What will heaven be like?

“I would rather rule in hell, than serve in heaven”. This is one response I once received many years ago, when I was sharing the gospel with a family friend. It reflected a crude understanding of what heaven would be like. For this friend, heaven would be like an endless church service, sitting on a white cloud, surrounded by people with whom you would not normally mix. The reality is most people have only a vague idea of what heaven will be like.

So what is the future for those who are followers of Jesus?

The Bible says that God will one day restore his perfect rule over the universe through his son Jesus (Eph 1:10). Every form of evil, corruption and tyranny will be destroyed. Sickness and death will be no more. There will be no more disappointment or frustration or pain. Everything that stands against God’s purposes will be completely removed.

Instead, people will enjoy the fruit of their labour. ‘They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit’ (Isa 65:21). They will enjoy a world of perfect peace, righteousness and justice. We will enjoy perfect relationships and real community. What will guarantee this future is that God will live with his people and we will be with him forever.

We do not have space to fully present all the biblical images of heaven. But for the Christian, heaven will be the ‘home’ towards which we look forward. It will be our ‘promised land’, the place of rest. It will be a wedding feast. It will be the security, companionship and riches of a great and perfect city.

The book of Revelation is full of imagery, speaking of things beyond our own experience. And the most striking imagery is given in Revelation 21:1-22:2, where our future hope is described as the city of God, the new Jerusalem. God will be at the centre of that city’s life and joy.

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev 22:3-5)

What the Bible presents is only a glimmer of what that future glory will be like (1Cor 13:12, Rom 8:18). But God’s word calls us to constantly set our hope on that day when Jesus returns (1Pet 2:13, Col 3:4). And we’re called to think often about this future hope, like homesick travellers looking forward to the day when we’ll finally be at home with the Lord (2Cor 5:7).

Why don’t you take time out this week to meditate on some of the Biblical pictures of heaven in the following passages: Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelation 7:14-17; 21:1-22:5?

Pastor Owen Seto