What Do Christians Believe About Heaven?
A Christian View of Heaven
When some people think of heaven, they think of a cartoon of a person sitting on a cloud playing a harp. Or they have other ideas floating around that they’ve seen in movies or imagined for themselves. But is this what the Bible really teaches about heaven? Not really.
So, what do Christians believe about heaven? The Bible speaks much on who will enter into heaven. It is only those who, by grace through faith, believe upon the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus the Christ. As for heaven itself, we know some but actually very little. The Scriptures tell us that in heaven there will be no more sin, death, or pain (Revelation 21:4). It is a place of perfect beauty. It is made of the purest of gold, jewels, and pearls (Revelation 21:15-21). These things are wonderful! But they are not the BEST! The BEST part of heaven is beholding the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Christ (Revelation 21:22—22:5). Theologians call this the beatific vision. For those who know Christ, this is a great comfort and joy. For those who do not truly know Christ, they incorrectly think that perfect weather, being reunited with loved ones, or any other number of things would be better which leads to the imaginative speculations so often heard and believed contrary to biblical testimony.
Let’s dig a little deeper into what the Scriptures tell us about heaven. It is more glorious than anyone has ever imagined.
Revelation
If you haven’t read the book of Revelation before, I very much suggest you take the time to do so. If you have read it, then I encourage you to read it again. Some of the language and the imagery can be confusing. But when read you it next time, try not to get lost in the imagery. Get lost in the Spotless Lamb, Jesus.
The book has an overwhelming theme of worship. Worship of the one true God and Jesus the Christ. The book goes to great lengths to point everyone to the Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world. To point to the worthiness, the beauty, the greatness, the awesome power of the Son of God, Jesus!
For a basic foundation of worship and the greatness of the Lamb in Revelation don’t miss our articles:
In the last two chapters of Revelation the clearest picture we have of heaven is described. I suggest you read them on your own. For the purpose of this article only portions of the chapters will be noted.
The City Adorned With Beauty
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And He carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Revelation 21:9-21)
The Scriptures are quite clear that heaven is beautiful. The city is adorned with the things on this earth that we find beautiful: gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, flowers, trees, colors, etc. Imagine them in their purest form. Without dross, stain, corruption. By contemplating these beautiful things, we have a glimpse of the physical beauty of heaven.
The Inhabitants - Holy and Pure
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)
The material objects which adorn heaven are perfect. The people are also perfect. There is no more sin to defile man or creation. There is no more pain, disease, or death. There is no more curse. The old things have passed away. The new has come in Christ. Hallelujah!
The old creation which was tainted by the sin of man is destroyed. Completely. The wicked, unbelieving ones are cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. All those who believe upon the perfect spotless Lamb of God are brought into His presence. To eternally praise Him for His gift of salvation. Forever and ever.
The Scriptures declare that those who inhabit heaven will be perfect. Not because of their own goodness or ability but because of the perfection of Christ.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2)
If you can imagine perfect beauty in material things, and perfection in man, you have come close to catching a glimpse of heaven. But these things only find their beauty, worth, and perfection in the One who created it all.
Heaven is not heaven because of these things. Heaven is heaven because God is there!
The Glory of God
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3, bold added)
Behold, means to see and observe. The Scriptures tell us what to see and behold. What to make the primary object of our attention. What we should set our eyes upon.
Behold, your God!
His dwelling place is no longer apart from man. But with us! How amazing! The most beautiful, precious, amazing, wonderful possession any man could ever have is now ours in Christ. We get to be with God for all of eternity!
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Revelation 21:7)
This is only possible because of the perfect Son of God, Jesus. In whose glory we will be before, forever!
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 21:22—22:5, bold added)
All of heaven does not worship the created things. They are not worshiping or marveling at the streets of gold, the gates of pearl, the walls of precious stones. They are not glorying in their being reunited with long-lost pets and loved ones.
Everything worships and marvels at the spotless Lamb!
Perhaps the greatest picture we have of heaven is a countless number of people from every tribe, tongue, language, and peoples. Worshipping the Lamb who purchased them with His own precious blood.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 6:9-12, bold added)
Oh, how I long for the day when I see the Lord as He is! And with the countless hosts of men and women who are ransomed by the blood of the Lamb, worship Him forever and ever. For He is Worthy of such praise, adoration, and worship. Both now. And forever.
Related Questions
What is the resurrection in Christianity? The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection of the dead unto judgment. The physical body of every man, woman, and child will be raised from the grave and either enter into heaven or be thrown into hell for eternity. The deciding factor of judgment is belief in the finished works of Jesus Christ. For all who are in Christ on that day, they will be brought into the presence of God. For all those outside of Christ, they will be cast into the lake of fire.
Do Christians believe in purgatory? Purgatory is a teaching of Roman Catholics that came out of the 10th century that teaches there is a purification needed after death. The Bible speaks nothing of this. Therefore, Protestant Christians reject this teaching. Humans cannot earn righteousness before God. It must be freely received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ the Righteous Son of God. If perfect righteousness is received by faith, there is no need for further purification after death since Christ paid it all.