I. THE DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN.

A. Heaven Now.

B. Heaven in Prospect.

A. Activities in Heaven.

B. Things Absent in Heaven.

C. Things Present in Heaven.

A. God.

B. Angelic Beings.

C. Elders.

D. The Redeemed.

Ps. 99:1; Is. 6:1-7, Matt. 17:3; Luke 1:19,26, John 3:15; 4:24; 5:24; 10:28; 14:2, 17:2,24; Acts 7:48-56; Rom. 6:23; 8:18; 1 Cor. 6:2,3; 2 Cor. 5:6-8; 12:2-4; Eph. 1:10; Phil 1:23; Col. 1:15; 2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 12:22,23; Rev. 4:2,3,10,11; 5:1-7,9,11; 7:9,10,15,16; 14:13; 15:3; 19:1,7,8; 20:10; 21:1-27,22:1-5,17.

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 22:5).

The doctrines of Heaven and Hell are ignored, ridiculed, or denied by the world and by much of the religious community. Listen to the comments of a world famous theologian and a scientist regarding Heaven: "It is unwise for Christians to claim any knowledge of either the furniture of heaven or the temperature of hell" (Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr). "As for Christian theology, can you imagine anything more appallingly idiotic than the Christian idea of heaven?" (Dr. Alfred Whitehead). But such ideas are not consistent with the Bible's account of Heaven, the hope and future home of the redeemed. For this reason we must impart to our students, simply and clearly, what the Bible actually says about that place called Heaven.

Much of what the Bible says about Heaven refers to a future time, a time after Christ has returned to earth, judged the world, and cast the wicked into the lake of fire. These events are described in the book of The Revelation, followed by a description, in Rev. 21-22, of God's great city, the New Jerusalem. We cannot say with absolute certainty whether the New Jerusalem now exists and is waiting to be fully revealed in those days following Christ's return, or whether it remains to be created. Many believe the New Jerusalem is already the location of God's throne. The Bible does not say for certain. But the Bible does tell us some very definite things about Heaven as it now exists. It is the abode of God and location of His throne (Rev. 4:2,3). Stephen preached this fact to the Jews and, through a supernatural vision, saw Christ there in Acts 7:48-56. Paul, in 2 Cor. 12:2-4, describes this heavenly place as paradise. Jesus, in John 14:2, assured the disciples that it was a place of dwelling and that He would personally prepare a place there for the redeemed. Since Jesus is at His Father's right hand in Heaven, then Heaven must also be the current dwelling place of those believers who have already died. We know this is true, because Paul twice assures us, in 2 Cor. 5:6-8 and Phil. 1:23, that the believer who departs this life goes into the presence of Christ.

God gives us a beautiful and detailed description of the holy city called the New Jerusalem in Rev. 21-22. It is described as coming down from God and is called the bride or wife of the Lamb. This magnificent city will be square, according to Rev 21:16, measuring 1,500 miles on each side. Its tallest point will be 1,500 miles high. The foundations of the city, described in Rev. 21:14,19,20, will be garnished with precious stones and will carry the names of the twelve apostles. Its walls, measuring 216 feet in height, will be made of jasper (Rev. 21:17,18). The city will have twelve gates, three on each side. Each gate, composed of a single pearl, will bear the name of one of the tribes of Israel (Rev. 21:12,13,21). The street of the city, mentioned in Rev. 21:21, will be of pure gold. According to Rev. 22:1-3, the throne of God and of the Lamb Christ Jesus will be in this holy city. Flowing out from that throne will be a crystal clear river of the water of life, and on either side will be planted the tree of life, bearing twelve types of fruit every month. This is the glorious city described as awaiting those "whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:27).

Scripture repeatedly deals with conditions in Heaven. We have divided these into three groups: Activities, Things Absent, and Things Present.

The popular, but totally perverted, concept of Heaven pictures the future life in the skies in terms of disembodied spirits piously perched on fleecy clouds and strumming golden harps. This is not Bible truth. Heavenly activity, according to numerous references, will include singing, but will not be limited to singing (Rev. 5:9; 15:3). Our activity in Heaven, according to Rev. 7:15; 22:3, will also involve service. While we cannot be dogmatic on the exact nature of this service, we can conclude that a portion of our service will include exercising authority given by Christ. Study these passages: 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Cor. 6:2,3; Rev. 22:5.

