The Bible does give in detail the nature of heaven and leaves much to our imagination. However, it gives plenty of clues likes, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18).
The Bible also indicate that all that is best in this world of the things which God and humans have experienced and created, will have its counterpart in heaven. The biblical picture in Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25 gave us a peaceful atmosphere where the wolf living with the lamb, the leopard lying with the goat, the calf with the lion, and a little children leading them. So the nature of heaven is something that's out of our mind to thought of, but something that's good, just like Jesus stated: He will prepare a mansion for us.
The purpose of heaven, is prepare for all God's children to spend eternity with Him. A place of worship (Nehemiah 9:6; and joy (Rev 7: 15-17; 21:25-27).
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19 comments:
Hi Jerome!
I think you mean Jesus will prepare rooms for us in his Father's mansion. Haha! Altho, I would like to have a mansion of my own.
Also, I don't think heaven is a place where we "prepare" to spend eternity with him. Rather, heaven is where we DO spend eternity with him, and here on earth is where we prepare for it. Hee.
Thanks Donnie,
I'm totally agreed with your comment, can't wait to spend eternity in heaven.
About the room and mansion it will probably a figure of speech made by Jesus. What's he's trying to said reveal that's something real good being ready for us.
Hi Jerome,
Thanks for your sharing. Heaven i would say no words in anthropomorpho-logically could decribe therefore Bible uses many symbolic means whereby human can identified with. Nevertheless, I fully agreed heaven is definitely a beautiful place; beyond human words can described. By the way, are you saying animals belong to heaven in quoting of Isa.11:6-9?
Hi Jerome... I was wondering could there be more than one heaven. Genesis 1: 1 describe the word 'heavens' as being plural. I do believe in a literal heaven. But metaphorically speaking, could there be more than one heaven, or many dimensions to heaven which God has created that we may explore for eternity. Whatever the case, I think heaven(s) indeed are places of unimaginable glory and beauty. This is our blessed hope. The Scripture you quoted from 2 Cor. 4: 17, 18 therefore is very encouraging. As God's people, we live by faith in God's promises...
Dear Jerome.
I think the bible has given us a. detailed account of the nature of heaven and not as you say.Just read Rev.21:10-27 and 22;1-5 and you will find a detailed discription of the city of God in heaven.
Hi Jerome,
Ya, Heaven is a beautiful place, I have seen it in a vision that God showed me. There was a day during service I was crying and asked God if my Mother and brother who received Jesus in their death bed is with Him. God showed me my father, mother and brother worship God in heaven.
I wonder if you can explain about the crown and thrown as mentioned in Rev 4:4-11?
Hi Jerome,
While waiting for your reply to my earlier comment, i would like to add some questions. Can you interpret what it means by Paul when he said caught up in paradise (2 Corinthians 12:4)? Does Paul refers paradise as heaven or is he referring to something else?
Alo Freddie,
The portion of scripture that being coded is referring to the state of peacefulness in God's kingdom in Israel's days. Literally this doesn't mean that animals will be in heaven, but I personally also don't rule it out either because the Bible didn't stated so right?
The verses is showing to us the atmosphere of peace, joy and calmness that we're going to enjoy in heaven.
This third heaven you asked is called paradise, in allusion to the earthly paradise out of which Adam was driven for his transgression; it is called the paradise of God which is also stated in Revelation 2:7.
Paul does not mention what he saw in the third heaven or paradise but this could be the place we're waiting called heaven.
Dear Andrew,
I personally belief there's only one heaven which we'll destined to go. Jesus stated that he's sitting at the right hand of God in heaven (Matt 26:64). Where he also go there to prepared a place for us since the creation of the world (Matt 25:34). I rightly belief that what Jesus have prepared will not be changed or moved. This place which he has establish will be there for us. And there will no longer be another place for us to go except here.
Dear Eunice,
Indeed it's very touching to hear from you the encounter you have with God where He graciously answer your wish by showing to you the glimpse of heaven.
I personally belief it's a place fill with blessing, goodness and things which our finite mind can't imagine of.
