WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?
Heaven is the place God has prepared for His children to live with God the Father and is called “the New Jerusalem.”
“And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2)
The Bible teaches that God has created a real place called “heaven.” The Bible describes heaven as a literal place with trees, rivers, animals and buildings with people living there as well. These are people who have joined the Lord after they died. There is no sickness there. There is no more death there and there is no more sorrow.
The new city, “the New Jerusalem” will come to earth from heaven as told in the book of Revelation. According to the prophecy, it will be about 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long and about 1500 miles high. (Revelation 21:16) The walls are made of jasper—a precious stone—and are more than 200 feet thick. The city has 12 gates, each made from a giant pearl. It has 12 foundations; some believe this is in reference to the number of floors it will have. On the bottom level there will be about 2,250,000 square miles of living space. If the other foundations are 10 miles thick—we do not know—then from the first level you could look up, and the second floor would still be 115 miles above you. On the 12 levels, there would be about 27,000,000 square miles of land, with lots of room for high rise buildings if desired. There is enough room for every person who has ever been born on earth, with plenty of room to spare.
The Bible teaches that no fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate men, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers or extortioners will be in heaven. (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
The last two chapters of the Bible give us nearly everything we know of New Jerusalem. The rest of the Bible is devoted to many instructions which will help us to get to heaven and avoid hell. It is good to know there is such a place waiting for all the saints of God.
By earth’s standards, heaven is a city of unspeakable wealth, where streets are paved with pure gold. There is a river of life and a tree of life. The city will be illuminated by God; so, there will be no night. In heaven Jesus is the center of attention. There is a continual sound of perfect music and glorious worship. Heaven would be an uncomfortable place for those who are in love with themselves, or who love sin. However, for people who love to worship and serve God, the place will be ABSOLUTELY HEAVEN!
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