The Most Significant People, Places, and Events in the Bible by Christopher D. Hudson

Author:Christopher D. Hudson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2015-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

HEAVEN

Explaining heaven is not entirely possible, as we only “see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12 RSV) on this side of eternity. However, the Bible — God’s inspired and authoritative word — does provide glimpses into the heaven that awaits those who believe in him and endure to the end.

In Revelation, the last book of the Bible, God shows the apostle John “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1), what the prophet Isaiah had prophesied thousands of years earlier: “See, I [the Lord] will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). In heaven, there is absolutely no sickness, pain, or death. Cancer and Alzheimer’s are gone. Sadness and grief are gone as God wipes away all of our tears (Revelation 21:4).

The Bible explains that God and the Lamb are seated on a throne at the center of the New Jerusalem, heaven’s capital city. An emerald rainbow encircles God’s throne as it sits on a “sea of glass” (Revelation 4:2 – 6). Thunder and lightning flash from God’s throne of grace and justice. Around it gather “persons from every tribe” (Revelation 5:9) as well as four supernatural beings. They sing night and day, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).

In heaven, the “curse of Adam” — that humans sin and must die — is reversed, for “the second Adam” (Romans 5:11 – 14), Jesus, has come. “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him” (Revelation 22:3). Finally, the effects of the fall of humankind will be felt no more. In heaven, we will be fully reconciled to God as the pure and blameless bride of Christ (Revelation 19:6 – 9).

While we may wonder what the new heaven and the new earth will look and feel like, these concerns will become unimportant as we find ourselves captivated by the presence of God: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).

The new heaven and the new earth are a place of unspeakable joy. There, believers will share in “the master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21), experiencing the fullness of all that God’s presence brings. We will “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). The “fruit of the Spirit” will abound in a new world filled with “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22 – 23). When we find ourselves in the presence of the Author of life, our Creator and the Lover of our souls, we will exclaim as David does: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).

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