What Will Heaven Be Like?

As a kid I remember being taught about heaven. It all seemed kind of dreamy and surreal; you might even say, other-worldly. To be honest, little has changed over the years. We are told a few things about heaven in the Bible, yet it still remains rather mysterious.

What about us?
The Bible says that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:50) So, what will we be like?

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

—1 John 3:2-3

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised can imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 

—1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 

—1 Corinthians 15:49

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

—1 Corinthians 15:51-53

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

—2 Corinthians 5:1-9

From these passages we learn that:

• We will be like Jesus, just as He is;
• We will be resurrected from the dead;
• We will be changed, different from our physical nature;
• We will be glorious;
• We will be imperishable;
• We will be immortal;
• We will be given a body suitable for the eternal heaven.

What about heaven itself?

As with the previous question, we are not left without information, but we do not have a full answer. Even when John’s vision in the book of Revelation is considered, we find ourselves asking more question. Compared to the current created world, the Hebrew writer says simply that heaven is better.

Here are a few things we are told about heaven:

• Angels will be there (Matthew 18:10);
• We have treasure stored there (Matthew 19:21);
• Earthly marriages will not continue there (Matthew 22:30);
• There will be no sin (Hebrews 11:16);
• Righteousness dwells there (2 Peter 3:13);
• God is enthroned there (Mark 16:19);
• Out of heaven comes the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12).

I am really curious about the New Jerusalem. Let’s take a look at that next time.


Mark Stinnett

July 31, 2022