What Is Heaven Like?

For today's post we will be going over what the bible tells us about heaven, paradise, and the Resurrection, etc. While some things about heaven will remain a mystery until we actually get there (Isa 64:4, 1Co 2:9), this doesn't mean we can't know anything about  what's in store for believers on the other side.



Many times supposed atheist make the claim that why did God make the universe so big if we are the only ones in the  universe. The answer is in order to manifest his glory (Psa 19:1, Neh 9:6).
Jesus tells us that there are many mansions in his father's house and that he is preparing a place for us the church (Joh 14:2, Heb 11:10). This is because the church is his bride and it is only fitting for the husband to build the house (Isa 54:5, 2Cor 11:2, Eph 5:31-32).

What's It  Like?

So what does the bible tell us about heaven? In Johns vision he sees a sea of glass that is like unto crystal (Rev 4:6). As concerning fashion in heaven the bible does tell us that the saints will have white robes and that fine linen represents their righteousness (Rev 7:13-14, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:14). Their will be no more hunger or thirst and those arrayed in white robes will serve God (Rev 7:13 -17),  furthermore we find out in Rev 21:1-4 that there will be no more sea, that God will dwell with his people, and that there will be no more pain, sorrow, crying or death. So it's not surprising that there will be a time  when predation will be no more (Isa 11:6-9, Isa 35:8-10, Isa 65:25).

Concerning New Jerusalem we see that it will have a great and high wall, twelve pearly gates, the city will be made of pure gold likened to clear glass, the wall will have twelve foundations that will be garnished with all manner of precious stones, and there will be no night there either (Rev 21:10 -27).  We see also that there will be a pure river of life that will come out of God's throne and that this river is clear as crystal, the tree of life will be on either side of the river and it will yield twelve manner of fruits which yielded every month (Rev 22:1-5).

Who will be There?

First it should be stated that not everyone is going to heaven like some other religions declare. The reality is few people will actually make it to heaven (Mat 7:14, Mat 20:16, Mat 22:14).

We learn from the book of John that it is those that have done good will acquire the Resurrection of life, while those that do evil to the Resurrection of damnation (Joh 5:28 -29). This is further reiterated in 1 Corinthians when it tells us that the unrighteous (thieves, drunkards, effeminate, adulterers, etc) won't inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 6:9-10), and in Revelation when we see sorcerers, whoremongers, liars, etc won't make it in either (Rev 22:15).

See also: Psa 15,  Psa 24:3 -4, Mat 5:3, Gal 6:8

Our New Bodies

When the resurrection occurs we won't have the same bodies that we do today, in Mat 22:30 it says that we will be as the angels of God in heaven. Lukes parallel passage informs us that  we will be equal unto the angels (Luk 20:35 -36). 1Co 15:35-50 shows that we will have a spiritual body that will be raised in incorruption, glory, and power. In Philippians we see that our vile body will be fashioned like unto Jesus glorious body (Php 3:20-21).

Kingdom of Heaven

Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry he made several parables about the "kingdom of heaven".  It is likened to a man who sowed good see in is field (Mat 13:24-30), It's likened to a grain of mustard seed and leaven (Mat 13:31-33), it's also like a man who is a househoulder who went out in the early mourning to hired labourers for his vineyard (Mat 20:1-16).

Jesus says it's also like a certain king which made a marriage for his son (Mat 22:2-14), like ten virgins and the half of which were wise and took oil with their lamps (Mat 25:1-13),  it's also as a man that travels to a far country and delivers unto his servants his goods, to one five talents, to another 2 talents, and to another one (Mat 25:14-30).  

Verses about those who overcome

In the book of Revelation Jesus tells us that certain things will be given or happen to those that overcome among these is they will eat of the tree of life (Rev 2:7), not be hurt of the second death (Rev 2:11), they will also get to eat hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it (Rev 2:17) , they will obtain power over the nations (Rev 2:26), clothed in white raiment (Rev 3:5), he will be made a pillar in the temple of God (Rev 3:12), and be granted to sit with Jesus on his throne (Rev 3:21).  

Treasure / Inheritance 

There are also several passages of scripture that  let's us know that we will receive rewards in heaven as well. In the  gospels Jesus says not to store up treasures here on earth where they can perish or be stolen but to rather store them up in heaven where they cannot be corrupted or stolen (Mat 6:19-20, Mat 19:21, Luk 12:33, 1Pe 1:4). We are to set our affection on the things above not  on the things down here (Col 3:2).

Whether we receive a reward or suffer loss depends on whether our work will abide the fire (1Cor 3:10-15), we see in 2Cor 5:10 that we will be judged by the things we did in this body.

Other Things To Mention

Psa 103:11 compares the distance of the heaven from the earth to how great God's mercy is to those that fear him, and Psa 115:16 tells us that the heaven is the Lord's.When we see the scientific evidence that the universe is expanding this just shows the veracity of scripture as God tells us that he stretched out the heavens (Isa 45:12). The bible also tells us that heaven is God's throne (Isa 66:1, Mat 5:34).

In Ecc 12:7 we see that our  spirit goes to God when we die, which just proves that Jesus is God (see Act 7:59). Isa 26:19 and Dan 12:2 are two passages about the Resurrection, and the latter verse shows that some will awake to everlasting life while others will awake to shame and everlasting contempt. This point is reiterated in the NT when Paul writes that there will be a resurrection from the dead of both the just and unjust (Act 24:15).

Zec 14:16-17 tells us that the nations will come unto Jerusalem to worship the King (the Lord of hosts) once a year and if they don't there will be no rain on their land. Mat 21:25 poses the question did the baptism of John come from heaven or was it of men? In Luk 23:43 we see that Jesus told the dying thief on the cross that he would be with him in paradise.

In Luk 3:17 the saved is compared to wheat that is put in the garner while the lost is compared to chaff that is burned with unquenching fire. In 2Co 12:2 -4 we see there is a reference to the third heaven also known as paradise, this is obviously the place where God resides. We learn from 2Pe 3:12 -13 that God will make the new heaven and earth by burning up the old one, and that this new creation will be inhabited by the righteous.

In Conclusion we see that Heaven is a wonderful place with many mansions and no more suffering, the wicked won't be there, we will be serving and worshiping God there and that some things about it will still be a mystery until we get there.

See also: Job 26:11, Lam 3:41, Hos 13:14, Amo 9:2, Mat 8:11,
Act 7:55, Gal 4:26, Col 1:13,  Heb 13:14