Revelation 21:23-25 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
As a child I was taken to visit a mansion, an extraordinary structure built in the early 20th century. As we were walking to the site my attention was occupied by a rather ornate fountain and did not realize how close I was to the building we were there to see. When I eventually turned and saw the mansion for the first time my breath was taken by the beauty and the scale. My breath was taken as though someone lightly punched me in the chest. I was stunned. I had never seen anything like it. It rose from the ground in sure stone toward the sky filling my eyes. I remember the experience well. But that mansion, as impressive as it was, cannot match what awaits those who love God.
There is no greater place than Heaven, and it is meant to be our home. Earth is nothing when compared to it. Heaven holds the throne of God. It will be home to the righteous of mankind. It is the abode to the holy angels. In Heaven the Godhead, angelic beings and humanity will be together in one grand city. The righteous are brought to a home designed for humanity and open to any and all who obey God. It is made with you in mind. Jesus describes Heaven and tells us what He is going to do in John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus will see to it that the righteous will be brought to His Father’s house after final judgment. He will see to it that it is perfectly fit for them. They will continue with God and nothing can separate them from God: no enemy, not time, and not death.
The language used to describe Heaven is wholly resplendent. Nothing depicting Heaven is of minor detail and nothing about it could exist on this earth. It would be impossible for it to be inside this material realm. Heaven will outlast our universe. The universe is steadily running down and cannot sustain itself indefinitely. This world was never meant for anything but a temporary place for us to grow and be tested. Heaven, on the other hand, is eternal. Heaven possesses things not found here as John described in Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The construction of the gates would be impossible here. Earth has no pearls that size. The gold is like transparent glass. Gold is not transparent on this earth. Heaven is a new place beyond the temporal. It is greater than what we now have with the earth in every way. The words used to describe Heaven help us comprehend the magnitude of its splendor which is beyond anything this world can offer.
What of life in Heaven? The residents of Heaven will live forever with God Himself. John hears a message concerning this in Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God iswith men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Living in the nearness of God is the greatest experience the human soul can attain. If we were to take eternity to stand before Him, there would never be a dull moment. Being in the presence of omnipotence can never be boring. What could possibly outshine the majesty, the glory, the imagination and power of God? Worshipping at the throne of our Creator will never become a drudgery. He will fulfill every need of the soul – love, belonging, purpose, worth, joy, validation, family. Individuals are reunited with those they knew in this life and joined with the multitude of all righteous from beginning to end. They all are together with the Godhead in a city whose magnificence does not fade. Heaven will always shine and amaze. It will always be stunning every soul who sees it. The truth is we were made for Heaven and Heaven for us. But not everyone will enter its gates.
Revelation 21:7-8 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
