What Will Heaven Be Like?

The Bible is clear that when a Christian dies, his soul immediately goes to heaven (Phil 1:21-24; 2 Cor 5:1-10).  Jesus said that He is preparing a place for us in heaven, and when we die He will come to get us and take us to heaven to be with Him (Jn 14:1-3).  If you are a Christian then you are already a citizen of heaven (Phil 1:27).  On earth we are strangers and exiles.  This world is not our home.  When we die, we will go to heaven, our true home with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8).

After my mother-in-law retired she became very interested in heaven.  Maybe retirement made her realize that she was getting old and her time was short.  She had been a Christian for many years, but she felt that her thoughts about heaven were unclear.  So, she asked me to recommend a book on heaven, and I gave her a copy of Randy Alcorn's book Heaven.

It's important to think about heaven because you are going to live in heaven far longer than on earth.  Your life on earth only lasts about seventy years, but you will spend the rest of eternity in heaven.  This is why Paul tells us to seek the things above, and to set your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:1-2).  This is why Jesus said to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth (Mt 6:19-20).  In other words, invest your life in things that will result in heavenly rewards that will never pass away rather than earthly rewards that will not last.  

The Bible calls it heaven, paradise, Abraham's Bosom (literally "the fold of Abraham's robe"), the dwelling place of God, the kingdom of heaven (Mt 8:11), a great banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Mt 8:11).  We know that heaven will be great.  The very word "paradise" means the the perfect place or situation.  Paul said heaven is a promotion compared to this life.  He said "to die is gain," and heaven will be "far better" than this current life (Phil 1:21-24).  

But what will heaven be like?  Can we get more details about our future home?  In Revelation 7:15-17 we find one of the most detailed descriptions of heaven.  It gives us six insights about heaven.

1) Perfect safety.  Revelation 7:15 says, “The one seated on the throne will shelter them.”  In heaven you won’t have to worry about anything hurting you – sin, Satan, sickness, thieves, dangerous people, mean people, wild animals, bad drivers, incompetent doctors – because Jesus will protect you.  He will shelter you.

2) Perfect provision.  Revelation 7:16 says, “They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst.”  Right now I’m in an uncomfortable position financially because I am paying for three cars.  One is for me, the other for my wife, and the other for my kids.  All three cars are paid for, but I still have to pay for insurance, gas, and worst of all, maintenance.  I don’t know what it is, but paying for car maintenance is probably the thing I hate to pay for the most.  It feels like I’m getting robbed every time.  In November the timing cover gasket needed to be replaced on the kids' car; $1,900.  In December it broke down again; this time it was the a/c compressor for $1,600.  In January I had to replace the coolant thermostat on my truck; $900.  Life is sure expensive!  But in heaven there will be perfect provision.   You won’t have to worry about paying the bills.  You won’t have to worry about what you can afford.  You won’t have to worry about making ends meet.  Jesus will provide for you.  He will meet all your needs.  

3) Perfect comfort.  Revelation 7:16 says, "The sun will no longer strike them, nor will any scorching heat.”  My parents told me that neither of them lived in a home with air conditioning until they got married in 1975.  That might not be a big deal if you live in Washington state, but Louisiana is the crotch of the nation.  It’s hot and humid.  We can’t survive without the A/C.  But as much as we hate the heat, many more people die from the cold each year.  In heaven there will no longer be any discomfort.  No more uncomfortable heat or cold.  No need for a heater or an air conditioner.  No more aches and pains.  No more sleeping problems.  No more migraines.  No more breathing problems.  

4) Perfect peace.  Revelation 7:17 says, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  I’ve always struggled with worry.  I take after my mother.  She worries, and my dad doesn’t.  In my marriage I worry and my wife doesn’t.  And when I worry I’m not happy, I’m not fun to be around, I can’t focus at work, and I can’t sleep.  It’s miserable. In life we experience all kinds of negative emotions; worry is just one of them.  But in heaven there is perfect inner peace and happiness.  No more fear, worry, guilt, shame, frustration, discouragement, anxiety, regret, sadness, depression.  

5) Perfect relationship.  Revelation 7:15 says, “For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple.”  While all the things above sound wonderful, the best thing about heaven is this:  We will be close to God.  We will have a perfect relationship with God.  We will be in God’s presence.  In this life we can’t see God’s face.  If we do, we will die (Ex 33:20).  But this is what Moses wanted more than anything.  Moses had seen so many amazing things.  He heard the audible voice of God.  He was on the mountain when God gave the Ten Commandments.  He saw the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud.  He saw God carry out the ten plagues against Egypt.  He saw God part the Red Sea.  Yet this wasn’t enough.  He wanted to see God’s face.  He wanted to be more intimate with God.  So He asked God to see His face; to see His glory.  God said, “You can’t see my face in live.  However, I will pass in front of you, and hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand to protect you.  After I have passed by I will take my hand away and you can see my back (literally hindquarters).  So God let Moses see his backside, and when he returned to the camp his face was shining, and the people were terrified.  And that was just from seeing God’s backside.  But in heaven we will get to see God’s face (1 Jn 3:2).  Theologians call this the beatific vision, “because it is the promise of the vision of God that carries with it the ultimate blessedness of the human soul (RC Sproul, Essential Truths, 292).”  God created us for a relationship with Him, but that relationship has been so affected by sin.  Even when we get saved there seems to be distance between us and God.  But in heaven, there will be perfect intimacy.  We will see God face to face.

6) Perfect timing.  Revelation 7:17 says, “For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; he will guide them to springs of the waters of life.”  The worst thing about vacation is that it comes to an end.  The worst thing about a good movie or a good TV show is that it comes to an end.  The worst thing about a great meal is that comes to an end.  The worst thing about a good friendship is that it comes to an end when are separated by death.  But heaven is not like life on earth.  It has no end.  All the glories of heaven will be endless.  Jesus will lead us “to the springs of the water of life.”  This refers to eternal life.  Everlasting life.  In heaven we will never die.  We will never have to leave.  We will never have to be separated from God and our loved ones again.