What does the Bible say that heaven looks like? Are there sufficient scriptures to tell us? Are the images of the saints playing harps while lying on the clouds of heaven accurate? Can we know for sure what heaven will be like?
What Heaven Isn’t
The tiny chubby cherub angels playing their harps in heaven are not what heaven will be like or are like at this present time. Heaven exists today but humans who are living on earth cannot yet see it and the pictures that we have seen of it can not describe it accurately in all its splendor, glory, beauty, and majesty. Those who have died in the faith in Jesus Christ are said to be present with the Lord and since the Lord is seated at the right hand of the Father on His throne they are in heaven right now. What this means is that heaven is for real; it does exist, and there are Christians who have died and gone to heaven and are now with Jesus Christ.
The Three Heavens
There are actually three heavens described in the Bible. The first heaven is what is called the firmament or sky that covers the earth. This is the realm of birds and clouds that surrounds the entire earth.
The second heaven is where the stars, the sun, and the moon reside. This is the space beyond the earth and it covers the entire universe. It is as far as the human eye can see with the help 
The third heaven is unseen and is the residence of God, including Jesus Christ. This is where the dead martyrs and saints are today. This is the location of the throne of God and where the holy angels surrounding His throne sing day and night, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord our God.
Biblical Eye Witnesses to Heaven
There are several people in the Bible who have been eye witnesses to the heaven before they died. Elijah was caught up into heaven, taken up in a whirlwind; he never tasted death (II Kings 2:1-12). Like Elijah, Enoch who was said to have walked with God, was taken up into heaven without ever tasting death. The apostle John saw heaven through an open door so that he might see and record in the book of Revelation some of the things he saw in heaven (Rev. 4:1).
While Paul was on the Damascus Road on his way to persecute Christians, He saw heaven open up but whether this was heaven itself or just the first heaven where he saw the light, we cannot be sure. Acts 9:3-4 described what Paul saw, “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” We do not know for sure, according to the scriptures, whether this was the third heaven, where the throne of God was or not, but can assume it was not for Paul only heard a voice from heaven and he saw only a light from heaven. Nonetheless, heaven is for real and it exists today in every sense of the word.
You may have read or heard about many who have died and seen heaven for themselves. They describe such a realm that is beyond description. Some who died and came back to life have said they have seen their lost loved ones in heaven, their family, friends, and some even their pets. This is difficult to prove, yet the sheer number of those who have seen heaven and came back from death is hard to refute; only they themselves know this for certain. But the Bible does describe some of what heaven is like in the scriptures. It is, from the human standpoint, indescribable (I Cor. 2:9).
Biblical Descriptions of Heaven
There is a constant chant of holy angels that are continually proclaiming Holy, Holy, Holy over the throne of God. The Mercy Seat in heaven where God sits is surrounded by magnificent angels full of glory and power that proclaim and bless the holy name of God without ceasing. Some of these are described as beasts, full of eyes, with six wings and neither rest day or night in their proclaiming the holiness of God (Rev. 4:8-11).
Heaven Descends to the Earth
After the Kingdom of Heaven begins on earth, after Christ’s return, the New Jerusalem descends out of heaven and heaven, in the New Jerusalem, will then be on earth. Revelation 21:1-2 describes this: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” The very tabernacle of God will be with humans then and heaven is any place where God is (Rev. 21:3). All pain, suffering, and tears will absent there (Rev. 21:4).
John was carried away to heaven in Revelation chapter 21 and this chapter is perhaps the best description of heaven that we know of; at least the heaven that will be seen by those who are Christ’s today. John describes it in Revelation 21:10-27:
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia [or 1,400 miles!] in length, and as wide and high as it is long [1,400 miles wide and tall!].
17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits [that is 200 feet!] thick.
18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.
19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst [these last two stones are unknown or only exist in heaven today].
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
How You Can See Heaven
There is only one way for you to see heaven and Jesus Christ is the one and only access to it (John 6:44, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31). There is no other way possible to get to heaven but by the Son of God. Getting to heaven is a one-way trip. If you die before Jesus Christ’s Second Advent (return) you will go directly to heaven and be in the presence of God. If you never see heaven, you will most certainly see hell and that is also a one-way trip from which there is no return.
