(Our Wednesday night Bible class is studying Heaven. Here’s a review of points from a recent lesson.)
Revelations 14: 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
In Heaven we will have rest, but what does that mean? When we arrive in Heaven will we sing a song and then all lie down for a nap like some kind of eternal kindergarten afternoon? No.
Will Heaven consist of some kind of near-unconscious stupor? No.
Rest does not mean inactivity.
Hebrews 4: 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
When God judged a generation of the ancient Israelites and told them they would not enter into His rest, the Lord was speaking of the Promised Land. Where the Israelites to enter the Promised Land and go to sleep?
Joshua 4: 13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
Those God brought into the “rest” of the Promised Land would be busy with the work of enjoying what had already been prepared.
Hebrews 4: 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
….
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
When God “rested” it was because He’d finish the labor of creation and He wanted to sit back and enjoy it. In the same way, our Heavenly rest will be an eternal holiday. We will enjoy the rewards of having received Jesus as Savior and having done the work of the gospel.
2 Timothy 4: 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
What will we do on our eternal holiday? What will this Heavenly rest look like? Well, let’s first be clear on what it won’t look like.
Heaven is not disembodied spirits floating around. We will have actual physical form: redeemed bodies; resurrected, glorified, spiritual, yet physical bodies. We will have bodies patterned after the resurrected Christ.
1John 3: 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Luke 24: 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Our resurrected Lord had flesh and blood. So will we. Our glorified Lord talked and ate with His friends. So will we.
Revelations 2: 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
The Scriptures reveal much about our activities in Heaven:
What will we do in Heaven?
Psalm 16: 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
We will have joy. That is, we will live in a state of bliss.
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
We will have pleasure. That is, we will experience new things which are good and pleasurable to experience.
Revelations 7: 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
We will be with God.
Revelations 22: 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. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads
We will see God face-to-face. Nothing will diminish our personal, intimate fellowship with God. We will be able to bodily experience all of His glory, something humanity has not been able to do since Adam and Eve hid from God in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3: 8)
Revelations 14: 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
We will sing old songs.
Revelations 15: 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
We will sing new songs.
Luke 6: 20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Our emptiness and want will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
We will laugh.
Isaiah 35: 5 ¶ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
We will be healed.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert..
We will leap for joy.
Ephesians 2: 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
We will sit in heavenly places.
2 Timothy 2: 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
and reign with Christ.
1 Corinthians 2: 9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
And more, much more.
A deeper, scriptural understanding of Heaven should fill us with peace and courage. If you are saved, understand that you don’t need to fear anything. The worst thing anyone could do to you is send you to a Heavenly rest of joy, pleasure, fellowship, music, satisfaction, laughter, rest, rulership ,… and more.
A deepened understanding of what the Bible says about Heaven should inspire us to witness and to pray. Heaven makes me want to lead everyone in my circle to Christ. What could be better than knowing that those I love most in this world have the promise of active, eternal rest in the next; knowing that even if they die they are not lost to me; knowing that the worst thing anyone can do to my precious ones is send them to Heaven. I want them to know Jesus as Savior so that they too can rest in the promise of a Heaven that is a forever of participation in wonder without sin or pain.
Heaven!!
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