Eschatology is the “part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind,” according to the Oxford English dictionary. Post-modern society has become adverse to the discussion of life after death and would prefer not to face the possibility of an unwelcome destiny. Young people live life in the “here and now” therefore, they don’t want to talk about life after death.
No matter what you believe, the undeniable truth is, mankind cannot escape the immanency of death and what happens in the afterlife is something we must all inevitably face. Some face death with great fear, while others embrace it as the door to heaven where they will be with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forever. Jesus assures us of everlasting life. He said, “have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.’” Mathew 22:31-32.
In the same way that our finite minds cannot fathom an infinite God, we cannot conceptualize heaven. Images of angels playing harps while floating around on clouds portray a very boring existence. Is this the heaven promised to those who have accepted Jesus as their personal savior? Compared to the earth’s natural beauty, the plethora of exciting things that culture, arts, sports and leisure activities offer and the abundance of culinary options in life, heaven seems an unlikely choice for a retirement destination, let alone spending eternity there.
What will people do all day? Will there be animals there? What about our beloved pets? Each of us has different interests and sensitivities. Will heaven appeal to the multitude of personalities in the population? These questions all have validity and our perception of heaven is ultimately formulated by our worldview. In fact, for some, hell seems much more appealing given the carnal nature of man.
C.S. Lewis proposed the idea that “heaven is utterly inconceivable for human minds. It is totally unspatial and nontemporal; it gives our minds no basis for forming images, gives us nothing to even imagine.” Heaven as a “place” betrays our ability to conceive something beyond our scope of conception. Heaven is a dimension which humanity has no way of describing based on our three-dimensional, physical experience. In the same way that we cannot wrap our minds around God’s omnipresence, the reality of heaven is equal to the reality of God.
We will not have the same bodies in heaven, yet we will have very recognizable bodies. The apostle Paul tells us, “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 15:50. People who have had near death experiences will testify that they have visited heaven, seen loved ones and even sat on Jesus’s lap, as was the case of young Colton Burpo, as reiterated in interviews and the book, Heaven is for Real. Colton met his grandfather who had passed away and even his sister that he never knew, who was miscarried before he was born.
When it comes to conceptualizing what our resurrected bodies will be like, Lewis again challenges our imaginations by suggesting that in the same way that heaven does not occupy space, time or matter, and just as the soul is inside our physical bodies, our resurrected bodies are inside our souls. “As God is not in space but space is in God.” However we rationalize heaven, we won’t know for sure until we get there. We may find that it is in fact more real than our physical existence as we know it. Now we see only shadows or as a reflection like looking in a mirror. Then we will see face to face. Now we know in part. Then we will know fully, even as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).
The late Billy Graham made five points about heaven. First, he said that when a person passes away, their soul immediately goes to be with Jesus in paradise (Luke 23:43) Later they will receive a resurrected body when Christ calls all believers home. Second, we will recognize friends and relatives. Parents will recognize their children, even if they are a miscarriage and they never met on earth. Thirdly, there will be animals in heaven so you will very likely be reunited with your pets once you are there. However, your focus will not be on them because you will be busy praising God, so your focus will be on him.
The fourth thing that Billy Graham addressed was if you will feel sad for the people left on earth and their pain and suffering. Because you will know fully and know God’s plan, you will not be anxious about the world and what is happening to it. Whether or not you will witness the events on earth is another question. The final point he makes is that angels will likely accompany believers who pass away and escort them to heaven. Angels guard believers in this life so there is no reason to think they would behave any differently after we pass away. Our triumphal entry into heaven will very likely include angels.
No one enters heaven accidentally. Jesus Christ has gone ahead to prepare a place in the Father’s house for all who believe in him. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Heaven is reserved for those who call on the name of Jesus. Those that choose not to follow Christ would not want to spend eternity with him in heaven, therefore they will not be forced to enter.
When I think of all the beauty contained on the earth, a world that is in a fallen state, I imagine heaven to be exceedingly more beautiful. More vibrant, more colorful, more sweet smelling than nature. John describes the heavenly city of Jerusalem in Revelation 21. A holy city that shone with the glory of God. It had a great high wall with twelve gates. The wall was made of jasper and the city of pure gold. It was brilliant and beyond anything I have ever heard of apart from John’s vision.
John wrote, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4.
The Bible says that God is love. Imagine an eternity in heaven with God. Imagine an eternity with love. In the very presence of love itself. Imagine an eternity with no evil. Imagine an existence of absolute purity. Where every thought is good, pure and noble. Imagine living in the very bosom of your Creator, looking into his eyes and experiencing nothing but absolute love and grace. Forever.