Revelation 21:7-8 shows the fate of those not going to heaven: “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Like the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man who died without Christ is forever denied access to heaven and to God. It is an everlasting location from which no one can depart. My hope and prayer is that no one would ever go there. There is one simple way that you can go to heaven. Jesus died after living a perfect life. He spilled His blood to take the Holy Father’s wrath upon Himself. This bridged the gap from heaven to hell. It is a free gift; to not accept it is to seal your fate forever. To accept it is to be with God in heaven for eternity in joyful bliss. Right now if you ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior, ask for the forgiveness of your sins, admit you are a sinner in need of saving, and place your faith and trust in Him, He promises to never, ever forsake you. He will keep you in His own hand and never caste you away, even when you die (John 6:37, 10:28-29). If you do this right now you will see heaven for yourself. And you will be with the Lord our God forever and ever when you leave this earth.
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What Does the Bible Teach About the Antichrist?
Does God Still Work Miracles Today?
Do Animals or Pets Go To Heaven?
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The Holy Bible, New International Version
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Hi
One of your statements above caught my attention. what heaven isn’t it reads “Those who have died in the faith in Jesus Christ are said to be present with the Lord and since the Lord is seated at the right hand of the Father on His throne they are in heaven right now. What this means is that heaven is for real; it does exist, and there are Christians who have died and gone to heaven and are now with Jesus Christ.”
I would like for you to provide me some scriptural references from the Bible to support this statement. From what I have read from the Bible here is what it says.
1. When someone dies the body turns to dust and the spirit goes back to God. Ecclesiastes 12:7. Where one is righteous or not the spirit of everyone goes back to God.
2. A living being (a soul) consist of Body and Spirit. The spirit returning to God is not a living being (Soul) (Gen 2:7)
3. The Spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life. Job 27:3
4. At death the sole dies. This is were the body and the spirit separates from each other.
5. People do no go to heaven or hell when they die. They go to their grave to await the resurrection day. John 5:28-29 says, ” All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall com forth”
Acts 2:29,34 says, David….is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. For david is not ascended into the heavens.
Job 17:13 – “If I wait, the grave is mine house”.
6. God says that the dead know absolutely nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10) Psalms 115:17 says “The dead praise not the Lord”
Take a look at Ecclesiastes 9:6 and Psalms 146:4
7. Jesus calls the state of the dead “sleep” john 11:11-14. How long shall the dead remain dead? Until the day of the Lord. Job 14:12, 2Peter 3:10
8. As the second coming of Christ, the righteous dead will be rewarded. They will be raised, given immortal bodies and caught up meet the LORD in the air. There would be no purpose in a resurrection if people were taken to heaven at death.
9. If people goes to heaven when they die, it mean that they do not surely die. That is the devils first lie “And the serpent said unto the woman, you shall not surely die.” Gen 3:4.
There are many more scriptural references to prove that people do not go to heaven when they die righteous or not. The bible says “The dead in Christ shall rise first. If they are in heaven then why would Christ be coming to raise they from the dead?
Have a blessed Day.
@ Greg – I agree with Angela and more importantly, the Bible. Mary Fairchild explains it good on Christianity about.com: The Bible uses the term “asleep” or “sleeping” when referring to the physical body of the believer at death. It is important to note that the term is used solely for believers. The dead body appears to be asleep when it is separated at death from the spirit and soul of the believer. The spirit and soul, which are eternal, are united with Christ at the moment of the believer’s death (2 Corinthians 5:8). The body of the believer, which is mortal flesh, perishes, or “sleeps” until the day it is transformed and reunited to he believer at the final resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51)
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (NIV)
This indicates the dead body of the saved sleeps while the soul/spirit goes directly to God upon death.
All humans consist of spirit, soul and body, we are tri-part beings. Before salvation our spirit is described as dead in scripture.
When the Bible speaks of sleep in relation to death it does not mean literal sleep. Sleeping is just a way to describe death because a dead body appears to be asleep.
The moment we die, we face the judgment of God (Hebrews 9:27). just as in the story of Lazarus and Dives (Luke 16:19-31) Consider the powerful evidence in Acts 7:54-59 concerning the murder of Stephen… “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Stephen did not go into unconsciousness in the grave he went to Heaven to be with the Lord (the lord received his spirit).
Our spirit returns immediately to the presence of the Lord. For believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in hell (Luke 16:22-23).
