What's Heaven Like?

What does heaven look like?

Heaven has become a very general term that means something different to different religions. What they refer to is that the destination in the afterlife for those faithful to their religion. Last week we talked about the reliability of Scripture, so as Christ-followers, our responsibility is to look again at Scripture to answer the question, “What does heaven look like?”

First of all, heaven is the place where God dwells. It is the place where God most fully makes known his presence. It is above all a place of worship where there is no hindrance in our communion with God. It is a place of continual worship and contentment with God. In His presence, we have no desire for anything else. So, heaven looks like a place of worship.

Next, heaven is actually a physical place, and not just a state of mind. Outside evangelical circles, the idea of heaven as a place is often denied, but Scripture refers to heaven as an actual place. When Jesus ascended, the angel said he was taken into heaven. When Stephen was stoned, he looked into heaven and saw the Son of Man at the right hand of God. Also, when Jesus rose from the dead, he rose in a physical body. Scripture teaches that we will become like Jesus one day – perfected in our physical bodies, not just spiritual ones. A Physical body suggests a physical destination. Jesus said in John that he was going to heaven to prepare a place for us. He said where he is, we will be with him Heaven is a real, physical place for our perfected, resurrection bodies which will never grow old or become weak or ill. The description of heaven includes walls and gates of precious stones and metals, and there’s no reason to think this is merely symbolic.

Heaven will also look like a place of great beauty and abundance and joy in the presence of God. Revelation says that it is a holy city, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore. There we can drink from the fountain of the water of life. It is a city that has the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It is a city of immense size. Parts of the city are constructed of immense precious jewels of various colors. The street is made of solid, transparent, gold. It will be free from evil, for nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood.

But more importantly than all the physical beauty of the heavenly city, we will enjoy eternity with all God’s people from all nations and periods in history. We will live in the presence of God with unhindered fellowship with him. As we gaze into the face of our Lord, we will know more fully than ever that in His presence there is fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore. When we finally see the Lord in heaven, we will want nothing else.

It’s quite difficult to describe eternity in five minutes, but that gives us a glimpse at what heaven will look like.