What will heaven be like?

Answer:

When we trying to explain something to another person, we often will search for something familiar to that person and say that it is like this, but with these differences. But when something is beyond another person's experience it becomes very hard to give an exact depiction of what something is like. Imagine trying to explain an airplane to someone living in George Washington's day. "Well, an airplane is kind of like a bird. It has wings, but they don't move. It's not living, it is made of metal. Yes, that means it is very heavy, but when it is flying it doesn't fall." It is easy to imagine that the person would think you were a nut.

So how do you describe a spiritual place to people who have only experienced a physical world? What is it like? "The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass" (Revelation 21:18). But jasper and gold are physical elements, they would not be in a spiritual realm. Besides gold, no matter how pure, isn't transparent like glass. And that is our clue that we are only being given a rough approximation. The imagery is that of a place that is bright and shining. A place where light is everywhere and that there are no shadows or anything stopping the light. Knowing the nature of God, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5), then we have a realm where God's presence is fully felt and seen throughout. Sin no longer gets in the way (Isaiah 59:1-2). "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)" (Revelation 21:23-25).

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3). The point Jesus is making is that there is plenty of room in heaven for any who wishes to come. People are not going to be turned away because of a lack of space.

Revelation 4 and 5 talk about the praise God receives from those around Him; praise that is more than well deserved from His creation. It also implies that we will no longer worship what we do not know, but will see for ourselves the object of our praise. Though the praise is continuous, I do not think we can conclude that this is all people will do in heaven. What we will be doing, I cannot say. I guess we will have to wait to see what duties God gives us.