When a believer dies his soul and spirit leaves his body but do not die. In Ezekiel it says the soul that sinneth it shall die but as with all scripture we must study it in its correct context it speaks of the unrepentant sinner and scripture here speaks of eternal death or punishment. It the body that will be raptured up ” the dead in Christ shall rise first” scripture states. The believers which are alive and remain will also be raptured . When the believer dies he is present with the Lord. Some time later at the rapture his body will be resurrected and glorified.Until the final resurrection. After death, a person resides in a “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).
When scripture says that the dead cannot praise thee it is speaking about those in the grave, and under the power of death, they cannot celebrate the praises of God with their bodily organs; their souls may praise him in heaven, but they in their bodies cannot till the resurrection morn, or as long as they are under the dominion of the grave; we cannot sing with our physical mouth when we are dead. This refers to the separation of the body and the soul/spirit upon death.
Thank you for this article! I hope more and more people read this! and praise the holy holy holy LORD!!!!
I found this article very helpful. I was researching what the Bible says about heaven, and found this article. It is reassuring to see that this article had scripture references for practically all of its facts. I can’t wait for the glorious day that we will all be able to see this beautiful city! To God be the Glory
thank you in sharing this article,,,,,it’s so precious,,,,
@ greg.. You are a little confussed about something the word death in the bible doesnt mean in certain verses what you are claiming it to mean. “The dead praise not the Lord”
Take a look at Ecclesiastes 9:6 and Psalms 146:4
what this means is people who do not live for god. People who arent saved. After you die, you cant change what you have done. Resurrection to a new life after death was a vague concept for old testament believers. It was only made clear after jesus rose from the dead.
Do you get to be with the person your
in love with in Heven??
Hello Desiree. Yes, absolutely we will know each other in heaven, including the person we are in love with or married too. Please read this article to give a full biblical explanation about this called “Will We Recognize Friends and Family in Heaven at: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/will-we-recognize-friends-and-family-in-heaven/
I have a question who told Gain what to offer and were dose it say in the scripture. God Bless. this particular question was ask during our bibile study last night.
Thank you John for such a good question. I don’t believe there is a Scripture that told Cain what to offer but Abel gave a better sacrifice because it cost him more than just produce from the ground. God rejected Cain’s sacrifice I believe because it was not from his own labor (produce like fruits or vegetables) but Abel’s was an animal sacrifice of the choicest of his herd. No one told Cain to offer his sacrifice and therefore it is not in the Bible but we can assume that since the life is in the blood, a blood sacrifice is a better sacrifice and pointed, of course, to Jesus’ ultimate price He paid.
Cain must have known that blood is required to cover sins since Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them with animal skins…the point is that the animals had to die (blood sacrifice) to “cover” Adam and Eve and thus, cover their sins. Cain should have known better. The Bible never says anywhere that Cain was to offer produce from the ground…but he should have known better and killed his brother Abel because Abel gave a better sacrifice and Cain killed him from jealousy.
Did this answer your question sir? I hope it did.
One aspect that we see is that Cain offered something from the ‘dust of the ground’ …a product of what was CURSED ….the offering of a lamb was not , animals were created by God and were a ‘type’ of the coming Lamb of GOD.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: CURSED is the GROUND for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
The choice to disobey and disregard God’s warning and command resulted in the ground being cursed as a consequence. Note also that the body of man which was formed from the dust of the ground DIES….So anything related to ground, dust, earth would thus be not what would be acceptable .
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit OF THE GROUND an offering unto the Lord.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
The ‘firstling’ emblematic of the ‘ONLY begotten who was the first among many brethren…lamb without blemish…just as the Lord Jesus Christ was .
The lamb also was not from man’s making but God’s creation.
The offering to the Lord was OF the Lord it would seem
Also Cain being the first born would probably feel too proud to have to obtain a lamb from his brother …pride entered in with offense from having his offering rejected by God with good reason. God would not receive anything from a cursed source.
Selah
I am reading the entire bible thru a weekly plan at our church. This is the first time I have made a true commitment to finish, I am excited. My paster ask us to close our eyes and he read the scriptures describing heaven , it was unbelievable to in your own mind to try to visualize it. We have an Awesome God! Thank you for your website it was very good!
