer.
Paul literally saw Heaven, and he said as a result that physical death (absent from the body) is to be present (face-to-face) with God (2 Corinthians 5:8). Some theologians and Bible Scholars believe that 2 Corinthians 5:8 means that we are instantly before the Lord, while others teach that our transmogrify will take a while. In either case, the translation to Heaven will be a glorious one as we shall soon see from Scripture.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HEAVEN?
Heaven and the Kingdom of God are synonymous terms. Heaven, the Kingdom of God, is where God is – where God dwells (Matthew 5:16; 12:50; Revelation 3:12; 11:13; 16:11; 20:9). Heaven is where the Second Person of the Trinity (Christ) descended from at the incarnation (John 3:13,31; 6:38,42). Heaven is the seat of eternity – the City and Kingdom of the Godhead.
After Christ’s resurrection, He ascended, passing through the first and second heavens, “far above all the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14, Ephesians 4:10), and was “made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). He “sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,” (Hebrews 8:1; 1 Peter 3:22).
The Third Person of the trinity (Holy Spirit) descended from Heaven at Pentecost (1 Peter 1:12).
Heaven is the abode of angels (Matthew 18:10; 22:30; Revelation 3:5).
Like the Apostle Paul, the Apostle John was allowed to view the New Jerusalem in Heaven in Revelation chapters 21 & 22. These chapters describe future events pertaining to the New Jerusalem and will be noted shortly here in our study.
Believers have a “spiritual citizenship” in Heaven (Philippians 3:20,21). Earth is our home away from home. When we pass from this physical body at death (2 Thessalonians 5:6-8) we will return to the Living God. Heaven is the place where believers possess “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3,20; 2:6; Hebrews 11:16).
HOW DO WE GET TO HEAVEN?
Jesus described Heaven as the Father’s House: “In my Father’s house (Heaven) are many dwellings places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you (in Heaven). If I go (and I do) and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.“ Jesus is the only way. There is only one way to heaven – Jesus Christ, who declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life“ (John 14:6).
(Please reference all nine verses of John 14:1-9.)
WHERE IS HEAVEN?
The Bible speaks about three heavens: The first heaven is from ground level to the outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere (Acts 14:17). The second heaven is the stellar universe beyond earth’s atmosphere, extending to the end of the known universe. Both the first and second heavens are also the places where unseen spiritual warfare goes on continuously between angels and demons (Ephesians 6:12). The third heaven, “The Throne of the Majesty of Heaven” (Hebrews 1:8) is located beyond the known universe to the galactic-north, according to the Psalms and the book of Isaiah. In this third heaven is found the eternal city of God, the New Jerusalem (Revelation chapters 21 -22).
WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE?
God is perfect in all His ways, therefore Heaven is perfect. It is perfect beyond imagination – perfect in splendor and majesty and beauty, filled with the glory of God.
You will see true perfection when you open your conscious eyes in glory (Heaven) and see the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Apparently, Heaven is so beautiful and spectacular that God in His omniscience knew He could not reveal too much or we would all be too tempted to go there before our appointed time. So, let us follow Scripture to Heaven. The Bible describes our journey to the Heavenly City of God.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BELIEVER DIES
(Death means release from the physical body)
At death, the believer’s soul and spirit depart from the physical body and enter into an interim body (2 Corinthians 5:1-8). Angels will take our hand, comfort and assure us, and escort us to Heaven. This will be the most fantastic journey we will ever take.
As we rise through the clouds and atmosphere, we realize gravity no longer has any effect on us. We are not afraid of falling and we are in total awe at our newly found freedom of flight. Our ascent is relaxed and pleasant as we soar above the clouds and into the universe of planets and stars and galaxies. The angels look at us with reassurances, smiling with such beauty and charm and love. This is better than anything we’ve ever conceived of or imagined – it is our new reality, and only now do we truly understand the magnitude of what we have read about in Scripture.
Apparently, we will have more than one escort. I make this deduction based on Daniel 10:12-21 where the angel who was sent to aid Daniel was detained (fought with) by the Prince of the kingdom of Persia (a fallen angel) for 21 days. But Michael, the most powerful of angels, came to his rescue. Our journey to Heaven is protected by God and our escorts will keep us safe because no man and no entity can pluck us out of the Father’s hand (John 10:28-29; 11:25-26). Our escorts will battle demons to keep us safe. As God has commanded, so shall it be.
What we will experience as we rise to the third heaven is beyond description. Passing through space and billions of light years, we will see an illumination of light in the distance, brighter than anything we could ever imagine. The brightness and glory of home – the dwelling place of the Shekinah Glory – our God and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no sun, only the light of His brilliance and glory. The heavenly eternal city called the New Jerusalem is straight ahead.
As we approach the heavenly city, we will be speechless with awe. We will enter a gate of pearl and be ushered to the Throne of God where we will at last be face-to-face with our Great God and Savior (2 Corinthians 5:8). All this awaits the believer when God calls us home to glory. But wait, there’s more…
We will see the glory and majesty of God’s throne (Isaiah 35:2). We will collapse to our spiritual knees, overwhelmed at the long-awaited look at His loving face.