Heaven will also be a place of fellowship. During His transfiguration in Matt. 17:3, Jesus spoke freely with Moses and Elijah centuries after they had departed earth. Yet they were recognized as Moses and Elijah. In addition, the apostle John, during his vision of The Revelation, saw and recognized the difference between elders, angels, and various redeemed peoples. It seems logical that if recognition is possible, fellowship will also occur.

The Scriptures list several things that will be absent in Heaven. Rev. 7:16 tells us that there will be no more hunger, thirst, or excessive heat. Rev. 21 lists other things that will not be present: seas, vs. 1; tears, vs. 4; death, vs. 4; pain, vs. 4; sun or moon, vs. 23; night, vs. 25; and sin, vs. 27. The list continues in Rev. 22:2 promising an end to the curse God placed upon the earth because of Adam's sin. Further, Satan will no longer be present to deceive men (Rev. 20:10).

There are also things which we are promised will be present in Heaven. There will be glory (John 17:24; Rom. 8:18; Rev. 21:23); holiness (Rev. 21:27); divine light (Rev. 21:23-25; 22:5); unity (Eph. 1:10); and eternal life (John 3:15; 5:24; 10:28; 17:2; Rom. 6:23).

Who will dwell in this holy city?

All three persons of the Godhead will be present in Heaven. There seems to be no doubt that the one John sees sitting upon the throne in Rev. 4:2,3 is God the Father. Some question whether anyone could ever actually see a God who is spirit (John 4:24) and invisible (Col. 1:15). When John attempted to describe what he saw on that exalted throne, he could only write that the one who sat there was "like a jasper and a sardine stone." The Son will be there also, for in Rev. 5:1-7 we find the Lamb receiving the sealed book from the hand of Him who sits on the throne. He is in the midst of the throne, in the midst of heaven. He is the Lamb, the central personality of all history and in all Heaven. The Holy Spirit will be there also, depicted in Rev. 14:13; 22:17, as speaking to men on behalf of God.

There are many references in the Old and New Testaments which teach the presence of angelic beings in Heaven (Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11; Is. 6:1-7; Ps. 99:1; Luke 1:19,26).

John describes a group of twenty-four elders who are seated around God's throne in Rev. 4:4,10,11. Much has been written concerning the identity of these twenty-four elders. A reasonable suggestion is that they represent the twelve tribal leaders of Israel in the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of Jesus in the New Testament.

The writer of Hebrews tells us of a great assembly in Heaven in Heb. 12:23. John repeatedly mentions this great throng of people gathered from every nation and every people (Rev. 5:9; 7:9,10; 19:1,7,8). This great company will be those people whose sins have been washed away by the shed blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

The teacher should briefly review the description of Heaven and its conditions. Reviewing the list of those who will live in Heaven is a prime opportunity for evangelism. Not every lesson is basically evangelistic, but we should not teach a lesson on Heaven without taking advantage of the soul-winning opportunity it offers. Make sure they understand that they can make that trip, too, if they accept Christ as Savior.

1. Heaven is the abode of ___________________________ and location of His __________________________ (Revelation 4:2,3).

2. Paul describes Heaven as a ___________________________________ In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.

3. The Shape of Heaven is ______________________________________ (Revelation 21:16).

4. Heaven will have walls of ________________________, streets of and gates of__________________________ (Revelation 21).

1. Activities will include ________________________ (Revelation 5:9), and __________________________ (Revelation 22:5).

2. List four (4) things which will be absent in Heaven (Revelation 21:1-4).

1. ____________________________________________ 3. _________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________ 4. _________________________________________

3. List 3 things present in Heaven (Revelation 21).

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. Who will be in this holy city?

1. ____________________________________ 3. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________ 4. ____________________________________

Memory Verse: And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them fight: and they shall reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5).

Brief Studies