What is heaven like?

July 9, 2020 (Thursday)

 

What is heave like? There has been lots of interest in this question. Books like “Heaven is for Real” and “5 Minutes in Heaven” have been big sellers. While interesting, there is only one source for truth that can be trusted.

 

Traditional Christian views include:  Heaven is where God lives, it is where we find the throne of God, and it is the future home of believers in Christ. Problem is, they are inaccurate. We know that God is everywhere present, so saying God lives in heaven limits Him. We know that God is all-mighty.  While there are images of the throne of God in heaven in Revelation, it is only an image of power and governance the readers of that time would understand. “Heaven” tends to be the promised inheritance of eternal life. But, lets look at the text.

 

Notice, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” [Revelation 21:1 CEB] Just like Hell, Heaven as we think of it now will be replaced by something permanent (also see Revelation 6:14 and Isaiah 34:4).

 

Verse 2 tells us a new holy city, New Jerusalem, comes out of heaven. Then it is announced, “I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God.” [Revelation 21:3 CEB]

 

What John is observing is the disposal of an old system, distinguished by separation, in favor of a new system. The old system is unsustainable because of sin (physical effects and spiritual separation). John then describes the difference between the old and new systems, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” [Revelation 21:4 CEB] There will be no more death, or anything associated with death. Tears will be wiped away. Those regrets and sorrows we carry in life will be healed.

 

One of the problematic questions we face, due to the judgement by/of our works; how good do you have to be to make it to heaven? How bad do you have to be to go to eternal hell? One clue to behavior of those who spend eternity in the lake of fire is found in Revelation 21:8, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” [ESV]

 

Several of these listed have a meaning beyond the English translation. Remember, we have to keep an eye on what the text meant to the original reader to understand it in our modern context. For instance some have suggested “sorcerers” includes drug users because the Greek word is “pharmakeus.” This is where we get “pharmacy.” In the ancient Greek world and culture, this means one who prepares/uses magical remedies. So it would be closer to a witchdoctor (or herbalist) than a pharmacist. The word translated “sexually immoral” was translated by the KJV as “whoremongers.” In John’s world this would have been a male prostitute.

 

I do not think the book of Revelation is suggesting we can be good or bad enough to earn or deserve our eternal destiny in Heaven or Hell. The point, using Paul’s suggestions (see yesterday’s study), is that our behavior reflects our citizenship, spiritual standing, our eventual eternal destiny. Those who are “born again” will be changed. We will be different than the world around us.