My dad passed away Monday 21,2013 he was a true Christian and talked highly of heaven. My heart hurts for him cause I miss him so much, and will read the article on your loved ones meeting you, I was always told that, when you enter heaven because its all love, you will not have favorites everyone will be your family. Will my dad meet me when I go to heaven?
I am so sorry for your loss Janette. Think of it this way. Would he want to come back to earth right now where there is still suffering, pain, and tears? No way! I see no reason whatsoever that you won’t be greeted by your father in heaven if you have placed your trust in Jesus already. There is no doubt about that. Please read this article about whether we will recognize family and friends in heaven at:
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/will-we-recognize-friends-and-family-in-heaven/
I think you’ll feel better after reading this. One wise woman who was near death told me some great wisdom:
“When we are born, we have a lot of people smiling around us but we are crying…when we die, we have a lot of people around us crying but we are smiling”…that is for those who have put their trust in Christ like your dad has.
Hi, I have a quick question that I’m not sure on. So when we die, we wait for the day Jesus will all bring us to Heaven, right? What happens to us while we are “sleeping” and are waiting to be taken to Heaven? Is it like we are truly sleeping and once Jesus comes, we are reawakened? Is it like Job 14:12?
Thank you so much for your question. As I understand, Paul wrote what happens at death and was “confident” in this in 2 Cor 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
There is no “soul sleep” for this is not in the Bible. Job 14:12 speaks of this in Job 14:12-15, “so he lies down and does not rise;till the heavens are no more, people will not awake or be roused from their sleep. “If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me! If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made.”
Job was speaking during his severe trial but we know that later in the Book of Job, Job knew that He (God) would come for him again and today it is believed that Job is with the Lord.
Thank you for this website. I enjoyed this article, and found it very informative. There is so much speculation going on, and the Lord was quite clear about not leaning on our own understanding. Not everything will be known to us while we are here on this earth. For myself, I like learning. It is always helpful to hear what various pastors/ministers have to say on subjects. When put against the Word of God, it gives me a clearer understanding of different subjects. Thank you so much for writing about this subject. I have studied myself in times past. It was delightful. Glory be to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Come Lord Jesus Come!
HEAVEN : TO SAY THE LEAST!!!!!!!
HAVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…EVERLASTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…..ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……..VIRTUOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………..EDIFYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………….NESTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………..A…MEN…!!!…A…MEN…
Dear sir,
I would like to share a dream I had just yesterday of what i feel God showed me. First of all I am going through difficult times, and seems all is going wrong in my life. My precious mother is very ill, and in a nursing home. I tried for the longest time to care for her, but I too have health problems and it was too much for me and my sister to do. With the greatest hesitation we had no choice to put her in a nursing home to insure she would be cared for properly. It is so hard, because I promised her all my life that as long as I was alive, I would never put her in a home. I feel the worst pain daily that I broke my promise to her. I deal with this on a daily basis. I’m sad, and I cry constantly over it. I pray to God to please help me. i was raised in the Pentecostal faith.
I want to share this dream I had yesterday about what I think God showed me of heaven. I’m not crazy but this was so real.
I wake up early most mornings, I was so stressed that I fell back asleep.
‘The dream’
I begin to soar toward the heavens, and I had a child with me. Since I have only one daughter I will assume it was her. As I was traveling upward to the heavens, I clearly saw many mountains, with the most vivid colors I have ever seen in my life. (I’m 60 yrs. old) as I got higher toward the heavens i saw the most beautiful skies and beautiful mansions somewhat looking like churches. I was so amazed at the beauty of these buildings, the higher I got toward the heavens the more beautiful these mansions got, just when I thought they couldn’t get more beautiful, they did. I was like WOW! How can anything be this beautiful? There were mountains and the most vivid green, and beautiful blue. It was what I would describe as majestic! The most majestic thing I have ever dreamed. I didn’t want to come back to this awful, horrible world of death and violence throughout this Earth.
I do not go to a church, but I want to. I just want a church that isn’t judgmental like the ones I have attended in my past. I’m a good person, but not without my faults. I probably sin daily. I do ask for God’s forgiveness and help to be a better person.
I’m a very dedicated animal advocate, I feed all the strays that show up at my house. It is my passion. I have always been that way since my first memory as a child.
I just want to know is it possible that God would show me such a beautiful sight being that I’m considered a sinner? Why would he waste his time on me? I’m not worthy, and I know it. I have always felt that God has kept me alive for some special reason, not sure why because I have failed him so many times, to only turn to him for help. He has provided me with all my needs, and I tell him of my gratitude.
