Revelation 21:1-8
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
What will heaven be like? You’ve probably seen images of angels or babies floating around on clouds with harps in their hands, singing or humming peaceful melodies. You may have heard of streets of gold, pearly gates, or beautiful mansions. As with anything else, much of what we think about heaven has been given to us by our culture rather than Scripture. What will heaven really be like? We must look to God’s Word for answers. After all, He is the maker of heaven and the One who will eternally dwell there.
One thing that we are taught in Revelation 21-22 is that the current heaven is not the final heaven. John sees a “New heaven and new earth” because the “ first heaven and the first earth were passed away” (Revelation 21:1). This new heaven is very much reflective of what both heavens (current and future) will be like. What makes heaven, heaven? John reveals several things in Revelation 21:1-8 that tell us what heaven will be like.
First, heaven will be heaven because God will be there. Revelation 21:1-3 tells us ultimately heaven comes to earth. There is a new heaven and earth (with no more sea) in verses 1-2 and then we are told of the brilliance of what that means. It means that God comes down to dwell with His people. The word “tabernacle” means “tent” or “dwelling place.” It describes God’s dwelling place as being with “men,” with “His people.” The promise is that He will “be with them, and be their God.” We have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ now and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. However, in that day we will see God face to face. Moses desired to see God’s glory (His face) in the Old Testament, but was unable to (Exodus 33:18-23). In heaven, a saved person will live in the light of God’s glory and know Him face to face forever.
Second, heaven will be heaven because the curse will be removed. All that is unpleasant about this life: sickness, death, sorrow, pain, etc., will all be removed one day. Christ will have redeemed the created order and the old creation will have been purged of all sin by fire (2 Peter 3:10-11). Those “former things” will have “passed away.” Can you imagine life with no difficulty, no death, no sickness, and no pain. It plagues and permeates our existence. One day, God’s children will experience life for eternity apart from all of these things.
Third, heaven will be heaven because salvation will be fulfilled. Heaven is about the completion of all that is promised to the child of God in salvation. It is the completion or consummation of our salvation. Jesus came and paid the price for our sins that we might be redeemed and reconciled to God by faith. He is doing a work that one day will be complete when we get to stand before Him and spend forever with Him. The Apostle Paul wrote, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Fourth, heaven will be heaven because sin will be no more. The curse will be removed because sin will be removed and will no longer corrupt and contaminate God’s creation. The purpose of verse 8 is to tell us about this hope that one day life will be apart from all sin. It also serves as a warning to all who have never repented of their sin and trusted Christ, that they will have no part of heaven. Instead, they will be consigned eternally to the Lake of Fire. Instead of everlasting joy and peace, they will experience everlasting pain and sorrow under God’s wrath.
The question we must answer today is, “Am I going to heaven?” The Bible tells us how we can know for certain where we will spend eternity. It is only through the blood of Jesus that you and I can spend eternity with God in heaven. It is only through, “him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5). In an exchange with Thomas, we read of Jesus saying, “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:4-6). Do you long to see Jesus? Do you long to be free from sin? If you have been saved by the grace of God through His Son Jesus, then one day heaven will be your home.