What Will Heaven Be Like?

Heaven is a place of hope

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Him­self will be with them and be their God.”

— Revelation 21:3

Introduction

As we journey through life, the thought of a future home with Jesus fills our hearts with peace and anticipation. Heaven is not just an abstract idea or a distant place, but it is God’s promised home for those who believe in Him. Today, we will explore what heav­en will be like according to Scripture, how it intersects with the new earth, and why this promise is central to our faith.

1. Heaven: God’s Dwelling Place

Heaven is described as the central dwelling place of God, where He rules the universe from His throne. Al­though God is omnipresent, heaven is uniquely where His glory is most fully displayed. The Bible promises that when Christians die, they immediately go to heaven to be with Christ (Luke 23:43). However, this is not the final destination. One day, God will bring heaven down to earth, transforming the cur­rent heaven into what the Bible calls the “new heaven and new earth.”

This concept is revolu­tionary. While many imagine that heaven is a place where believers escape the trou­bles of the earth, the Bible reveals that God’s ultimate plan is to dwell with His peo­ple on a renewed earth. As Revelation 21:1 says, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”

2. Heaven on Earth: The New Creation

God’s plan has always included not only redeeming humanity but also restoring creation. The fall of Adam and Eve affected not only mankind but the entire universe. However, God’s redemption plan extends to all of creation. Isaiah 65:17 promises, “See, I will cre­ate new heavens and a new earth.” This new earth will be free from sin, corruption, and death.

The future heaven, or new earth, will be a place where the glory of God is fully revealed. Jesus’ resurrection secured this future, as His victory over sin and death ensures that all of creation will be renewed. It will be a place of perfect fulfillment, joy, and peace—a world where God Himself will walk with His people once more, just as He did in the Garden of Eden.

3. The Throne of God: Reigning with Christ

In the present heaven, God’s throne is the central feature. Yet, when the new earth is created, His throne will be established there. Revelation 22:3 says, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city.” This means that the new earth will literally be “heav­en on earth.”

Believers will reign with Christ in this new creation, reflecting the original pur­pose for humanity. In Gen­esis 1:28, God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth, and in the new earth, this dominion will be fully realised. Believers will serve God, not in tedious labour but in joyful, meaningful work. The Bible promises that we will reign with Him forever, ruling as His chil­dren in a perfect, restored world.

4. The Uniting of Heaven and Earth

A remarkable truth about the new heaven and new earth is that they will not be two separate realms. Instead, they will be unit­ed under Christ. Ephesians 1:10 describes God’s plan to “bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” This means that there will no longer be a di­vision between the spiritual and physical realms.

Just as the curtain sepa­rating God from humanity was torn when Christ died, the barrier between heaven and earth will be removed in the new creation. The result will be one seamless universe, where God dwells among His people forever.

5. The Wonders of the Holy City: New Jerusalem

The Bible describes the New Jerusalem as a city of unparalleled beauty and glo­ry. Revelation 21:2 reveals that the city will descend from heaven to earth, and it will be the capital of the new earth. This city is de­scribed as having gates that are always open and streets of pure gold. Revelation 21:24 says, “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it.”

This implies that the new earth will have cultures, nations, and rulers—all redeemed and purified. The diversity of people and cul­tures on the new earth will reflect the creativity of God. All the best aspects of histo­ry, culture, and art will be restored and redeemed for God’s glory.

6. Life on the New Earth: Joy and Fulfillment

Life on the new earth will be anything but boring. Some people mistakenly believe that heaven will be a place of endless inactiv­ity, but this is far from the truth. Revelation 22:3 tells us that “His servants will serve Him.” Our work in heaven will be fulfilling and without the curse of sin. We will use our talents and gifts to glorify God in everything we do, and our desires will perfectly align with His will.

The new earth will also be a place of feasting, fellow­ship, and joy. Matthew 8:11 promises that we will dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Ja­cob in the kingdom of heav­en. The Bible often depicts heaven as a banquet, where we will enjoy food, drink, and celebration with Christ as the guest of honour.

We will also have the op­portunity to continue learn­ing, growing, and exploring God’s creation. The wonders of the new earth will be endless, as Ephesians 2:7 says, “in the coming ages He will show the immeasurable riches of His grace.” We will spend eternity discovering new aspects of God’s great­ness and beauty.

7. The Restoration of Rela­tionships and Creation

One of the most comfort­ing promises of the new earth is the restoration of relationships. In heaven, all brokenness will be healed. There will be no more pain, sorrow, or death. God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and we will be reunit­ed with loved ones who have also placed their faith in Christ. The relationships we experience in heaven will be free from sin and full of love, as we will know each other fully and perfectly in Christ.

Moreover, the new earth will see the restoration of creation itself. The Bible suggests that even animals will be present on the new earth. Isaiah 65:25 describes a world where “the wolf and the lamb will feed togeth­er.” This imagery points to a peace that extends to all of creation.

Conclusion

Heaven, as revealed in Scripture, is not a distant or abstract place. It is our true home, where we will dwell with God forever. The new heaven and new earth will be a place of unimaginable beauty, joy, and fulfillment. As we look forward to this future, we are reminded of God’s incredible love and grace. He desires to be with us, and His plan from the beginning has been to dwell among His people. Let us live in light of this hope, sharing the good news of the gospel and anticipating the day when heaven and earth are united under Christ.

Stay blessed!

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• By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author