It seems kind of strange but very few people long for heaven. Apart from just wanting to stay alive, our minds can easily gather a description of heaven that is far from desirable. For example, one common mental picture is of angels, clouds and the hallelujah chorus. It's no surprise then when people wonder "is that all there is?" and decide "heaven can wait!" But this picture is not just out of focus, it's misleading. Heaven is actually very different. Why not spend the next few minutes and discover something fascinating about heaven that's often overlooked.
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 is there a better description of heaven? What if someone who lives there could tell it straight? Well, God provides a totally different perspective in the Bible. For starters, Jesus said "In my Father's house are many rooms ... I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2, NIV'84). His choice of familiar and physical words like 'house' and 'rooms' is intentional. Jesus didn't want to communicate a picture of some ghostly realm. No, he's awaiting his special guests in his father's mansion. He's prepared fine rooms and is ready to put on a warm welcome. With that kind of attention, heaven won't be lonely or isolated.
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 else is revealed about these people? John says "They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9) And then later the "elders ... fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God" (Revelation 7:11). So John can see they are individuals. He can see their faces, what they're doing, what they're wearing. This is no vapor-like spirit world. And granted, the color white may not set the fashion world on fire. But white is meant to indicate pure hearts. It means there are no bad attitudes in heaven. Just a bunch of friendly, good natured revelers.
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 heaven is starting to sound much better. John also 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). How wonderful. Though what else would be expected from a model 'green' city? Broad idyllic streets, crystal clear streams, crops of luscious fruit for the taking every month. Sounds like a peaceful neighborhood.
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".
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 is there a better description of heaven? What if someone who lives there could tell it straight? Well, God provides a totally different perspective in the Bible. For starters, Jesus said "In my Father's house are many rooms ... I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2, NIV'84). His choice of familiar and physical words like 'house' and 'rooms' is intentional. Jesus didn't want to communicate a picture of some ghostly realm. No, he's awaiting his special guests in his father's mansion. He's prepared fine rooms and is ready to put on a warm welcome. With that kind of attention, heaven won't be lonely or isolated.
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 else is revealed about these people? John says "They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9) And then later the "elders ... fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God" (Revelation 7:11). So John can see they are individuals. He can see their faces, what they're doing, what they're wearing. This is no vapor-like spirit world. And granted, the color white may not set the fashion world on fire. But white is meant to indicate pure hearts. It means there are no bad attitudes in heaven. Just a bunch of friendly, good natured revelers.
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 heaven is starting to sound much better. John also 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). How wonderful. Though what else would be expected from a model 'green' city? Broad idyllic streets, crystal clear streams, crops of luscious fruit for the taking every month. Sounds like a peaceful neighborhood.
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".
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