Heaven is the place where G-d the Father makes His home (John 14:2) and where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. (
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3 )
The "heavenly Jerusalem" is spoken of in Galations 4:26, Hebrews 12:22, and Revelation 3:12.
In Mathew 25:1 and James 2:5 we see the phrase "
Kingdom of Heaven". So we know that it is a Kingdom that belongs to G-d the Father. We also know that it is an "
eternal kingdom" (see 2 Peter 1:11) which makes sense, as G-d is the Alpha and the Omega. He never ends, so of course His Kingdom would never end. It will be our
eternal home and our "
eternal inheritance" (1 Peter 1:4 and Hebrews 9:15). The phrase inheritance suggests that it is meant for G-d's children. All of humanity are G-d's children, but just as in human families, not every member of the family will receive the inheritance. In the case of Heaven, it will be given to those who placed their trust in G-d, and accepted His gift of eternal salvation, through the Savior, Jesus Christ. He offers it to us all, and it is our choice to accept or refuse. I pray that you will accept, and be there one day.
Heaven will not have any suffering, and we will be delivered forever from all wickedness, death, and heartache. (2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Revelation 21:4) It's a place where we will experience the "
fullness of joy" forever. Luke 20:36, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 3:2)
You can look all of those up in your bible if you have one, or you can google the verses, and you'll be taken to one of any number of online bibles.
I couldn't leave you without a glimpse of what is to come though, so here you go..... the best description of all:
Revelation 21
1And 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.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And 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.
4And 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.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8But 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.
9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