The crown and throne that you mention probably signifying the honor and authority given them (fellow believers) by God, and the glory they have with him in heaven.
Dear Bro. Raymond
Thanks a lot for your input, the scriptures that you posted indeed shows more about the nature of heaven. God Bless.
Hey, Jerome, I believe it is not easy to describe heaven, let alone explain its purpose. I read an article in the new Straits Times in 1980 a Mathematician by the name of John Wheeler proposed and proved by his mathematics that there is a super space in which there is no time and no space. Wow, that sounds like heaven. From the description of the many saints who visited heaven and then came back to life, it sounds very much alike although the Bible does not specifically describe it that way. It seems in heaven, you can be anywhere in no time if you wish so. With the general theory of relativity, time can be flexible and can either be shortened or lengthened, even stopped. Therefore don't ever give clocks to anyone who is passing over to eternity, there is no time there! The purpose of heaven is to accommodate the faithful so that they can dwell with God forever and ever, and ever and ever!
Hi Jerome... I share the same belief as that of Jonathan's when he says heaven is coming down to us in Kay Renn's blog. I believe that to be the ultimate desire of heaven. God's permanent dwelling will be in the hearts of men, and among men... Amen, and amen. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." ...Come, Lord Jesus.. (Rev. 22: 20)
Hi, Ndru, I read yr comments with amusement! How many heavens are there hah? Paul mentions the "third heaven" in 2 Cor. 12:2. And do you know that when Genesis 1:1 mentions "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." The Heb. word is "shamayim. Sky, skies, heavens. It is in plural because the Hebrews knew the great expanse above the earth. In the heavens, the dwelling place of God is located. Even the great expanse cannot hold God in "behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You." (2 Chr. 6:18) How many heavens, only God knows!
Hi Jerome,
Thanks for your reply. Well if based on Isaiah 11 and 65, it seems there is a place in heaven for animals. But the key-point here means animals do have souls. Is that true? I doubt it, as scripture reference in Genesis 1, God only created man according to the image of Him. He breathed 'life' to man (Gen.2:7). And He placed all things including animals under ruling of man (Gen.1:26).
Hi Jerome,
Thanks for your reply. Well if based on Isaiah 11 and 65, it seems there is a place in heaven for animals. But the key-point here means animals do have souls. Is that true? I doubt it, as scripture reference in Genesis 1, God only created man according to the image of Him. He breathed 'life' to man (Gen.2:7). And He placed all things including animals under ruling of man (Gen.1:26).
Thanks Bro Jonathan for sharing that story about the Mathematician and his theory of space. I think it is very encouraging to hear these things of science and maths supporting the theological view. I know it shouldn't be that way, but it does increase my hope and longing for the day when we shall see and be in heaven.
On the issue of animals, I don't think those scripture verses write to support their existence in heaven, but rather to describe the state of peace in heaven. Having said that, why can't we also take it literally that there will be animals in heaven and that the lion and the calf and the wolf and the lamb will all lie next to each other and live together?
Hi Jerome,
Heaven is our eternal home, Ya agree with Donny that we are here preparing ourself so that we will enjoy ourselfes whenwe go to Heaven.
To all fellow brothers and sisters,
Thanks Jonathan for your comment about the mathematician by the name of John Miller, by his survey we as Christian are benefited.
The outcome of his survey seem pay dividend and support about the teaching and marvelous of God which didn't bound by time.
Surely the bible revelation of heaven is only a glimpse of what we're hoping for. No one can fully grasp the beauty of heaven.
I'm longing to go, about the animals being mention in Isaiah probably a used of word describe by the author to explain the peacefulness in heaven.
However we never know that probably there's animals in heaven also right, cause God can do things which our mind can imagine of.
To Freddie comment, Yes God created animals for us to rule, but personally i don't agreed that animals have souls. For God created us for him but not animal. Bear in mind that animal won't have the mind and knowledge to worship God like us, so the soul matter will be rule out.
So let us looking for our eternal dwelling place with hope and joy.
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