What is Heaven Like?

(Part 1)

How do we look forward to going somewhere if we know nothing about it?

Would you be excited if I told you that you won an all-expenses paid tropical vacation for a week? Probably, because you’d know there would be lazy days on a beach with sunshine, slushy drinks by a glistening pool, and swimming in the ocean with sea turtles or dolphins. It would feel like paradise!

Heaven is paradise, but many of us don’t know enough about it to get excited and look forward to it. Pastors don’t often preach on this subject. At funerals, you may hear that the friend or family member is “in a better place.” 

Like me, you may be curious and wish you knew more about what we will be like, what we will do, and where we will go when God calls us home. Heaven fascinates and thrills me, and the more I learn, the more I can’t wait to live as God intended. 

First, those who go to Heaven will get there by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (NIV).

Part 1 will explore what will not be in Heaven. Part 2 will dispel some of our misconceived notions about eternity, what we will do, and what Heaven will be like.

You can find Heaven spoken about in several books of the Bible, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Matthew, and Revelation. In Revelation, John sees into Heaven and describes his vision. 

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them” Revelation 21:1-3 (NLT).

What we will NOT find in Heaven:

1. There will be no sea. (Chaos)

“No sea” does not mean the ocean is gone, but there will no longer be chaos in our new world: no typhoons, earthquakes, twisters, floods, or powers to cause death and destruction.

According to Discipleship on the Edge, by Darrell W. Johnson, “In the Bible, “the sea” represents the forces of chaos, which seek to suck the world back into the void of nothingness.” 

2. There will be no more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain.  

To be human is to experience sadness, pain, tears, mourning, and death. Our world is broken. We are broken. But in Heaven, everything is made new without suffering. We will not have heartbreak, disappointment, loss, or disease. There will not be poor, as we will lack for nothing. We will live in peace rather than being persecuted or experiencing violence and wars. 

Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

3. There will not be people with behaviors, attitudes, and characters inconsistent with the kingdom of God. 

People characterized by wicked behavior over time, who have chosen wrong over right consistently, and who do not have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.

John is speaking of those who are ungodly, unrepentant and turned away from God. We all make mistakes, and God is merciful in forgiving us.

Revelation 21:8 says, “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

4. There will not be night or evil.

There will be no need for lamps or the sun because there will be no night. God’s light will shine. 

Revelation 21:25-27 reveals this, “Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

5. There will not be marriage. 

In Matthew 22, the Sadducees questioned Jesus about a woman married to multiple men and asked who she would belong to at the resurrection. Jesus explained in verse 30, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

According to Gotquestions.org, “This does not mean that a husband and wife will no longer know each other in Heaven. This also does not mean that a husband and wife could not still have a close relationship in Heaven. What it does seem to indicate, though, is that a husband and wife will no longer be married in Heaven.”

When God created marriage, it was for companionship and populating the earth. Since there is no death, there is no need to repopulate or procreate. We will never become lonely or be without relationships. God will fill us with His perfect presence. We will be whole and complete.

The marriage relationship is a picture of our relationship with Christ. This is why Jesus is called the Bridegroom, the Church is called His Bride, and our celebration in Heaven is called the Wedding.

6. There is not a separate temple.

The New Heaven and New Earth are re-created, and the city where God dwells is the temple. As Heaven will be part of or on the new earth, there will be adventures, beauty to explore, places to go – all without fear of enemies, traveling woes, lost luggage, theft, delayed flights, or traffic. We will be able to see God’s creation as He intended for us to live and enjoy it.

7. There will no longer be a curse.  

Revelation 22:3 explains that there will no longer be a curse on anything. In Genesis, we learn that after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the Garden of Eden was cursed, as was the ground. Work came with toil and sweat, relationships were cursed, and women suffered during childbirth. After God makes all things new, the curse will not exist. Creation will be set free!

We will not experience fatigue, exhaustion, disappointments, loss of dreams, or life-sucking human dilemmas. We will be as God originally intended and created us to be.

Can you imagine the restored new home that God has waiting for those who are His children?

Heaven Part 2 will illuminate what Heaven will be like, and some of what we can look forward to.

What makes you excited about Heaven?  Please share in the comments below.

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