Heaven has been described in so many different images that one wonders, from mankind’s point of view, if it is real. How can a reality, a reality that is unseen by us, be so definite, but so humanly unclear? The Bible reader learns that there will be a new heaven. Why? What was, or is, wrong with the old one? Making a new earth does not seem objectionable, except that it calls for the elimination of the great seas. Mankind has gotten used to oceans and likes them. Apparently the waters separate people from people in many ways. Water, hydrogen and oxygen, is not needed in the new earth. There is a river of life, with fruit trees on the banks. Do the trees ever drop leaves? Do we eat fruit? In human perceptions we use earth analogies to perceive heaven.
Some persons are offended by alleged features of heaven: that it is upwards toward space and sky; that it is a specific location; that it has some earth features highly elevated in quality; and, so the story goes. In 2002 during the early tension between Muslim terror groups and the United States popular Mullahs promised Muslim youths that death in the struggle meant they would have scores of virgins to meet their desires in heaven. For some Muslim prelates, heaven can provide for continual sexual ecstasy. Much of what is believed about heaven comes from classical literature, even extra-biblical religious writings. Dante’s, Divine Comedy, has inspired considerable speculation. Milton’s, Paradise Lost, played a part, projecting the apple as the enticing fruit for Adam in the garden. C. S. Lewis referred to the walled garden of the new Jerusalem, while others accent the form and nature of the city itself. The new Jerusalem may be a heaven stop for some.
Heaven is introduced early in the Bible, and many advocates have pictured heaven as a garden. Eden was a taste of heaven on earth. It will likely be returned to the new earth – as we may surmise. The new earth may be the final heaven for some redeemed, with the new Jerusalem, the capitol. The inhabitants will have considerable freedom for more than earth travel and activity. The new city is sent down from heaven. This common phrase coming down out of heaven is repeated in Scripture for several contexts. Little wonder that persons think of God as presumed upward toward the sky (space) or heavens. Prayer is sometimes indicated as lifting up the eyes.
Scripture appears to be more interested in the character of heaven than the place of it. The character will be determined by righteousness, as God interprets it. That not only includes the absence of sin (thought, nature and experience in conflict with God’s holiness) which, in positive terms, means not only lasting reality, but fullness of peace, joy, love, health, worship, aspiration – perfect life. This life is not boring, stuffy, self-oriented, or earthy. There will be ecstasy and sublimity stimulated primarily from the glory of God, seen in transcendence. The redeemed will be pleased with the life, resources, glory, permanence of existence and continuing growth (advancement). Time will have been dissolved, and the citizens of heaven will be a part of the forever present. Boredom is impossible. Even if all this is true, we admit there is more mystery about the new creation than there is clarity. Heaven will have considerable surprise in it. The human soul will replace the human body, and will prevail, identifying life immortal. Some factors of heaven are warming, because they seem to reflect our earthly home – and we will like that in the context that the earthly home was meant to be. Most descriptions lift if our obedience to earth’s beauty and bounty has been enlarged. There is something about heaven that seems to be an extension of what is best in earth life. Earth meaning is preserved. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020