What is heaven like?

Memento Mori · Aug 8, 2009

Jesus' words seem to suggest that the fullness of heaven is reserved for after the Second Coming and the final resurrection.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4

I was wondering what this means about the heavenly experience before the final resurrection.

EDIT: Could this be referring to the moment of death as well?

stone · Aug 8, 2009

Mathew 7:13
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
Mathew 7:14
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Luke 13:24
"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Memento Mori · Aug 8, 2009

Mmm... sorry, I don't see the connection.

stone · Aug 8, 2009

HisAgain said:
Mmm... sorry, I don't see the connection.

You know the way to the place where I am going.

It's rather simple to sin.

BAFRIEND · Aug 8, 2009

I think that for Jesus, trying to explain heaven to us is a lot like us trying to expalin a 1050 Easy to a German Shepherd.

That is why we have mysteries, not because things are necessarily hidden, but because they are beyond our comprehension.

G-Com · Aug 8, 2009

Our Lord spoke about this in His parable of the wedding banquet.

Rhamiel · Aug 8, 2009

being one with God while still being individuals

elliott95 · Aug 8, 2009

Muslims describe paradise with talks of sensual pleasures with perpetual virgins etc. etc.

Such descriptions cheapen the idea, imho.

oldfashionedbelle · Aug 8, 2009

I have always imagined heaven as a place where you feel no pain or fear and you can be closer to God than ever before. I remember when I was little and I asked one of my Catholic school teachers how heaven could fit hat many people in it and how we could even see God with all those people crowding around and how would be find our family, and I had so many questions and she said God has a way to be everywhere at once and heaven is very big but that since none of us have been there none of us can explain it in detail but that I can rest assured that when I get there I will be very happy and everything will work out just fine. Sometimes as an adult I still wonder about heaven, this may be silly but one thing I always wanted to know was if you were married and your husband dies and then you remarry and you both die of old age, which husband are you with in heaven? Assuming they are both there, who would you be married to in heaven? I can't imagine God would consent to bigamy so I always wonder how that works.

Memento Mori · Aug 8, 2009

oldfashionedbelle said:
I have always imagined heaven as a place where you feel no pain or fear and you can be closer to God than ever before. I remember when I was little and I asked one of my Catholic school teachers how heaven could fit hat many people in it and how we could even see God with all those people crowding around and how would be find our family, and I had so many questions and she said God has a way to be everywhere at once and heaven is very big but that since none of us have been there none of us can explain it in detail but that I can rest assured that when I get there I will be very happy and everything will work out just fine. Sometimes as an adult I still wonder about heaven, this may be silly but one thing I always wanted to know was if you were married and your husband dies and then you remarry and you both die of old age, which husband are you with in heaven? Assuming they are both there, who would you be married to in heaven? I can't imagine God would consent to bigamy so I always wonder how that works.

The Saduccees asked Jesus that exact same question, and He replied, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." (Matthew 22:29-30)

AllForJesus · Aug 9, 2009

When Patriach Gergory III came to Lebanon in his homily he shared this:

This is a story of tow monks who lived in the mountains alone and one day they were debating on what heaven will be like. One said it will be diffrent from what we imagine and the other one said it wont be that diffrent but still not the same. But they were not getting anywhere in their debate so they dicided that the frist one to go to heaven will send the other a letter (he joked that now it will be an email or phone message) and tell the other one what heaven is like.
So one day the older monk died and he sends the other monk a letter that says:
Heaven is not diffrent, nore somehow diffrent...Heaven is TOTALLY diffrent..."What no eyes has seen and no ear heard of!"

isabella1 · Aug 9, 2009

oldfashionedbelle said:
I have always imagined heaven as a place where you feel no pain or fear and you can be closer to God than ever before. none of us have been there none of us can explain it in detail.

I had a glimpse of what heaven is like many years ago, and I still remember it like it happened today. It is strange to say this, but it is as if that memory was burned into my soul.

I won't give all the long winded details, but I will try and explain a little of it.

What I was given the privilege of experiencing, was total peace, all knowing, pure love, true joy, bright warm radiating light, fullness of life, and so mush more. It was as if I felt almost one with our Father. I also knew that I was home, and this is where I belonged. When I came back here (for lack of better description), I grieved for months. I wanted with every fiber of my being to go back home.

I don't think we have the words in our vocabulary to even come close to describing heaven. Nor can we describe the amazing radiant life filled colors, we don't have those shades here.

All I can say is, it's the most beautiful and magnificent place I have ever experienced, and I look forward to the day I can go home to stay.

WarriorAngel · Aug 9, 2009

I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

I think your confusion is from the 7th day adventists who believe in soul sleep - if i am not mistaken...and i could be.

But Jesus meant literally on the day they die, He would return to take them home.

isabella1 said:
I had a glimpse of what heaven is like many years ago, and I still remember it like it happened today. It is strange to say this, but it is as if that memory was burned into my soul.

I won't give all the long winded details, but I will try and explain a little of it.

What I was given the privilege of experiencing, was total peace, all knowing, pure love, true joy, bright warm radiating light, fullness of life, and so mush more. It was as if I felt almost one with our Father. I also knew that I was home, and this is where I belonged. When I came back here (for lack of better description), I grieved for months. I wanted with every fiber of my being to go back home.

I don't think we have the words in our vocabulary to even come close to describing heaven. Nor can we describe the amazing radiant life filled colors, we don't have those shades here.

All I can say is, it's the most beautiful and magnificent place I have ever experienced, and I look forward to the day I can go home to stay.

I didn't see Heaven, but i felt it.

Heaven fills us so much with the Love of God and for Him and all others that we are ONE in HIM via His love. Its that strong and powerful and awesome.
And to be worshipping Him forever is to bask in that LOVE for all eternity.
It's so powerful - and words cannot describe it that - being in that love [peace extraordinaire] will be constant and we will want for nothing else...

Of course there are no words for such a feeling...i so agree.
[Wish i got to see it though]

I carried that feeling for a month or something... not in fullness because it was like a candle that gently faded.
But i want nothing more than Heaven.
Which is why i see myself as a failure so often when my worldly wants seem to get in the way and cause a struggle.

Once you feel it, it is like an emptiness inside that nothing can fill.
Craving the Lord in that fullness again is such a pale way to describe it.

I imagine this is how the Saints [via their ecstacies] remained so faithful to the Lord...the more they prayed the closer they were to Him... the more they prayed for more.

Talk about an addicition... and one we should all crave.

WarriorAngel · Aug 9, 2009

AllForJesus said:
When Patriach Gergory III came to Lebanon in his homily he shared this:

This is a story of tow monks who lived in the mountains alone and one day they were debating on what heaven will be like. One said it will be diffrent from what we imagine and the other one said it wont be that diffrent but still not the same. But they were not getting anywhere in their debate so they dicided that the frist one to go to heaven will send the other a letter (he joked that now it will be an email or phone message) and tell the other one what heaven is like.
So one day the older monk died and he sends the other monk a letter that says:
Heaven is not diffrent, nore somehow diffrent...Heaven is TOTALLY diffrent..."What no eyes has seen and no ear heard of!"

Is that story for real?

I hear when someone dies, it will only be a few seconds or minutes before they see their loved in Heaven, because there is no time, and even 50 years on earth is but a minute.

isabella1 · Aug 9, 2009

WarriorAngel said:
I didn't see Heaven, but i felt it.

Heaven fills us so much with the Love of God and for Him and all others that we are ONE in HIM via His love. Its that strong and powerful and awesome.

Once you feel it, it is like an emptiness inside that nothing can fill.
Craving the Lord in that fullness again is such a pale way to describe it.

I imagine this is how the Saints [via their ecstacies] remained so faithful to the Lord...the more they prayed the closer they were to Him... the more they prayed for more.

Talk about an addicition... and one we should all crave.

I agree! Perhaps because of my heaven experience that is why I am so compelled to pray like I do, and to visit Jesus in Adoration weekly. When I miss adoration for a week or more, I am totally beside myself, and it feels like an extreme withdrawal. And the thirst or longing builds until I can't take it any more and have to RUN to adoration. At that point I am usually a basket case and am in adoration a couple hours, some of it on my face because I missed our Lord so much. There is nothing like being totally with Him alone. Yes WA, that would be a good addiction to have.

AllForJesus · Aug 9, 2009

WarriorAngel said:
Is that story for real?

I hear when someone dies, it will only be a few seconds or minutes before they see their loved in Heaven, because there is no time, and even 50 years on earth is but a minute.

I guess it was sort of a metaphore to say that heaven is such a place that no one can imagine..

Memento Mori · Aug 9, 2009

WarriorAngel said:
I think your confusion is from the 7th day adventists who believe in soul sleep - if i am not mistaken...and i could be.

But Jesus meant literally on the day they die, He would return to take them home.

Yes. If you remember, I was raised Adventist, so when I read this I had to try to understand it from the immortal soul perspective. I agree, it seems like it refers to the moment of death. That is what the Haydock commentary says as well.

WarriorAngel · Aug 9, 2009

I hope it helped you HisAgain.

AllForJesus, that is scriptures...so i was wondering if he was 'making up the story' or it really happened.
Thanks for letting me know.

Amen Isa.
I don't get to adoration very often at all. I used to in the city when it was offered more frequently and we didnt have high gas prices. [i miss those days very much]

bunnydrop · Aug 10, 2009

isabella1 said:
I had a glimpse of what heaven is like many years ago, and I still remember it like it happened today. It is strange to say this, but it is as if that memory was burned into my soul.

I won't give all the long winded details, but I will try and explain a little of it.

What I was given the privilege of experiencing, was total peace, all knowing, pure love, true joy, bright warm radiating light, fullness of life, and so mush more. It was as if I felt almost one with our Father. I also knew that I was home, and this is where I belonged. When I came back here (for lack of better description), I grieved for months. I wanted with every fiber of my being to go back home.

I don't think we have the words in our vocabulary to even come close to describing heaven. Nor can we describe the amazing radiant life filled colors, we don't have those shades here.

All I can say is, it's the most beautiful and magnificent place I have ever experienced, and I look forward to the day I can go home to stay.

Did you have a near death,out of body type of experience? I have heard an read that people do an meet the Lord this way,an if it wasnt their time to pass the lord sends them back.And often they grieve as they say hevean is wounderful as is God an they wish to return. If it was like this, no wonder you miss the feeling of home an want to return.All i can say is that you have been blessed to have this experience.And you can use it to be even more holy,an tell others the good news, that they may follow to.God to me obiviously wants to use you to share this story to help others etc,so dont feel sad,feel blessed he has shared this gift with you.x

isabella1 · Aug 10, 2009

bunnydrop said:
Did you have a near death,out of body type of experience? I have heard an read that people do an meet the Lord this way,an if it wasnt their time to pass the lord sends them back.And often they grieve as they say hevean is wounderful as is God an they wish to return. If it was like this, no wonder you miss the feeling of home an want to return.All i can say is that you have been blessed to have this experience.And you can use it to be even more holy,an tell others the good news, that they may follow to.God to me obiviously wants to use you to share this story to help others etc,so dont feel sad,feel blessed he has shared this gift with you.x

I feel very blessed and fortunate I have been given such a gift from God. I have shared the experience with those who are about to pass. It appears like no matter who the person is, when it comes to the end of their life, there is always fear of what we haven't seen, because we have lived our whole lives on that blind faith of achieving Heaven. It brings them some comfort. How much I really don't know. It is for me to share in that moment to give others hope.

What is heaven like?

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