In Ezekiel 1:26-28, we find a description of the view that will bring us to our knees in awe. “Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli (a translucent violet blue and green) in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward, something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the radiance around Him. And when I saw I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”
This description by Ezekiel is confirmed in Revelation 4:2,3 by John when he saw the same thing: “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in Heaven, and one sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.” Jasper sparkles like crystal, and sardius is like fire in a diamond stone. Jesus Christ in all His glory is indescribable. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the unique person of the Universe.
A look at Revelation 1:14-16 gives us another description of Christ’s glory: “And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters, and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” Christ, the risen Messiah, is the Absolute and Most High God.
THE NEW JERUSALEM – THE HEAVENLY CITY OF GOD
God gives us the specific measurements of the City of God in Revelation 21:15-16. It is 1500 miles in height, width, and length, and could possibly be the shape of a square or even a pyramid. Can you imagine a city 1500 miles high? That is beyond the atmosphere. So apparently, when Christ brings the New Jerusalem to earth, the atmosphere might be changed to accommodate the new City from heaven. The lights are bright and beautiful beyond description – talk about awesome. Revelation 21:10 says that the New Jerusalem will appear like a mountain coming down out of Heaven. From earth looking up it will reach to the second heaven.
A wall surrounds the New City. In Revelation 21:17, God gives us the measurements of this spectacular wall: “And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards (across or wide) according to human measurement, which are also angelic measurements.”
In Revelation 21:18-21, God details the beauty of this incredible wall – “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.” Can you imagine anything so beautiful? This incredible wall is an eternal memorial to the twelve Apostles of our Lord.
In Revelation 12:14 we read: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” The names of the Apostles are: Paul, Peter, John, Matthew, the two James, Philip, Simon, Thomas, Bartholomew, Thaddeus and Andrew. (It is interesting to note that all the Apostles except John were martyred.)
The “stones,” named in verses 18-20 of Revelation Chapter 21 (above), have been coveted by mankind since ancient times (apparently) because the Bible gives them special significance.
- Amethyst is a clear purple, bluish violet and deep purple.
- Beryl is a blue green.
- Chalcedony is bluish white and green.
- Chrysolite is yellow and greenish blue.
- Chrysoprase is greenish.
- Emerald is usually a bright, rich green, but also appears as bluish green, yellow, pink, and white.
- Jasper is and multi-colored bright like fire.
- Jacinth is red mixed with yellow that appears bright orange.
- Sapphire is deep blue to deep purple.
- Sardius is brilliant red.
- Sardonyx has layers of white and orange-red or reddish brown.
- Topaz is bright yellow and white.
The wall on top of these foundation stones is also constructed of precious stones, as described in verse 18 above.
There are twelve gates in the wall that surrounds the city, with twelve angels and the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel are written on them (Revelation 21:12).
In Revelation 21:21, each of the twelve gates has a pearl. These are the gates that believers will go through when we come and go from the Heavenly City (Revelation 21:27). Because there are twelve different gates, we can deduce that there are at least twelve different streets leading to the center of the city. The streets are formed of the purest transparent gold (Revelation 21:21b). Apparently these twelve streets each contain a river of living water, which flows from the Throne of God (Revelation 22:1).
Water is mentioned in Scripture many times, referring to salvation and eternal life, and here we understand that both salvation and eternal life flow from God as His eternal gift to His redeemed creation. We shall drink freely from these rivers. We shall eat from the “Tree of Life” (Revelation 22:2). There are twelve trees bearing twelve fruits of unimaginable taste, yielding fruit every month. Perhaps these trees honor the original twelve tribes of Benjamin (Israel) and/or the twelve Apostles. The Scriptures do not specifically state if there is a correlation.
In Isaiah 24:23, God tells us that: “The moon will be embarrassed and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders.” Remember too, that the sun and moon will not light the New Heaven, which God will create after time has run its course of history. The New Heaven will be full of light everywhere and there will be no shadows, for the light of it is the glory of God forevermore.
God’s will is done in Heaven (Matthew 6:20). Everyone in Heaven is completely selfless (totally devoted) to God and our glorious Savior
WHAT WILL WE LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT WILL WE BE LIKE?
Every believer whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will receive a new heavenly body like that of our Savior. We will resemble our physical selves but at which stage of our previous physical life Scripture does not state. Nor does it state our size – height, weight, whatever but don’t worry, God has everything all figured out – we will be perfect! Heaven is a perfect and a spiritual place.
“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Minus our body, we will never again be tired or weak and weary. We will not suffer anymore, nor be sick; there will be no more crying or sorrow. In Heaven, we will have boundless eternal energy. Gravity will no longer restrain us. We will ascend and descend and transcend the universe just as angels do now. Our body will be like Christ’s body. After Christ rose from the dead, His new body could not be restrained. He passed through the stones of the tomb that encompassed His dead body and through walls in the upper room (reference Luke, Chapter 24). (Note: The angel rolled the stone away from the tomb’s entrance to provide access to those present, not to let the Lord out. He had passed through the stone and departed earlier.)
