What is heaven like?
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
What is heaven like? I like to think of it as what I seen in some films. I flat surface with a smoke screen around the feet, and many people arriving at a desk to book in. But, I must be honest, I have never been there, so I cannot tell you how it would look, but I know it will be heaven to me! So what happen when a person dies? In death a person passes outside the limitations of time, as we know it. From his death to his resurrection there is no consciousness awareness of earthly time or of this world, for he passes from death into resurrection.
1. WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH?
Man is a three-fold being of body, soul, and spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The body of man is but the vessel to carry the soulish body which houses the spirit of man. The body is temporal and earthly, but the soul and spirit of man is eternal. The body belongs to this world, and the soul and spirit belongs to the heavenly.
When a man dies, his body goes to the grave and back to the dust of the earth, where its beginning began, Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,” and his soul and spirit returns to God. Genesis 2:7 “And God breathed into the nostrils of man the breath of life; and man became a living being.” So in death the earthly and the eternal are separated unto the call of God, for the redeemed unto reward and the unrighteous unto judgement. So the dead in Christ await the resurrection unto perfection, when body and soul are united, “For when we shall see Him we shall be like Him.” Yet the dead in sin await that “Great White Throne” judgement unto eternal damnation.
2. WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN DEATH AND RESURRECTION?
This is called the “Intermediate State.” This expression is not found in the Bible but traditionally refers to the condition of mankind between death and resurrection.
1. For the unbeliever it is a state of anguish and torment in Hades Luke 16:23-25, 28 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he 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.'
But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ...
For I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.”
2 Peter 2:9 “Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment.”
As they await resurrection, and final judgement (John 5:28-29). Since divine judgement is based on a valuation solely of one's life on earth (Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17), the intermediate state affords no second chance to repent and embrace the gospel.
2. For the believer it is a period of time during which his bodiless soul, in conscious communion with Christ, waiting his resurrection body.
The “intermediate state” denotes more generally the interval between death and the end of all things. In either case the state is both temporary and imperfect (Revelation 6:9-11). The focus of the Bible is not on this state, but the resurrection state of immortality.
3. WHAT IS THE BELIEVERS STATE AFTER DEATH?
Although departed believers are no longer active in or conscious of the up-to-the-minute EARTHLY world of time and space. They are fully alert to their new environment, for they are not only “resting” from their labours in joyful satisfaction: “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” Hebrews 4:10.
“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 labours, and their works follow them” Revelation 14:13.
They are now “safe” in God's hands: “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last” Luke 23:46. “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” Acts 7:59.
But are literally “in the presence of Christ” (Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8).
When believers “fall asleep in Christ.” They cease to have any active relationship to this present world, and await the resurrection. From (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23) we find reference of being “with” the Lord in active communion with Christ. Paul says in these verses that he would rather be in the presence of God, being in conscious communion with Christ.
“And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43.
“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8
“For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” Philippians 1:23.
4. WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?
The ultimate destination of God's people is a transformed universe, “a new heaven and earth” Revelation 21:1. Heaven is where God is Matthew 6:9, where Christ ascended Hebrews 4:14, and therefore where believers go to at death Luke 23:43.
God guarantees us that in heaven there is freedom from death, suffering, fear, and sin Revelation 21:4 “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
It is pictured as a banquet in Matthew 8:11 “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” As a wedding in Revelation 19:9 “Then he said to me, “Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' “And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
As a secure city, filled with worship and loving activity in Revelation 21. And in Revelation 22 it is a place filled with thrones, trees and rivers. But most of all, heaven is where we shall see Jesus face to face.
CONCLUSION:
We should never fear death. For it holds no fear for those in Christ Jesus. The only thing it holds for us is the grief our love ones feel. Yet in that Jesus is our strength and comfort.
