In this article about heaven I'll be discussing some of the basics about heaven like, who will be there, what heaven will be like and other information I hope will be benefical in your learning of heaven.
Let's start off with a definition of heaven from Easton's Bible Dictionary:
Heaven
The place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits.
- Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2)
- It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43 2Co 12:4 Re 2:7)
- "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:26 Heb 12:22 Re 3:12)
- The "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1 Jas 2:5)
- The "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11)
- The "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4 Heb 9:15)
- The "better country" (Heb 11:14,16)
- The blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22 Mt 8:11) to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12) and to enjoy "rest" (Heb 4:10,11).
In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17) an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1,2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18) bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36 2Co 4:16,18 1Pe 1:4 5:10 1Jo 3:2) The believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)
With the above definition we get an idea of what heaven will be like. I will continue with a look at what one can expect in heaven.
First and foremost, heaven is the abode, or dwelling place of God. His throne is there.
Ps 11:4
4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. (KJV)
Is 66:1
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? (KJV)
Heaven is also the final reward for the faithful, the kingdom which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
Mt 25:34
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (KJV)
In Heaven the faithful will judge angels (1 Cor 6:2). There will be no marrying or giving into marriage in heaven (Lk 20:34-36). There will be no death, sorrow, crying or pain in heaven (Rev 21:4). Though we have glimpses of what heaven will be like, one thing is for certain, it will be far beyond what we could begin to imagine.
1 Cor 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (KJV)
Heaven sounds great, but how do we get there? We simply believe in the work God performed through His Son Jesus Christ, repent of our wicked ways/lifestyle and be baptized for the remission of sin. We can do no good thing to go to heaven and inherit etenal life.
Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
Acts 2:36-38
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (KJV)
When we come to God in such a way our life will change, we will become new people (2 Cor 5:17). Our old/current way of life will change because of our new life in Christ. We will now seek to do those things which are pleasing to the Lord; our old man (ways) are dead as we continue in the things of God (Col 3:1-3). Now that we have "believed" and "repented" and have been "baptized" into Christ our lifestyle has changed. God's grace doesn't teach us that we can continue to live our old way, but rather that we have a new way of living.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (KJV)
When we walk in this new and living way people will see the new you, or should I say the Christ in you ( Col 1:27). We must be careful that we do not go back to our old ways, which could cause us to turn away from God's grace and reject it completely (1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Heb 10:26-29). Though it would be difficult to do such, all the same there is a possibilty of it happening, though I'm persuaded of better thing of you.
For further study you may decide to look up the following:
The happiness of heaven:
- Ps 16:11
- Is 49:10
- Dan 12:2-3
- Mt 5:11-12; 13:36-43
- Lk 12:37
- Jn 14:1-6
- 1 Pet 1:3-5
- Rev 7:14-17; 21:1-4
Who will enter heaven:
- Mt 5:3-12; 25:31-40
- Heb 12:23
Who will not enter heaven:
- Mt 7:21-23; 25:41-46
- Rev 21:8; 22:15
I hope this article has proven helpful in answering your basic question about heaven, what it is, who dwells there, and what life will be like there. If you have any questions which were not addressed here email me or post your questions on my message board, and I'll do my best to give you a prompt answer. God bless!
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