By Andy Jensen
It's surprising how few people honestly look forward to heaven. Sure we love being alive. But it's more than that. All too often we nurse a description of heaven (http://www.adescriptionofheaven.org) that's just not appealing. Our understanding can be way off. Our mind's eye might even picture clouds, harps and angels. But heaven's not like that. Spend a minute or two now to uncover some fascinating things about heaven few people ever find out.
First, we collect our notions about heaven from every conceivable source. For example, TV advertisements sometimes make heaven seem unnaturally soft. Imagine lounging all day in soft serve (or mashed potato) strumming a harp. Wouldn't it be tedious? Or what if heaven is really stark? Like the barren white surfaces surrounding Morgan Freeman and Jim Carrey when they meet in Bruce Almighty. Relaxing would be impossible! Worse still, what if no friendly faces are there? Or what if the whole place is kept repressively subdued by hall monitor type angels? Who could long for a place with nothing to do and nowhere to go? If that's what it's like.
But these options are so different they can't all be right. Can we even get an authentic description of heaven? Thankfully yes, because it comes from someone who resides there. He ought to know. In fact the Bible is jam packed with references to heaven and they're not like the images above. For example, Jesus says "In my Father's house are many rooms I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2, NIV'84). Now Jesus wasn't one to waste words. He chose 'house' and 'rooms' for good reason. So heaven's not a misty ghostly realm. Jesus has put out the welcome mat, prepared the guest rooms and is looking forward to greeting his friends. Foggy and floaty it's not. Familiar and physical it is.
Will it be isolated or lonely? Not according to John, who records an especially detailed description of what he saw in heaven. He tells us "there before me was a great multitude, that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne"(Revelation 7:9). John sees a scene reminiscent of a huge rock concert about to begin. It's more like a Super Bowl than what you'd expect in a local library! So how might it feel to be waiting with everyone in anticipation for the main event? What might the conversation and stories be like from people who had come from all over the world to be there? There would likely be a swelling sense of expectation and excitement. It's hard to imagine it could be quiet or boring.
What are the heavenly inhabitants like? John tells us "They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9) And further on the "elders ... fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God" (Revelation 7:11). So here is a description of people, with faces, clothed and ready with palm branches - ready to welcome the king. John can see each individual, not just a swirling spirit world. And maybe white is not the last word in fashion. But white is an indicator of purity. So the Bible means they're clean. No more bad attitudes or baggage. Heaven's population will be kindly and good natured. We'll be among a whole bunch of new friends.
And what about living in clouds? According to John he saw city buildings and the great outdoors. He says an angel "carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City" and that "It had a great, high wall with twelve gates" with "three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west" (Revelation 21:10-13). Now the city itself might not resemble many around today. But its walls and gates define a substantial architecture. And being nestled among majestic mountains it's potentially quite spectacular. The angels seem to have a unique way of getting around! That aside, the scene is familiar and physical not mysterious and shadowy. Oh, and why the gates? Are there dangers outside or bad guys locked up within? No, it's heaven, it's safe. "On no day will its gates ever be shut" (Revelation 21:25).
So maybe heaven isn't so bad. John says "the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month" (Revelation 22:1,2). That really does sound more attractive. In fact heaven probably does the 'green city' thing better than anywhere else. What with a crystal clear stream meandering down a broad street, with a constant supply of delicious ripe fruit ready for picking, it sounds easy to get used to.
Despite so many ideas to the contrary, it seems the heaven God describes really will be a lovely place to live. Jesus has fixed the guest rooms and set out the welcome mat. The place is abuzz, as a huge crowd of people gathers from everywhere. Life is experienced in a picturesque city whose backdrop is magnificent mountains. Heaven is much more like a perfected version of what we know today than an unnatural spirit realm. No wonder the Bible sometimes calls this paradise the "new earth".
