Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live.
� John 14:1-3
Heaven is an actual place.
It isn't an "idea" or a "state of mind"; it's a location, like Miami or Chicago or Paris. We often think of heaven in sort of a mystical way, and our minds gravitate toward the Hollywood version, where people in filmy white robes float around on clouds with little halos over their heads, strumming harps.
How boring! That is certainly not the heaven of the Bible. The Bible uses a number of words to describe heaven. One word it uses is paradise. In the Gospels, we're told that Jesus was crucified between two thieves. When one of those thieves, in the last moments of life, put His faith in Jesus, he said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). And Jesus replied, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (verse 43).
Heaven is also compared to a city. In Hebrews 11:10, we're told that this city's architect and builder is God Himself. And then Hebrews 13:14 says, "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (NIV).
Now, we know that cities have buildings, culture, art, music, parks, goods and services, and events. Will heaven have all of these things? We don't know. But we can certainly conclude that heaven will in no sense be less than what we experience here on earth�with the exception of all things harmful or evil.
Heaven is also described as a country. Hebrews 11:16 says, "They desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God."
Heaven is a paradise, a city, a country . . . and so much more that we can't begin to wrap our finite minds around it. But one thing I do know: Jesus is expecting me, and He's prepared a place for me. What more could I ask for?
Heaven is also compared to a city/New Jerusalem. In Hebrews 11:10, we're told that this city's architect and builder is God Himself. And then Hebrews 13:14 says, "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come".
Who will NOT enter this city?
Revelation 21
All Things Made New
21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John,[a] saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, �Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.�
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, �Behold, I make all things new.� And He said to me, �Write, for these words are true and faithful.�
6 And He said to me, �It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.�
The Glory of the New Jerusalem
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb (the Son of God) are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb�s Book of Life.
The Son of God says:
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy:angel:, let him be holy still.�
12 �And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.�
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments:prayingf::prayingm:, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral:angeldevil: and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie:devil:. Revelation 22
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
From Earthly Tent.� That is our starting point today, because that is where we find ourselves. In our earthly tent. Paul refers to this tent several times. He writes: �For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed�; and again, �For in this tent we groan�; and once more, �For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened
