I'm confused about Heaven: help!

[Any]

hello everyone, I just became a born again Christian on may 7th. It was the best day of my life. I was reading revelations and I think my idea of Heaven was wrong please help.


From my understanding if we die before the second coming we go to Heaven for a little bit then get a new body, after jesus's second coming we come down to new earth with him. So we won't be in Heaven forever? Also it said there won't be marriage in Heaven and we wouldn't have reproductive organs (am I misunderstanding?)

Are we going to have free will in Heaven? I feel uncomfortable thinking I gave up my free will but at the same time I hate sin and I love Jesus and God so my k just trying to understand.

Will we all be connectedness to god like how Jesus was connected to god? Will earth and heaven be one? Are we going to be in a new garden of eden and not Heaven?

Why does god have to make a new Heaven?

Thanks everyone I'm just confused because right when I got saved it was a powerful experience but I knew I was going to Heaven.

 

[Any]

Another question, will we still suffer during the 1000 years on this earth with Jesus? Or will that be at the point where we don't have pain. Do you think we will live for 1000 years? Will he always be with us or will he leave after the 1000 years? I tried researching this I can't find much.

 

[Albion]

hello everyone, I just became a born again Christian on may 7th. It was the best day of my life. I was reading revelations and I think my idea of Heaven was wrong please help.

Hi, Any. And congratulations on the new life you have started. Ill make a start on answering you.

From my understanding if we die before the second coming we go to Heaven for a little bit then get a new body, after jesus's second coming we come down to new earth with him. So we won't be in Heaven forever?

The conventional Christian belief is that we do not come back down from Heaven at that time. And Revelation is a book of images, a vision not to be taken exactly literally, so it is unclear what the new earth means. It could be an analogy.

Also it said there won't be marriage in Heaven and we wouldn't have reproductive organs (am I misunderstanding?)

that's right. We will be ourselves, but glorified creatures.

Are we going to have free will in Heaven? I feel uncomfortable thinking I gave up my free will but at the same time I hate sin and I love Jesus and God so my k just trying to understand.

I think the answer is that we will never want to do anything but what is right, because we will see clearly and not any longer see as through a glass, darkly.

Will we all be connectedness to god like how Jesus was connected to god?

Jesus IS God, remember. Yes we believe we will be close to him and the Father in ways we cannot now know.

Will .earth and heaven be one? Are we going to be in a new garden of eden and not Heaven?

Heaven

Why does god have to make a new Heaven?

I cannot say. It could be symbolic language.

 

[Any]

Hi, Any. And congratulations on the new life you have started. Ill make a start on answering you.



The conventional Christian belief is that we do not come back down from Heaven at that time. And Revelation is a book of images, a vision not to be taken exactly literally, so it is unclear what the new earth means. It could be an analogy.



that's right. We will be ourselves, but glorified creatures.



I think the answer is that we will never want to do anything but what is right, because we will see clearly and not any longer see as through a glass, darkly.



Jesus IS God, remember. Yes we believe we will be close to him and the Father in ways we cannot now know.



Heaven



I cannot say. It could be symbolic language.

Thank you for the help

 

[miamited]

Hi any,

There are a couple of understandings concerning what happens to us when we die. I'm willing to allow that to work out as God has established. We may either rest in the graves, until Jesus' return. This would be based on the description of Jesus' return that those who are in the grave first will come out and go to him with those who are yet alive at that time. There is also some substantiating evidence that we will immediately be with Christ upon our death. This would be based on Paul's words that he would be with the Lord when he leaves here.

However, as to the final outcome after God's judgment, it is pretty clear that God is going to make new the heavens and the earth. Now, whether this means to make new from scratch or to merely cleanse all of the present heaven and the earth from the effects of sin, I'm not sure we can be sure. God's word says, Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. According to this passage, it would appear that the earth and the heavens (universe and stars of this realm) will be made new because the old is said to have passed away. We also read before this that the 'earth and the heavens' had fled from Him as presence, which would also indicate that they were no more.

But, God makes a new heavens and new earth and an entire city for His people upon the new earth that comes down from heaven and that is where we will then live eternally with Him. He will be our God and we will be His people forever and ever and ever. This eternal life will be lived on a new earth that is much like this one, although there will no longer be any sea. Now honestly, exactly what it will be like we can't be sure. The Scriptures declare that no eye has seen or ear heard what God has planned for us, but whatever it is, it will be on a planetary body similar to what we are on now.

That's my understanding and I'm sure you'll get a couple of other explanations, but one should always go to God and His word about any doubts or questions concerning God.

BTW I praise God that you have entrusted your future to Him.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[faroukfarouk]

hello everyone, I just became a born again Christian on may 7th. It was the best day of my life. I was reading revelations and I think my idea of Heaven was wrong please help.


From my understanding if we die before the second coming we go to Heaven for a little bit then get a new body, after jesus's second coming we come down to new earth with him. So we won't be in Heaven forever? Also it said there won't be marriage in Heaven and we wouldn't have reproductive organs (am I misunderstanding?)

Are we going to have free will in Heaven? I feel uncomfortable thinking I gave up my free will but at the same time I hate sin and I love Jesus and God so my k just trying to understand.

Will we all be connectedness to god like how Jesus was connected to god? Will earth and heaven be one? Are we going to be in a new garden of eden and not Heaven?

Why does god have to make a new Heaven?

Thanks everyone I'm just confused because right when I got saved it was a powerful experience but I knew I was going to Heaven.

Hi; good to see you.

Matthew 6: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven".

Presumably you want this?

 

[dqhall]

hello everyone, I just became a born again Christian on may 7th. It was the best day of my life. I was reading revelations and I think my idea of Heaven was wrong please help.


From my understanding if we die before the second coming we go to Heaven for a little bit then get a new body, after jesus's second coming we come down to new earth with him. So we won't be in Heaven forever? Also it said there won't be marriage in Heaven and we wouldn't have reproductive organs (am I misunderstanding?)

Are we going to have free will in Heaven? I feel uncomfortable thinking I gave up my free will but at the same time I hate sin and I love Jesus and God so my k just trying to understand.

Will we all be connectedness to god like how Jesus was connected to god? Will earth and heaven be one? Are we going to be in a new garden of eden and not Heaven?

Why does god have to make a new Heaven?

Thanks everyone I'm just confused because right when I got saved it was a powerful experience but I knew I was going to Heaven.

Jesus taught that they will not be married during the resurrection (Mark 12:25).

If you have hope for resurrection, you may need to do God's will on earth. Jesus taught his disciples to pray:

Matthew 6:9-13 World English Bible - public domain
9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. ’

It is difficult to give up personal agenda to follow the will of God. Sometimes there are setbacks. People find things are getting worse instead of better. Jesus taught:

Matthew 6:34 King James Version - copyright expired
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Benjamin Franklin said, "Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today."

Heaven is alive and not far from those who believe.

 

[Albion]

Yes, as Ted says, there is much about the New Earth (and the New Heaven) that we must be very cautious about. I hope you have not gotten into Jehovahs Witness teaching which makes all of this strictly literal. That is a POV which is shared by almost no conventional Christians of any denomination.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes, as Ted says, there is much about the New Earth (and the New Heaven) that we must be very cautious about. I hope you have not gotten into Jehovahs Witness teaching which makes all of this strictly literal. That is a POV which is shared by almost no conventional Christians of any denomination.

Hi, Sir; any dispensationalist will assure you that literal interpretations of eschatological passages are not limited to 'JW's.

 

[Albion]

Hi, Sir; any dispensationalist will assure you that literal interpretations of eschatological passages are not limited to 'JW's.

OK, but the repeat references from our friend to a new earth seemed to me to go beyond that and reminded me of the super-literal JW vision, with lions and lambs literally frolicing in the field while members of different human races embrace, etc. Hopefully, that wasn't a correct guess on my part.

 

[Any]

Yes, as Ted says, there is much about the New Earth (and the New Heaven) that we must be very cautious about. I hope you have not gotten into Jehovahs Witness teaching which makes all of this strictly literal. That is a POV which is shared by almost no conventional Christians of any denomination.

Thanks, I am not a jehovas witness I am also not a Calvinist though. I don't have a denomination at the moment. I do take much of the Bible literally and I believe in the Trinity and the virgin birth, and earth is so amazingly unbelievable to the point where it isn't hard for me to believe in the Bible literally. Especially after my experience with the Holy Spirit. However I think you mentioned earlier that revelations is really symbolic so I agree with that. I was just confused about the concept of Heaven because it was different than what I read. Maybe it's one of those things that's hard for us all to wrap our heads around? Not sure

I will pray to God about it. Thanks everyone for the input. One day I will know the answers to my questions.

 

[Valetic]

How do you guys know which parts of revelations are to be taken literally or not? I always took the bible literally except for obvious metaphors. I don't see why we shouldn't take revelations literally? I get that it's visions but is it prophetic or is it like the dream Nebuchadnezzar had that Daniel interpreted and only a metaphor for something else? How do we know which it is?

 

[Any]

Hi any,

There are a couple of understandings concerning what happens to us when we die. I'm willing to allow that to work out as God has established. We may either rest in the graves, until Jesus' return. This would be based on the description of Jesus' return that those who are in the grave first will come out and go to him with those who are yet alive at that time. There is also some substantiating evidence that we will immediately be with Christ upon our death. This would be based on Paul's words that he would be with the Lord when he leaves here.

However, as to the final outcome after God's judgment, it is pretty clear that God is going to make new the heavens and the earth. Now, whether this means to make new from scratch or to merely cleanse all of the present heaven and the earth from the effects of sin, I'm not sure we can be sure. God's word says, Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. According to this passage, it would appear that the earth and the heavens (universe and stars of this realm) will be made new because the old is said to have passed away. We also read before this that the 'earth and the heavens' had fled from Him as presence, which would also indicate that they were no more.