1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” Christ appeared to the disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19; John 20:11-17).
Christ, in His new body after the resurrection, was recognizable as a human being; He could eat and could be touched (Luke 24:39-40; John 20:26-28). He could speak and His voice was recognizable even though His body was different. He had a different type of flesh and bone because He could walk through walls and could make Himself disappear, and was not subject to gravity as we are (John 20:19; Luke 24:31; Acts 1:9,10).
“For we (believers) know (have confidence) that if the earthly tent (our body – a tent is a temporary dwelling place) which is our house is torn down (dies), we have a building from God, a house (a new body, one like Christ’s glorious resurrection body) not made with hands (procreation), eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house (body) we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling (new body) from Heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.”
We should not fear death but anticipate it with the confidence of God’s guarantee. His Word (covenant) with the believer is guaranteed by His down payment to us, which is the Holy Spirit in us.
“There are bodies in the heavens, and there are bodies on earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the beauty of the earthly bodies” (1 Corinthians 15:40; and chapters 41-58).
GOD INHERENT IN MAN
Deep down inside, every person yearns to know God and be with God (Romans 1:18-20 and Daniel 10:11-13), whether they realize this fact or not. Romans 1:18-20 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them (inherent in all mankind); for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Notice that since Adam (creation) man has been aware of God’s attributes, eternal power, and divine nature, and is wholly without excuse. Woe to the one who says, “There is no evidence of God,” for they literally swim in oceans of evidence all around and within them.
PERFECT KNOWLEDGE
All limits to our knowledge will be removed, seen in 1 Corinthians 13:12, especially “face to face” and “I shall know fully.” We will have 100% use of our brain, not the approximate 3%–10% we have now. (Adam was perfectly created and therefore had 100% use of his brain. Humanity only has a tenth (or so) of his original mental capacity. But, in our glorified state we will be perfect-minded.)
Christ’s glorified name shall be written on our foreheads – a seal of ownership. We are His personal property forever. There shall be no more curse; we shall serve Him happily forever and ever (Revelation 5:11-13; 22:3&4; reference also Revelation 7:9-12; 19:1).
As stated in earlier in our study, the Apostle Paul was taken in spirit to Heaven for a glimpse (2 Corinthians 12:2). God in His Omniscience gave the great Apostle a look at Heaven because Paul would suffer for His Savior and the Gospel. Paul would need tremendous faith and endurance, and God knew this brief look would sustain Paul through so much frustration and suffering. Heaven is real. Jesus Christ is real. Eternal life is real. God’s grace (lovingkindness) is real. Take hold of your Savior today and He will never let you go.
The generations of history are full of the faithful witness and testimonies of believers, both great and small. God, in every generation, raises up believers to carry on His work of the Gospel. Scripture boasts countless references to Heaven. Man is without excuse if he ignores the evidence of things seen and not seen.
In eternity, the universe is but one uncharted frontier. Knowledge will be unlimited and space travel in our new bodies is just one of many awesome adventures awaiting the believer in Jesus Christ. Life with our Savior will be so cool.
There will be animals in the new Heaven (Isaiah 65:17&25). There are horses in Heaven (Revelation 19:11-14).
The Children of God (church-age believers) will wear white robes for worship, which proclaim the righteousness of God provided by the cross of our Savior in our place. Our white robes of His righteousness will cover our glorified bodies for ever and ever (Revelation 7:9). We will know and recognize loved ones in Heaven because our new body will be like Christ’s, and he was recognizable by His friends and disciples.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 speaks of no activity beyond the grave, but this is a reference to the body of flesh, which remains asleep (at rest) until that great day of resurrection and judgment. The Bible on the other hand teaches that the soul does not sleep at death, but joins Christ in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23; reference also Ecclesiastes 12:6&7; Luke 16:20-31; 23:42,43).
In Heaven, there will not be churches or temples as we know them, for God and the Lamb of God are the Temple (Revelation 21:20).
Because Heaven is the perfect dwelling place of God, it is separated from earth. In Heaven we will be in perfect bliss, therefore we can not be aware of the hostilities and sinfulness we left behind on Earth. We become separated unto the Lord from all evil just as we are separated from our God now because of evil and sin.
You may wonder why God allows all this fighting and war on earth and in heavenly places of the universe – it is because there are still human beings that will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Remember all those whom God called will come to Christ, for God called all those He knew would respond. When the last person called (by God) believes in Christ, Christ will come with a mighty shout and receive those living at that time unto himself (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 through 5:11).
Heaven is available to all mankind. Jesus Christ (as God incarnate) came from Heaven to earth and he will bring the New Jerusalem from Heaven to earth, literally, at His second coming. Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Salvation can be yours, right now – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Happy Studying!