In the perfection of heaven and in new heavens and earth (Revelation 21:1) God’s Word emphasises the spiritual and joyful parts of everlasting day of God (“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God …” 2Peter 3:12). So Christians, i.e. believers in Christ alone for salvation, will together and forever:
Live, Move And Have Their Being In The Power of God
“Who (believers Christ v3-4) are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1Peter 1:5).
“It (the believer’s resurrection body v42) is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (1Corinthians 15:43).
Believers Cannot Sin In Heaven
“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) but as “there shall be no more death” (Revelation 21:4) so there will be no sin in heaven.
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he (Christ – Colossians 3:4) shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1John 3:2). This glorious and perfect likeness will be spiritual and moral.
“Who (Christ v20) shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21). This likeness will be physical. Therefore we cannot sin and so there will be removed all hindrances to our loving God and enjoying heaven.
Be Welcome In Heaven And The New Heavens And Earth
“Now unto him (God v25) that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
This is reflected in: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11).
Have God Enjoying Us With Him And We Enjoying Friendship With Him
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
“And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4).
“Thou (the Lord v8) wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17).
As God wants us in this life “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) then how much better will that be in eternity.
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7) This learning is not going to be given by an apostle or an arch-angel but by God itself. As none less than God (v4) will for eternal ages “shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”, then what other truths will God also take eternal ages to shew us? This will result with eternal growth for the Christian.
How sad that in hell in Luke 16:24 “And he (the rich man v22) cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” It showed that either the rich man was either ignorant of the truth or perhaps, despite knowing the truth, he was still going to ask for help because of his deep trouble. There will be no enjoyable learning in hell.
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; v12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. v13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. v14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:11-14).
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3).
“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him” (Revelation 22:3). The word for service is used in other verses in association with worship (Deuteronomy 30:17; 2Chronicles 7:19; Jeremiah 13:10; Matthew 4:10; Romans 1:25), and serving God (Acts 26:7; Romans 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 12:28). The eternal state will be a place in which, with worshipful hearts, God alone shall be served by his own servants who will no doubt be engaged with fulfilling, intelligent and enjoyable work and not arduous toil.
“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).
As the need of light is met so that indicates that all needs will be met in heaven. The eternal reign is associated with the eternal glory in which all will live and move. The believers shall be Christ’s assistants in the rule of the glorified earth.
“Unto him (God v19) be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).
In eternity the church in perfection will give glory to God by Christ Jesus forever and ever and love doing so. The church will also wonderfully know the love of God and Christ (Romans 5:5; 8:38-39; 2Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 5:2, 25; 2Thessalonians 3:5; 1John 4:8) and lovers are never bored with each other.
We are not told everything about eternity. However whatever you enjoy in this life, we are told that “… to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23) than anything on earth.
Dear Reader, I hope that if you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ to be your own Saviour then that the above will encourage you to look forward to heaven even more.
However if you have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Saviour you are still open to the judgment of God because of your sins, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19). These sins will receive the judgment of God. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, v31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30). You do not want to know the just judgment of God against your sins and you do not need to because John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish (that is go to hell) but have everlasting life” (and consequently a place in heaven).