Heaven may be considered a mystery to many, but the Bible has plenty to say about the beautiful and blissful abode. As Christianity is the largest religion in the world, there has been a growing interest in the bible scriptures about heaven.
The concept of heaven as an afterlife abode for the saved souls is deeply entrenched in our psyche, and understandably so, given the accounts of the Bible. One of the main perspectives emerging from the Scriptures is that heaven is a ‘place’, or maybe even multiple places. This view is different from many other spiritual believes, who may perceive heaven to be of an etheric form.
This concept is particularly highlighted in one of the most popular passages of the Bible, John 14:2-3, where Jesus says: ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ This passage indicates that there is a tangible level of structure and architecture in heaven, implying that it is not just the symbolical resting place of the soul but a real place with rooms, houses and other structures.
Jesus also refers to heaven as a ‘kingdom in Matthew. In the Bible, Heaven is often referred to as ‘the kingdom of God’, implying both physical and spiritual aspects. This reference to ‘kingdom’ is highlighted in Matthew 6:33 where Jesus says: ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’
The beauty and holiness of heaven is often described in the Bible, with imagery such as ‘streets of gold’, ‘heavenly Jerusalem’ and ‘walls of crystal.’ While these descriptions may seem saccharine and abstract to the modern researcher, historically they were used to describe what heaven may be like to those reading the bible in the era when it was written.
The Bible also speaks of the place as a place of bliss, where there will be ‘no more pain and suffering and weeping’. This is different to many other spiritual believes which may describe the afterlife as a place of transformation or enlightenment. In the bible, heaven is not only a place where people go when they die, it is also an aspiration that people should strive towards in their lifetime, a goal to be achieved and fulfilled down on earth.
The Chosen Ones
The Bible implies that heaven is not a place for anybody, but only for those who have been ‘chosen’ by God. In Matthew 22:14, Jesus says: ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’ This makes the concept of heaven a bit different from many other religions, who consider the afterlife to be open for all. According to Christianity, it is not one’s good deeds but God’s grace that makes someone eligible for entry into heaven.
Another important aspect of the bible scriptures about Heaven is that it also mentions who won’t be able to enter. In the Bible, there are frequent mentions of ‘Hell’ as the opposite counterpart of heaven. In Revelation 21:27, it is mentioned that only those who are sheltered by God will be able to enter heaven, while ‘all others will be cast into outer darkness.’
The Experience
The bible has much to say about the experience of those in heaven, although it does not specify exactly what it will be like. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul talks about ‘the things God has prepared for those who love him’, indicating that those in heaven will experience the fruits of the spiritual and physical blessings of God.
It’s also mentioned in the Bible that heaven will be a place of joy, love, and peace, where all suffering will be forgotten, and one will be in direct communion with God. There is a particular description of the experience of heaven given in Isaiah 25:8 which says ‘He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth’, implying that in heaven there will be no hurt, suffering, or distress of any kind.
Relationships in Heaven
The Bible also speaks about relationships in heaven. According to 1 Corinthians 13:12, it is mentioned that after death, ‘We know in part, and we prophesy in part’. This suggests that even in heaven, people will still have relationships, and that these relationships may still be incomplete in some ways.
This is different from many other spiritual beliefs which describe heaven as a place where all problems, worries, anxieties will cease and that one will be in direct communion with God. According to Christianity, while there will be a strong connection with God in Heaven, people will still have relationships with each other, albeit in a different form.
Resurrection
The idea of resurrection is also strongly implied by the Bible, with multiple references made to the ‘Resurrection Day’, implying a physical resurrection not just of the individual but of the entire mankind. This concept is particularly highlighted in 1 Corinthians 15:22 which states ‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive’. This has strong implications for the structure and nature of Heaven.
This is different from other spiritual believes, in which there is often an emphasis on the transformation of the soul or spiritual journey to the afterlife, with no emphasis on resurrection. Christianity, however, believes that there will be a physical resurrection and spiritual transformation at the same time.
The Kingdom of God
Apart from Heaven as a place after death, the Bible also promotes the idea of Heaven as a state of being. This is particularly highlighted in Matthew 6:33 which states: ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’, implying that people should strive to achieve a kingdom of God on earth, rather than simply waiting for their individual journey to the afterlife.
This is again different from many other spiritual beliefs in which the focus may be more on individual liberation without any strong reference to an earthly kingdom. Christianity, however, believes that Heaven should be strived for both in this life and in the afterlife.
Final Judgment
The Bible also speaks of a ‘final judgement’, where people will be judged for their deeds and their fate sealed. This concept is particularly prominent in Revelation 20:12- 13, where it is said ‘I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.’
This has strong implications for the concept of Heaven, implying that there will be ‘levels’ according to one’s deeds while on earth, and that only those deemed worthy by God will be allowed entry into His eternal kingdom.
Heavenly Rewards
The Bible also speaks of a different kind of reward system in Heaven. In Revelation 22:12, it is said ‘Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what they have done.’ This implies that there will be a different kind of reward in Heaven than that of material reward, with a more spiritual emphasis on the divine rewards given to one’s soul.
This is slightly different from other spiritual believes which may focus on primarily material rewards in the afterlife. Christianity, however, believes that there will be both spiritual and material rewards alike.
Worshiping in Heaven
The Bible emphasizes the importance of ‘worship’ in Heaven, which indicates a different level of relationship with God than in the earthly life. In Revelation 4:11 it is said: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’ This implies that in Heaven, one will have a direct relationship with God, unlike on Earth where God is often an abstract concept.
This is different from many other spiritual believes, in which the relationship with God is often seen to be on an etheric level or not mentioned at all. Christianity, however, believes that there will be a tangible relationship with God, in which one will be able to worship directly in the presence of Him.