About the Author:
Like to know more, like to find out will we have time in heaven? (http://www.adescriptionofheaven.org/will-we-have-time-in-heaven) Don't wait! Discover a more satisfying description of heaven! (http://www.adescriptionofheaven.org)
It's surprising how few people honestly look forward to heaven. Sure we love being alive. But it's more than that. All too often we nurse a description of heaven (http://www.adescriptionofheaven.org) that's just not appealing. Our understanding can be way off. Our mind's eye might even picture clouds, harps and angels. But heaven's not like that. Spend a minute or two now to uncover some fascinating things about heaven few people ever find out.
First, we collect our notions about heaven from every conceivable source. For example, TV advertisements sometimes make heaven seem unnaturally soft. Imagine lounging all day in soft serve (or mashed potato) strumming a harp. Wouldn't it be tedious? Or what if heaven is really stark? Like the barren white surfaces surrounding Morgan Freeman and Jim Carrey when they meet in Bruce Almighty. Relaxing would be impossible! Worse still, what if no friendly faces are there? Or what if the whole place is kept repressively subdued by hall monitor type angels? Who could long for a place with nothing to do and nowhere to go? If that's what it's like.
But these options are so different they can't all be right. Can we even get an authentic description of heaven? Thankfully yes, because it comes from someone who resides there. He ought to know. In fact the Bible is jam packed with references to heaven and they're not like the images above. For example, Jesus says "In my Father's house are many rooms I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2, NIV'84). Now Jesus wasn't one to waste words. He chose 'house' and 'rooms' for good reason. So heaven's not a misty ghostly realm. Jesus has put out the welcome mat, prepared the guest rooms and is looking forward to greeting his friends. Foggy and floaty it's not. Familiar and physical it is.
Will it be isolated or lonely? Not according to John, who records an especially detailed description of what he saw in heaven. He tells us "there before me was a great multitude, that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne"(Revelation 7:9). John sees a scene reminiscent of a huge rock concert about to begin. It's more like a Super Bowl than what you'd expect in a local library! So how might it feel to be waiting with everyone in anticipation for the main event? What might the conversation and stories be like from people who had come from all over the world to be there? There would likely be a swelling sense of expectation and excitement. It's hard to imagine it could be quiet or boring.
What are the heavenly inhabitants like? John tells us "They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9) And further on the "elders ... fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God" (Revelation 7:11). So here is a description of people, with faces, clothed and ready with palm branches - ready to welcome the king. John can see each individual, not just a swirling spirit world. And maybe white is not the last word in fashion. But white is an indicator of purity. So the Bible means they're clean. No more bad attitudes or baggage. Heaven's population will be kindly and good natured. We'll be among a whole bunch of new friends.
And what about living in clouds? According to John he saw city buildings and the great outdoors. He says an angel "carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City" and that "It had a great, high wall with twelve gates" with "three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west" (Revelation 21:10-13). Now the city itself might not resemble many around today. But its walls and gates define a substantial architecture. And being nestled among majestic mountains it's potentially quite spectacular. The angels seem to have a unique way of getting around! That aside, the scene is familiar and physical not mysterious and shadowy. Oh, and why the gates? Are there dangers outside or bad guys locked up within? No, it's heaven, it's safe. "On no day will its gates ever be shut" (Revelation 21:25).
So maybe heaven isn't so bad. John says "the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month" (Revelation 22:1,2). That really does sound more attractive. In fact heaven probably does the 'green city' thing better than anywhere else. What with a crystal clear stream meandering down a broad street, with a constant supply of delicious ripe fruit ready for picking, it sounds easy to get used to.
Despite so many ideas to the contrary, it seems the heaven God describes really will be a lovely place to live. Jesus has fixed the guest rooms and set out the welcome mat. The place is abuzz, as a huge crowd of people gathers from everywhere. Life is experienced in a picturesque city whose backdrop is magnificent mountains. Heaven is much more like a perfected version of what we know today than an unnatural spirit realm. No wonder the Bible sometimes calls this paradise the "new earth".
About the Author:
Like to know more, like to find out will we have time in heaven? (http://www.adescriptionofheaven.org/will-we-have-time-in-heaven) Don't wait! Discover a more satisfying description of heaven! (http://www.adescriptionofheaven.org)