How would you describe Heaven

[Cyprezz]

If a friend, who had barely any knowledge or background in the Christian faith, asked "what's Heaven like?", how would you answer?

 

[GeorgeJ]

I Corinthians 2:9, NIV. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

 

[RaymondG]

Its a place where you have everything you want and nothing you dont want. The possibilities is limited by your own imagination. And when you have imagined your greatest, remember, eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the hearts of man, the thing God has prepared for them that love him.

 

[Albion]

I Corinthians 2:9, NIV. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

IMHO, that's right. It's a mistake to start in picturing heaven in physical or visual terms. And even the more mental/spiritual kind of descriptions--to be with God, happiness, fulfillment, mysteries are opened up to you, etc.--are imprecise.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Perpetual autumn, leaves in full color, acorns falling, no other hunters around, then a nice whitetail buck appears moving toward my tree stand. That, my friend, is heaven!

 

[John Hyperspace]

I suspect it begins with three simple words.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

Whatever it is, it will be better than we think. Or imagine.

I rather suspect it will involve chocolate without weight or blood sugar problems, various forms of firearms and all the critters I've ever had.

Talking with God a lot. Actual talking, with coffee or beer or donuts or something; not sitting in a lecture hall attempting to stay awake. Finding out why it was toast always landed jelly side down and why. Including diagrams and math equations we will comprehend.

Slapping ourselves on the forehead after a quick explanation of a Bible passage from God and saying "So that's what it means!"

Seeing some folks hugging each other, simultaneously laughing and crying, saying "We killed each other over what?"

And above all, Eternity - and we (I anyhow) will finally understand fully the details involving 'Heaven' and 'new Heavens and a new Earth' - will be JOYFULL. All the time, new and exciting.

 

[rockytopva]

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. - Isaiah 64:4

It is a secret!

 

[RaymondG]

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. - Isaiah 64:4

It is a secret!

What about the Golden Gated community a lot of christians talk about?

 

[Darkhorse]

Heavenly?

Divine?

 

[akmom]

I hope it's earthy and mountainous, with great big trees looming up into oblivion and a mossy understory with creeks trickling everywhere. And I hope the mansions are embedded into coves or treehouses, rather than big ugly structures perched on clear-cut gravel pads. Maybe it will have floating islands like the movie Avatar.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

If I may butt in again. From what I read in the Bible, there are precious little details given. However, the implication in a number of places the Bible hints or suggests 'the new Heaven and new Earth' will be like Eden prior to the Fall.

I'm with Akmom. I doubt if either Heaven or the "new Heavens and the new Earth" will look like New York City except with gold streets and sidewalks. (There will probably be a section for those who 'need' it.)

 

[GeorgeJ]

"Mansions" shouldn't be interpreted as we think of earthly mansions. It's more correctly interpreted as "rooms" or "dwelling places".

John 14:2 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

 

[Archie the Preacher]

"Mansions" shouldn't be interpreted as we think of earthly mansions. It's more correctly interpreted as "rooms" or "dwelling places".

John 14:2 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

I have heard this as implying a permanent dwelling vice a nomadic or tent dwelling implying constant moving in search of water or grassland to feed sheep or cattle.

We will have a permanent home.

 

[LoricaLady]

The best, most detailed, most Biblical, descriptions of Heaven I have heard are by Dean Braxton. He had no heart beat and no respiration for 1 3/4 hours! In the first vid below you can hear his emergency care doctor saying it is "a miracle...a miracle" that Braxton has no brain damage and is now normal in every way.

The 2nd vid gives a lot more details of what he experienced in Heaven, as does his book In Heaven. The book does not tell, as the vid does, about pets in Heaven, though, one of my favorite parts. (Btw I am no fan of The Prophecy Club but listened to this one of their vids because I already knew Braxton has documentation to show he is legit.)

Here is a story from a Romanian who was dead for 13 hours and also saw a lot of Heaven.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

I suspect it begins with three simple words.

and what would those be?

 

[Kit Sigmon]

I'd share this with them from gotquestions.com...
Question: "What is Heaven like?"

Answer: Heaven is a real place described in the Bible. The word “heaven” is found 276 times in the New Testament alone. Scripture refers to three heavens. The apostle Paul was “caught up to the third heaven,” but he was prohibited from revealing what he experienced there (2 Corinthians 12:1-9).

If a third heaven exists, there must also be two other heavens. The first is most frequently referred to in the Old Testament as the “sky” or the “firmament.” This is the heaven that contains clouds, the area that birds fly through. The second heaven is interstellar/outer space, which is the abode of the stars, planets, and other celestial objects (Genesis 1:14-18).

The third heaven, the location of which is not revealed, is the dwelling place of God. Jesus promised to prepare a place for true Christians in heaven (John 14:2). Heaven is also the destination of Old Testament saints who died trusting God's promise of the Redeemer (Ephesians 4:8). Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The apostle John was privileged to see and report on the heavenly city (Revelation 21:10-27). John witnessed that heaven (the new earth) possesses the “glory of God” (Revelation 21:11), the very presence of God. Because heaven has no night and the Lord Himself is the light, the sun and moon are no longer needed (Revelation 22:5).

The city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal clear jasper. Heaven has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve foundations (Revelation 21:14). The paradise of the Garden of Eden is restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that “heal the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2). However eloquent John was in his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability of finite man to describe (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Heaven is a place of “no mores.” There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). The best thing about heaven is the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John 3:2). We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for eternity.