HEAVEN: What will it be like and who will be there?

galaxies heavens stars universe majesty of god

This information is for people who think they are going to heaven, who think their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds and that God will therefore grant them entrance to His eternal kingdom.  Many such people will want to run out of heaven, since it will be so foreign to them and to their way of thinking. They will want to run from the King of Heaven if their sins have not been forgiven and if their hearts have not been supernaturally changed.

 

Most people want to go to heaven someday. After all, who really wants to go to hell? But the Bible tells us heaven is a place of absolute moral purity and holiness, where no sin can be allowed. So why would an unholy person ever want to go to heaven? Surely they would be miserable there without the ability to indulge in the kinds of activities that they were engrossed in here on earth. Why would they want to live with the author of the Bible after having continually violated His commandments all their lives? The truth is, such people [the unholy] will never go to heaven. Only those who have the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be there.  They are the only ones who will want to be there.  Do you possess the righteousness of Christ?  Have you received the gift of God – eternal life – as evidenced by a changed attitude about sin and holiness?

pigs wallowing in mud

Just as a pig by nature is happy wallowing in the mud and mire, so an unsaved sinner is happy reveling in his sins.  Without the mud of sin to enjoy in heaven, the unsaved would be quite miserable there. And just as a cat by nature hates to get wet, so a saved sinner hates to commit sin once he has the spirit of God in him.  With a new spirit and a new heart, living and dwelling with a holy, sin-hating God will be a great joy and a real pleasure for the true Christian.

 

Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven. He is holy and righteous.  He hates sin and can have no fellowship with those who die in their sins.  If he does not become Lord of your life on earth (Lord of your thoughts, words and deeds), do not expect him to welcome you with open arms into heaven. The Bible paints a very grim picture of the fate of those who die without the salvation that Christ alone provides:

 

“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” [Luke 12:4-5]

 

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” [Revelation 20:15]

 

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” [Revelation 14:11]

 

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” [Revelation 21:8]

 

“He that believeth on him [Jesus] is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” [John 3:18]

 

How we are made holy and fit for heaven:

 

“except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” [Luke 13:3]

 

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [Mark 1:15]

 

Only by an act of God (being “born from above”) and through the power of the Holy Spirit can a person truly repent (turn from sin and have an imparted desire to be holy and live holy, being preoccupied with pleasing God).

 

Read the Bible carefully, asking God to show you the truth about how sinful He sees you and about how holy He is. Find out why Jesus Christ left heaven and came to earth to suffer the full fury of the wrath of God. Was it for YOUR sins? If not, then you will indeed be damned because there is no other Saviour:

 

“for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” [Acts 4:12]

 

Jesus is not your Saviour until He has converted you:

 

“Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 18:3]

 

Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near…. Cry out to God to have mercy on you and to save your lost soul from the wrath to come before its too late – before you end up in hell forever, with all those who have no hope, all those who weep and wail and gnash their teeth.

 

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” [Jeremiah 8:20]

 
This is what it will be like for those who end up in heaven:

BEAUTIFUL FELLOWSHIP with their blessed Redeemer – Jesus Christ – who suffered and died for all their awful sins.

EXTREME JOY & GLADNESS that there will be no sin in them or around them any longer, no more taking of our Lord’s name in vain, no more ungodly thoughts or speech or actions.

WONDERFUL COMPANIONSHIP with all the godly saints who died before them, who love God and His laws as they do and who hate sin as God hates it.

AWE & WONDER for the holiest Being in the Universe, God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Hosts, the King Of Glory, who did something for man that man could never do for himself, pay the awful penalty for sin that we could only pay if we were to spend eternity in hell.

IMMENSE GRATITUDE for God’s grace and mercy for having saved them from eternal wrath in Hell at such a terrible price to Himself – the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus.

PREOCCUPATION WITH BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF such a holy, righteous, and sinless Creator who came up with such a glorious plan of salvation that showed His love and mercy in the most powerful way imaginable.

PRAISE, WORSHIP AND SINGING to God about His incredible love for saved sinners like them.

UNENDING THANKFULNESS for the opportunity to serve and worship such a gracious God and Savior for all eternity.

Do you think you will want to be in a heaven like this?
Do you think God will want you there?

 

“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” [Revelation 6:9-17]

 

Friend, if God has not made you ready for heaven, to the point where you long to be in a sin-free world and in permanent fellowship with a HOLY GOD who hates sin, then you will be among those mentioned above who will be screaming for the rocks to fall on you to hide you from God’s wrath.