Have you ever wondered what heaven looks like? As Christians, we know heaven is our eternal home, but what will it actually be like?
The Bible gives us glimpses into the beauty, joy, and peace of heaven through symbolic language and visions.
While we may not understand it fully now, these passages paint a picture of the wonderful place God has prepared for those who love Him.
In this blog post, I’ll explore what the Bible says about heaven and what we can expect when we get there.
From the activities we’ll enjoy to the landscape around us, discovering what Scripture reveals about heaven gives us hope for the future and reminds us that the best is yet to come!
A Glimpse of Our Eternal Home
The Apostle John describes witnessing a vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven in Revelation 21:1-2 (NIV):
“1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
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The New Jerusalem is depicted as the heavenly city where God will dwell with His people for eternity.
Though some debate whether the New Jerusalem is metaphorical or an actual city, John conveys that heaven will be a place of incredible glory, beauty, and intimacy with God.
Revelation 21 goes on to describe heaven in terms of precious stones, pure gold, and gates made of giant pearls. The picture it paints is breathtaking!
While we may not understand the full meaning behind the vivid symbolism, what shines through is that heaven far surpasses anything we’ve ever seen on this earth.
Work and Purpose in Heaven
Some wonder if heaven will become boring eventually or if we’ll have a purpose there.
However, the Bible indicates there will still be meaningful work and activities for us in eternity.
Revelation 22:3 (NIV) states:
“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.”
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Serving God wholeheartedly out of gratitude – not obligation – brings us joy and purpose even now. This won’t change in heaven.
We’ll still find purpose in worshipping God and advancing His Kingdom, but it will come so much more naturally when sin and brokenness are fully eradicated.
Relationships in Heaven
For those who have lost Christian loved ones, take heart! The Bible says we will reunite with them in heaven and recognize each other there.
In fact, the Bible says heaven will contain a great multitude of believers from all nations and backgrounds.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
Revelation 7:9 (NIV)
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We see this truth in several verses:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV) states:
“16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
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We who know Christ will dwell together with Him in eternal joy!
Emotions in Heaven
Sometimes people assume our emotional experience will be dulled in heaven, almost like robots serving God yet feeling little joy or passion. But this couldn’t be further from the truth!
Revelation 21:4 (NIV) gives us a beautiful picture of what’s ahead:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
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Yes, the suffering that plagues our earthly lives will cease. But love, joy, excitement, gratitude, peace – these emotions will overflow abundantly in heaven as we live fully in Christ’s presence!
Physical Bodies in Heaven
Other misconceptions envision heaven as a shadowy place where we’ll float around aimlessly as angelic spirits.
However, the Bible clearly teaches we will have new resurrected, physical bodies just as Jesus did when He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 47-49 (NIV) explains:
“42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”
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Our new bodies will be so much better suited for enjoying heaven’s wonders!
Heaven’s Landscapes
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) says in God’s presence “are pleasures forevermore.” Heaven promises to be a paradise more beautiful than anywhere on earth.
The Apostle John describes luscious trees and a crystal clear river flowing through heaven in Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV):
“1Then 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 2down 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.”
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Imagine heavenly fruit growing right next to this gorgeous river! Heaven truly is the ultimate Garden of Eden restored.
Isaiah 65:17 (NIV) promises:
“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”
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Heaven won’t be some endless cloud on which we just sit and play harps all day.
God promises to make all things new – free from sin, pain, and brokenness at last. What an incredible hope for all believers!
Key Takeaways: What is Heaven Like According to the Bible?
- The Bible portrays Heaven as a magnificent, holy city where God’s glory is fully revealed.
- Believers will still have a purpose as we serve and worship God from everlasting to everlasting.
- Christians will reunite in joyful relationships with loved ones who died in the faith.
- We will experience emotions like love and peace with no sorrow or pain.
- Resurrected believers will have new, indestructible, glorified bodies suited for heaven.
- Heaven contains stunning landscapes such as lush greenery and the crystal river of life.
- According to the Bible, heaven is a very real paradise inhabited by God, angels, and resurrected believers of all backgrounds who place their hope in Christ alone.
Though depicted in symbolic language, Scripture presents glimpses of heaven’s dazzling beauty and the rich relationships awaiting Christians there.
With no sin, brokenness, pain, or sorrow – only intimacy with God and His joyful people – heaven’s splendor defies comprehension.
Jesus said to His followers in John 14:2-3 (NIV): “2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
What wondrous hope heaven gives to all those who trust in Christ! Our current trials are light compared to the eternal glory awaiting us (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
- May the certainty of eternity with Jesus compel us to live wholeheartedly for Him until He returns to bring us home at last.
Conclusion: Longing for Our Permanent Home
The glimpses Scripture gives us stir our imagination and make us yearn for the splendor ahead.
While we can’t comprehend heaven fully now, these passages give us a taste of the joy, beauty, and love filling this amazing place God is preparing for us.
As Christians, we can look forward to the day when we’ll inhabit our true home forever.
In the meantime, passages about heaven remind us that this broken world is not all there is – the best is yet to come!
No matter what we face today, may the certainty of eternity with Christ inspire us to serve God wholeheartedly as we long for the beauty of heaven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heaven
Many people have questions about what heaven will be like or who goes there. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about heaven:
Q. Who will go to heaven?
A. All those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone will go to heaven. Salvation cannot be earned through good works; it’s God’s free gift when we turn from our sins and trust in what Jesus accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Q. Will we be able to communicate with loved ones in heaven?
A. Yes! The Bible indicates that we will fellowship with those we knew on earth including believers who passed away before us. We’ll have real relationships in heaven free from the hindrance of sin.
Q. Is heaven an actual physical place?
A. Both Scripture and Jesus Himself present heaven as a literal, spiritual realm where resurrected believers will live together eternally.
The Apostle John described heaven’s dimensions and structure in detail in Revelation 21. Christ promised to prepare real places or “rooms” for us there (John 14:2).
Our new bodies will require a real, restored world to inhabit just as Jesus’ resurrected body inhabited Earth for 40 days before ascending.
Q. Will we remember our earthly lives?
A. Yes, it appears we will retain our personalities and memories of life on earth, though our perspective will change profoundly as sin will no longer stain our understanding.
We will certainly recall how Christ redeemed us through His sacrifice on the cross! The learning and growth from our earthly lives will carry over rather than disappear.
Q. Is heaven eternal?
A. Absolutely! Both in Revelation and throughout the Old Testament prophets, biblical authors envision heaven as a flawless world where God will dwell with us in perfect intimacy forever.
In fact, the promise of eternal life for believers is one of the Bible’s most frequent promises.
