Question:
Dear Greg,
I
would like to know if we Christians, after we die and go to heaven, remain in
heaven for eternity or if we return to earth to live in the New Jerusalem that
comes down from heaven as explained in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
James
Answer: Dear James,
1.
When we speak of Christians going “to” heaven, we cannot speak of an
exact,
geographical
place. No “place” contains him.
All biblical language about his throne, his body, his footstool, heaven,
etc. are terms that are accommodations to humans.
God, who exists eternally outside of the world of time and space that
confines us, in order to communicate to us, must use symbols of our reality.
When he tells us that a steam-driven locomotive is a “choo-choo
train” he is being as accurate as he can, while correctly assessing the limits
of our comprehension.
2.
So, yes, when we die we go “to” heaven.
More accurately, we are “with”
God, in his “hands”—taken care of by him, in eternity.
We don’t know much more about heaven that that, but our finite human
minds still, naturally, talk about St. Peter, the Golden Gates, streets paved of
gold, angels with harps, etc. Nothing
wrong with such talk, as long as we realize that such descriptions are not
specific and finite.
3.
What is the New Heaven—the New Jerusalem—that comes down from God
to
this earth? Is this a literal
description? Will there be a river
of the water of life flowing from the throne (Revelation 22:1)?
Will we need water? Will the
streets literally be paved with gold? Why
would we need streets (Revelation 21:21)? Will
the leaves of the trees by the river be literal leaves, and will extract of
these leaves be sold in health food stores for the “healing of the nations”
(Revelation 22:2)? Why would anyone
need healing? If they are “in”
heaven, “in” the New Jerusalem, wouldn’t they already be healed?
Will everyone have the name of Jesus Christ tattooed on their forehead
(Revelation 22:4)? What actual size
will this heavenly Jerusalem be—see Revelation 21:15-17?
Will its walls be over 200 feet thick, and 1400 miles square, as these
verses literally say?
Not only do we need to
understand the poetic and symbolic language that the
Bible uses about heaven and eternity, but we should exercise great caution as we
read the book of Revelation—a book that is filled with images, symbols
and
symbolism. Revelation is of course true, but the truth is deeper and
more
profound than literal
language can convey, so the grand and sweeping impact
of poetic language is used.
We can often make mistakes if we try to literalize
what is intended as symbolic and a metaphor.
4.
What do we know for sure about eternity?
We know that we can be assured
of
eternal life if we have accepted Jesus Christ.
We know that we will be “like” him, when he appears, in the sense
that our bodies will be glorified, made eternal, no longer subject to aging and
decay. What will we “do”?
Where will we “live”? Will
we eat steaks or be vegetarians, or will we eat anything?
Will we enjoy music, read books and enjoy stimulating conversation?
Will we get bored? Lots of
questions and lots of people have opinions, but the plain truth is that the
Bible says nothing about such specifics.
With
Paul we do know that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
We know that Jesus has gone to “prepare a place” for us and that he
will come back and take us to be with him where he is (John 14:2-3).
We can bank on that. We can
rest secure in that. We will find
out the details then!
May
God bless you and comfort you.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht