WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men.  He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:1-5).

Though the type of literature in Revelation is nearly all apocalyptic, and thus not intended to be taken absolutely literally, nevertheless, there is a good deal that can be learned about heaven from Revelation.

One of the blessings of heaven is that residents there will be in the immediate presence of God and will enjoy it.  It seems to be that this presence will be closer to God than what Adam and Eve enjoyed in Eden where God was an evening visitor (Genesis 3:8).

The earth and the heavens will be new.  It should make us stop and consider, if this earth is this beautiful how beautiful will the new one be?  Having been blessed to live in several states and travel to foreign countries, I know that this earth is a beautiful place; how much more so is Heaven?

All that was done in the "fall" is undone in Heaven; the old order of things has passed away.  This concept is almost beyond our comprehension because all that we have ever known and experienced is within the realm of the old order of things: sickness, pain, death, tears, sorrow, sweat, toil, estrangement, crime, war and natural disasters. In relation to this the question is asked, "What will we do in Heaven?"  It is a valid question because every occupation of earth is a remedy for the effects of the fall of humanity into sin. That is why we have doctors, lawyers, entertainers, police, firefighters, etc.  The God who created this infinitly diverse universe will create plenty for us to do!!!

Grace&Peace;
Tom