Back to the Future: What is Heaven like?
We jumped to the end of our timeline last week and learned that God has a plan for the future. For those who aren’t ready for it or who have rejected Jesus, thinking about God’s plan for the future could make them nervous. But for God’s followers, looking ahead to the future should make us excited and hopeful, like our theme verse this month says:
Hebrews 9:28 | Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
God’s plan for the future involves Christ’s return (Revelation 1:7) and God’s people living alongside Him in Heaven (Revelation 21:3). So what exactly is Heaven like?
John describes Heaven as an incredible place of worship, splendor, and peace (or wholeness). In Revelation 4, John gets his first glimpse into Heaven –
Revelation 4:1 | Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”
Jesus calls John into Heaven where He sees someone sitting on a throne (4:2) from which came lightning and thunder (4:5).
Revelation 4:3 | The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.
John explains that “day after day and night after night,” there are cherubim (angels) and elders (men) who worship God Almighty, who is the one on the throne. They bow down on the ground in worship and say -
Revelation 4:11 | “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Right away we see Heaven is a place of eternal worship of God, who we saw a few weeks ago, is the only one who deserves our worship.
Jesus then shows John many things that would transpire before God’s people would join Him in Heaven. We’ll come back to some of them next week. But for now, we’ll jump to the end of the book where people have joined God in Heaven.
God’s home is now with His people and there is no more pain, sadness, or death (Revelation 21:3-4). John sees a marvelous city made of pure gold (21:18) that sparkles like precious gems (21:11) and has walls made of jasper 216 feet thick (21:17). The foundation stones the city was built on were all precious stones (21:19-20) and the 12 gates were each made from a single pearl (21:21).
Revelation 21:23-27 | And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 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.
Heaven is an incredible place for being with and worshiping God. It is a promise that brings hope and helps us endure. But like our timeless truth this week says: Heaven is promised to God’s followers. Only those who have made Jesus the Lord and Savior will be permitted to enter. Do you belong to Jesus? Do you follow Him as Lord? If so, you’ve been promised Heaven, a place of worship (Rev. 4), splendor (Rev. 21:10-21), and peace (Rev. 21:3-4, 22-27) because Heaven is promised to God’s followers.
What is something new you learned or that stood out to you about Heaven?
What about Heaven excites you? What do you have questions about?
Will you be in Heaven someday? How do you know or why not?
Who else do you know who will be in Heaven? Who do you know who might not be there? What can you do about it?