Heaven

Heaven Described

The place:
Deu 26:15 Look down from Your holy dwelling, from Heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey. I know that this is describing the land of Israel that God provided for His people, however, if God intended to give this great a gift on earth, it seems that His eternal gift will be even greater. Let this thought prepare your thinking for all else God promises to those that are His.

Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
Mat 18:10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in Heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father in Heaven.

Joh 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.

2Co 12:2 I know a man in Christ fourteen years before (whether in the body, I do not know; or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught up to the third Heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows),
2Co 12:4 that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not allowed for a man to utter.
1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word*, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.
*Jesus was also called “the Word”. He always spoke what He heard from the Father. What He spoke became the scriptural word of the bible. The thought about “unspeakable words” leads us to know that heaven is so great that it cannot be described by the simple languages of earth. It also lends credence that we will not even have to speak in heaven but will communicate directly with each other’s innermost thoughts and feelings. This is further described below in 1Cor.13:12.

Rev 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. The bride is the church in love with Christ.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 having the glory of God. And its light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Rev 21:12 And it had a great and high wall, with twelve gates. And on the gates were twelve angels, and having names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel:
Rev 21:13 From the east three gates, from the north three gates, from the south three gates, and from the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he who talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city and its gates and its wall.
Rev 21:16 And the city lies four-square, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
Rev 21:18 And the foundation of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city had been adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
Rev 21:20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Respectively, each one of the gates was one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Christ’s glory in the form of spiritual light would be able to pass through all things, therefore, there will be no shadows and the light would be continuous in all places. This would not present a problem since spiritual beings would never tire or need the rest of sleep. The glory of God would be so powerful that evil could not even exist in its presence no more than darkness can exist in the presence of light. Only those who’s earthly evil nature has been covered by Christ’s blood, shed on the cross, would be able to exist in Heaven. (See also the study on the glory of God for scripture parallels)

Rev 21:24 And the nations of those who are saved will walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Rev 21:25 And its gates may not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of its street, and of the river, from here and from there, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit according to one month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And every curse* will no longer be; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him.
Rev 22:4 And they will see His face, and His name will be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there will be no night there. And they need no lamp, or light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light. And they will reign forever and ever.
* Curses (or blasphemy) could be put on lands, people(s), things and could affect such things as weather, sickness or good fortune. Remember that God cursed the land to have weeds after Adam & Eve’s fall. Our bodies were also cursed at that time to die instead of living forever with God in the garden. However, we were offered another chance for life eternal if we choose God’s way in Christ. Thus, Christ as the second Adam caused mankind to live forever when sin and death were overcome.

The bodies of the inhabitants:
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven.
Mar 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are as the angels in Heaven. I understand this to mean that there will be no gender differences. This makes sense as there will be no need for new births then. The inhabitants will live forever.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection;

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Bodies will be able to do as Christ did when he appeared after the resurrection in His glorified body. They will be spiritual bodies as described in the Heaven study following.

Mar 16:12 After that He appeared in another form to two of them, walking and going into the country. Christ could change forms in His resurrected body going from spirit to flesh at His will.

Luk 3:23 And Jesus Himself was beginning to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) son of Joseph, son of of Heli, This may be the age that all are in heaven. Remember Romans 6:5 above.

Luk 24:30 And it happened as He reclined with them, taking the loaf, He blessed it, and breaking it, He gave to them.
Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him. And He became invisible to them. He could be invisible as a spirit or could become unrecognizable changing in human form.
Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found assembled the Eleven and those with them.
Luk 24:34 And they said, the Lord has indeed risen, and has appeared to Simon.
Luk 24:36 And as they spoke this, Jesus Himself stood in their midst, and said to them, Peace to you! See also John 20:19 below. Jesus had appeared also about the same time to the apostles. He could transport from one location to another quickly. This leads us to think that those in Heaven will be able to go to various locations by just desiring to be there.

Luk 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that I am He! Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see Me have. Christ’s resurrected body had flesh and bones.
Luk 24:40 And when He had spoken this, He showed them His hands and feet.
Luk 24:41 And while they still did not believe for joy, and wondered, He said to them, Have you any food here?
Luk 24:42 And they handed to Him a piece of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb.
Luk 24:43 And He took it and ate before them. Christ could eat earthly food. Thus, those in Heaven will be able to change form when needed.

Joh 20:11 But Mary stood outside of the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down into the tomb.
Joh 20:12 And she saw two angels in white sitting there, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Joh 20:13 And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.
Joh 20:14 And when she had said this, she turned backward and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first of the sabbaths, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace to you! Jesus could pass through walls.

1Co 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. We know how Christ thought on earth, because he told us, and shall totally know his mind in heaven.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known. God already knows our hearts, but we shall then fully know God’s heart also. Knowing God’s heart and loving the Father as Jesus does, we become one with God and the will of the Father. Thus, those that are one with God become suitable to rule and reign with God for eternity. Whom is reigned over is the unknown. They could be the angels or others created by God.

Consider also, that those in heaven are also spirit. They are sons and daughters of The Father who gives good gifts. It is very likely that among those gifts will be all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:7 But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit.
1Co 12:8 For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues.

If those in heaven are to rule and reign with Christ, it would be very helpful to be able to discern the thoughts of others. Christ knew what others were thinking. This also agrees with the passage above in 1 Cor.13:12 about knowing and being fully known. Perfect wisdom would also come in handy. All wisdom would still come from The Father as before. The Father would also speak directly about what He intended to do as words of knowledge, healing and prophecy. He did for Christ and would do so for all His children.

Why shouldn’t the inhabitants of heaven be so overcome by the presence of God that they would speak in tongues and interpret for those who did not understand? The inhabitants of heaven would not need faith for their own part, since that which they desired had already come for them, however, they could still speak words of faith to those not in heaven to encourage and build them up. Jesus did! The Father would also give power as needed to complete His authority through those ruling in His name. The Father also gave Christ power to accomplish His will on earth. Why wouldn’t He give all His children the same? The Heavenly life is really going to be amazing.

Heaven is like:

Mat_13:31 He put out another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;

Mat 13:32 which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. 

Mat_13:33 He spoke another parable to them: The kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened.

Mat_13:44 Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which when a man has found it, he hides it, and for the joy of it goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

Mat_13:45 Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls;

Mat 13:46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Mat_13:47 Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered some of every kind;

Mat_13:52 Then He said to them, Therefore every scribe who is instructed to the kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out things new and old out of his treasure.

Mat_18:4 Therefore whoever shall humble himself like this little child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven.

Mat_20:1 For the kingdom of Heaven is like a man, a housemaster, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

Mat_22:2 The kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who made a marriage for his son.

Mat 22:3 And he sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they would not come. 

Mat 22:4 Again he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage. 

Mat 22:5 But not caring, they went their ways, one to his field, another to his trading. 

Mat 22:6 And the rest took his servants and treated them spitefully, and killed them. 

Mat 22:7 But when the king heard, he was angry. And he sent out his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 

Mat 22:8 Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they who were invited were not worthy. 

Mat 22:9 Therefore go into the exits of the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite them to the marriage. 

Mat 22:10 So the servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. And the wedding was filled with reclining guests. 

Mat 22:11 And the king coming in to look over the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 

Mat 22:12 And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 

Mat 22:13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few chosen.