Lately though, I feel suicidal because my pain is so great inside, over my mother and great distant from my family among the abuse and death of people, children and animals being slaughtered. I’m so tenderhearted.
Please tell me what to do. I don’t want to take my life, but I’m finding it so unbearable to live on this Earth, with all the evil, suffering, murder, Middle East. Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Etc.
I would really love a bible, (King James version), if you know where I can get one. I have a small one, but my eyes are so bad that I find it hard to read, and don’t really have the money for one.
Thank you sir for reading this. May God Bless you, please pray for my soul. I don’t want Satan to win!
Linda Kay Gibbs
564 Slicer St.
Kennett, Mo. 63857
Hello Linda Kay. Thank you for sharing your dream with us. It is possible that this dream about heaven is God’s reassurance that this life on earth is only temporary and that you and family members who have put their trust in God have such an incredible future that words can not describe.
As for the guilt you have about putting your mother in a care facility, let me say that you had no choice. Her life sounds like is secure in Christ (she is saved, right?). These are reminders that we are just pilgrims on this earth and on a journey to the Promised Land where all this pain and suffering will be finally put to an end. There will then and there be no more suffering, no more pain, no more death.
You said, “I just want a church that isn’t judgmental like the ones I have attended in my past. I’m a good person, but not without my faults.” You will not find a church without fault and yes, many Christians are judgmental but you yourself just said that you sin daily (as we all do) and are “not without faults” so using “judgmental” Christians as the reason for not going is to make yourself above other, unperfect Christians. Jesus loved the church and gave His life for the church and said that the gates of hell would not prevent it from dying out and so you are outside of the fellowship of the saints. Jesus is the Head of the Church, the Chief Shepherd and you are outside the flock. Just because no church is perfect (just as you and I are) is no reason to forsake the assembling of ourselves as the Bible commands Christians to do (Heb 10:25).
How can you partake the Lord’s Supper as we are commanded by Jesus Himself to do? How can you grow in grace and knowledge (read 1 Cor 13 and Romans 12) to see how it is impossible. There are no “lone ranger” Christians in the New Testament church and all of the letters (epistles) are written to churches, not individuals. You will have a difficult time outside of the fellowship of the saints to support you, to pray for you and so on.
You will always feel suicidal and life on earth is not for you if you are out there by yourself for Satan is said to be like a roaring lion, seeking out those to whom he can devour. He looks for prey to victimize that are by themselves and not in the flock. Strays are easier prey for him to attack and make to feel guilty and feel worthless or suicidal. I must tell you in love that you will always struggle outside of the church, which is the Body of Christ, if you persist to see the church as too judgmental and you yourself are not perfect. Do you not see that this in itself is being judgmental? There are many, many godly saints who are NOT judgmental. You can’t judge all churches and saints as judgmental and live the life of a solo Christian and not expect to be attack spiritually by the Enemy.
I don’t mind praying for you but if you are being disobedient to the assembling of the church, my prayers may not help you.
By the way, we have no Bible’s to send to you but I urge you to go to a local church because the church I am pastor at and most churches have Bibles available. If you don’t have a Bible to read and no church to attend and grow in, then you have a very hard road ahead.
Good, and thanks for sharing this and praise the lord jesus
Just curious if you have read Randy Alcorn’s book, “Heaven” and if so, what do you think about his biblical view of what Heaven may be like?
Thank you Mr. Kirkland for your question. Yes, I have read this book but I question certain things in it. When the Bible says that Jesus said that “no man has ascended up to heaven but the Son of Man (Jesus)” and Paul was caught up in the 3rd heaven (whether in body or spirit he wasn’t sure) he said that some things were “not lawful” or God did not want him to say to us all that he saw while in heaven. For people who believe that they’ve died temporarily and gone to heaven only to return to their bodies again, the Bible is clear “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb 9:27). When people try to use their “experiences” about having seen or been in heaven against what the Bible says then this is what I consider “extra-biblical” and it is not to be considered as equal to what the Bible teaches.
I am not saying that some haven’t gone there and back but I must take all things from human experience with a grain of salt. On the other hand, I take 100% of what the Bible says at true. Does this make sense sir?