But, God makes a new heavens and new earth and an entire city for His people upon the new earth that comes down from heaven and that is where we will then live eternally with Him. He will be our God and we will be His people forever and ever and ever. This eternal life will be lived on a new earth that is much like this one, although there will no longer be any sea. Now honestly, exactly what it will be like we can't be sure. The Scriptures declare that no eye has seen or ear heard what God has planned for us, but whatever it is, it will be on a planetary body similar to what we are on now.

That's my understanding and I'm sure you'll get a couple of other explanations, but one should always go to God and His word about any doubts or questions concerning God.

BTW I praise God that you have entrusted your future to Him.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

Thank you for your response, that is kind of how I looked at it. Either way whatever happens I can't wait to be completely with god. That might sound weird but when I say that I'm not saying it in a sad way lol. God bless.

 

[Albion]

It is not easy to give a quick answer, but I do appreciate what you are saying. However, in Revelation, John starts right off by saying I heard and I saw, which contrasts with what you might expect (Here is what will happen, etc.).

This clearly is a vision. That doesn't mean at all that it is totally personal or unintelligible. However, and as I thought Ted was saying, we need to be cautious when translating John's words into specifics about the future.

 

[Kevin Snow]

How do you guys know which parts of revelations are to be taken literally or not? I always took the bible literally except for obvious metaphors. I don't see why we shouldn't take revelations literally? I get that it's visions but is it prophetic or is it like the dream Nebuchadnezzar had that Daniel interpreted and only a metaphor for something else? How do we know which it is?

You should create your own thread asking this question instead of this one. We are all supposed to work on answering the original poster.

hello everyone, I just became a born again Christian on may 7th. It was the best day of my life. I was reading revelations and I think my idea of Heaven was wrong please help.


From my understanding if we die before the second coming we go to Heaven for a little bit then get a new body, after jesus's second coming we come down to new earth with him. So we won't be in Heaven forever? Also it said there won't be marriage in Heaven and we wouldn't have reproductive organs (am I misunderstanding?)

Are we going to have free will in Heaven? I feel uncomfortable thinking I gave up my free will but at the same time I hate sin and I love Jesus and God so my k just trying to understand.

Will we all be connectedness to god like how Jesus was connected to god? Will earth and heaven be one? Are we going to be in a new garden of eden and not Heaven?

Why does god have to make a new Heaven?

Thanks everyone I'm just confused because right when I got saved it was a powerful experience but I knew I was going to Heaven.

The new heavens is the stars in the sky. When it refers to a new heaven and a new earth it is talking about the creation as a whole.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Thanks, I am not a jehovas witness I am also not a Calvinist though. I don't have a denomination at the moment. I do take much of the Bible literally and I believe in the Trinity and the virgin birth, and earth is so amazingly unbelievable to the point where it isn't hard for me to believe in the Bible literally. Especially after my experience with the Holy Spirit. However I think you mentioned earlier that revelations is really symbolic so I agree with that. I was just confused about the concept of Heaven because it was different than what I read. Maybe it's one of those things that's hard for us all to wrap our heads around? Not sure

I will pray to God about it. Thanks everyone for the input. One day I will know the answers to my questions.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

 

[Any]

How do you guys know which parts of revelations are to be taken literally or not? I always took the bible literally except for obvious metaphors. I don't see why we shouldn't take revelations literally? I get that it's visions but is it prophetic or is it like the dream Nebuchadnezzar had that Daniel interpreted and only a metaphor for something else? How do we know which it is?

Thanks for the input. I'm with you on that, it comes naturally to me after my salvation to take it literally besides the obvious metaphors and parables (which are usually put into perspective) along with the visions in revelations the angel does explain what they are. (Like the harlot of Babylon) etc. there are many things in the Bible that don't reflect today's world (like long lives) but I do believe that it happened for many different reasons so I do take it literally but I don't think that's a bad thing.

 

[Any]

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

It's funny whenever I ask questions like this I end up turning to that verse and this verse

Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

[Valetic]

You should create your own thread asking this question instead of this one. We are all supposed to work on answering the original poster.

I am actually questioning what was said on this thread about the book of revelations concerning how literally we are to take this book. If it is to be taken literally and someone on here says it is to be taken not literally or vice versa, someone somewhere messed up and thus my question is totally valid because then we have 2 completely different ideas on what the book is about and means someone might not be giving the correct answer to the OP, though not knowing myself which it is - prophecy is prophecy and if it is from God it shall come to pass but if it is a vision who is God's anointed that they should be the one to interpret it as Daniel did for Nebuchadnezzars dream?

Revelations 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

 

[Any]

It is not easy to give a quick answer, but I do appreciate what you are saying. However, in Revelation, John starts right off by saying I heard and I saw, which contrasts with what you might expect (Here is what will happen, etc.).

This clearly is a vision. That doesn't mean at all that it is totally personal or unintelligible. However, and as I thought Ted was saying, we need to be cautious when translating John's words into specifics about the future.

Thanks for the input. You're right about the whole "heard/seen" as to "it is"

I am very new in this journey and I have a lot to learn. When I figured out what denominations were my head almost exploded because I always thought that most Christian's agreed on the same stuff, lol!