I think when reading the book Randy was trying to answer some common questions about what Heaven may be like in a biblical way. Questions like will there be space and time or will we continue to learn or will there be arts entertainment and sports.
Thank you Mr. Kirkland. I believe you are right sir and I apologize. I must have been thinking about the book where the little boy goes to heaven and other books that address people saying that they went to heaven. I found a copy of this book that was in my library that I had not read for a few years and I agree…it was very concise and I apologize. I was wrong and I am sorry sir. I owe you an apology and Mr. Alcorn too. Please forgive me. I reviewed it some time ago and did not realize this and looked back at my notes and highlights and Randy Alcorn did a fine job. Thank you and again, my sincere apologies sir.
Jack,
No need to apologize. With so many posts to read and questions to answer, I honestly don’t know how you can keep things straight! All your replies show caring biblical answers to many complex questions. I thank you for the time and effort that you put in.
I struggled with my religion after my father died at 47 years old but now i have several reasons to want to be with jesus and god and see precious loved ones i miss so much thanks for giving me a beautiful glimpse of what can be a great reward i am turning back to my religion as i did when baptized
Thank you Jack for this very fine and accurate Biblical account of what Heaven will be like!!! Praise the Lord!!! I will read and re-read it from time to time when I need encouragement!!
Judy, thank you again my friend. I believe heaven is to be a joy more for the Person of Christ being there than the place, but it will also be a joy when we all meet together.
I recently began studying Heaven and discovered the Bible actually has much to reveal to us about our future home!
There are very few books written to accompany the Bible on a study of heaven and I just recently got what I think is the BEST book to accompany the Bible on a study of heaven.
If this is something you really want to study, may I suggest “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn
I’m about halfway through but it is rich in scripture and doesn’t purport to have all the answers….just a wonderful, thought-provoking, guide to use in your study.
ENJOY!
Im former muslim I has received Jesus Christ mean christian underground, I’ve rejected the doctrine of Islam and their prophet. But still go mosque every friday, because I need to hide my true christian identity. Is there a sin I go mosque every friday, every mosque around the world pointed to mecca kaabah when prostration and prayer.
Thank you my friend for commenting. I am overjoyed that you have put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Perhaps you could use this time to be praying to the real God, the Father, thru Jesus Christ’s name. Do you think that those who know you would notice that you are not there? If it would endanger your life, you could go but if you feel in your mind it is wrong, then for you it is wrong. I don’t see it as sin unless you are actually praying or worshiping Allah. Some have been killed for their belief but they will be rewarded in heaven for their sacrifice. Let your conscience guide you. If you think it is sin, then it is…if you can worship God the Father thru Jesus’ name, then do that for you can do that anywhere.
I will pray for God to guide you to do His will, which His will is more important than ours.
Pastor Jack thanks for your answer, now I have understood as an answer from you and i thanks again very much to you Pastor Jack. So far I go to the mosque my heart worship only Yahwah father in heaven not a
Moslem allah. Because I live in Moslem country only few former moslem turn to Christ just like me. Thanks and praise Jesus the Messiah. But i very sad in the last day a billion of moslem in the world bathing in lake of fire, only few moslem people be saved.
Thank you my friend. Yes, it is heartbreaking that so many Muslim people will be saved but what is even more amazing is that ANYONE is saved. The same is true for many in China, in Russia, and so on. Take heart. We can pray for your brothers and sisters for them to know Jesus Christ as God and as their Savior. I know that there will be perhaps thousands if not millions come to worship God in the future Kingdom of Heaven, so don’t be too discouraged.
Hey, I have a question…someone told me that in heaven we won’t recognize our earthly families or friends. For example according them I won’t recognize my brother and sister and my parents. Is this true? I was just wondering. Thanks:)
Hello JM. Thank you for your question. You said that “someone told me ” and people are never a reliable source of the truth. Ask them what Bible verse they base that upon. In fact, the opposite is true. Check out this article about your question at the below link.
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/will-we-recognize-friends-and-family-in-heaven/
Thank you so much for this article I was so curious to search what is heaven like? Because my aunt just past away on may 18th 2013. From cancer. All I know is she’s in a better place, and with great company
RIP Maelia estrada
I live in a country whose majority population is Indonesia’s largest Muslim adherents in the world although it is not a Muslim country. I hope our society can receive is the savior Jesus Christ
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