Views of Heaven

Text: Revelation 21:1-4

 

I.         Most cultures have some view of an afterlife

            A.        It is a logical conclusion. Either there is an afterlife or there is not.

                        1.         If there is no afterlife, then life becomes meaningless. There is no reason to go through hardship and suffering. There is no reason to live nobly.

                        2.         If there is an afterlife, what is it like?

                                    a.         Is it endless bliss for all? Then why live righteously?

                                    b.         Is it endless suffering for all? Then again, why live righteously?

                                    c.         If there are two destinies, then there is incentive to live to reach the blessed side.

            B.        We see belief in the afterlife in history

                        1.         The Egyptians saw the afterlife as a continuation of their current life, if one was judged worthy. The preserving of the body was so that the soul after death could have a body. Items were placed in the tomb so the soul had wealth and slaves. Failure meant annihilation.

                        2.         The Greeks saw the afterlife as a gloom, shadowy existence under the earth for everyone. The shades living there were seen as sorrowful and forgetful. A few heroes were granted the right to go to the Isles of the Blessed, but this wasn’t based on morality. It was seen as a divine favor. Yet, even here, the souls preferred life on earth to where they were.

                        3.         The native Americans had their happy hunting ground

II.        The biblical view

            A.        The patriarchs knew of life after death - Job 3:11-19

            B.        Even children lived on, as David knew - II Samuel 12:23

            C.        It is through the gospel that life and immortality are brought to light - II Timothy 1:10

            D.        Here we learn that the patriarchs of faith saw life on earth as temporary and they looked for a better place - Hebrews 11:9-16

            E.        Moses knew there was a greater reward that made hardships on earth insignificant - Hebrews 11:24-26

            F.        Those enduring the hardship would receive a greater reward - Matthew 5:11-12

            G.        How we live our lives affect our lives to come - Matthew 6:19-21

            H.        A place is being prepared for the faithful - John 14:1-4

            I.         Our home country is heaven - Philippians 3:20-21

            J.         It is for the saved - I Peter 1:3-5

            K.        The saved will dwell with God - Revelation 21:3; 22:3-4

            L.        There is no sun or night to mark the days. God is its light - Revelation 22:5

III.       The Muslim’s view

            A.        One author described it as a “bedroom” heaven. It is described as a place where every wish or desire is fulfilled.

                        1.         “A sensual paradise, with blooming gardens, fresh fountains, and an abundance of beautiful virgins” [Phillip Schaff, 1894]

                        2.         “As to the various felicities which await the pious (and of which there are about a hundred degrees), they are a wild conglomeration of Jewish, Christian, Magian, and other fancies on the subject to which the Prophet’s own exceedingly sensual imagination has added very considerably. Feasting in the most gorgeous and delicious variety, the most costly and brilliant garments, odors and music of the most ravishing nature, and above all, the enjoyment of the Hur Al-Oyun, the black-eyed daughters of paradise, created of pure musk, and free from all the bodily weaknesses of the female sex, are held out as a reward to the commonest inhabitants of paradise, who will always remain in the full vigor of their youth and manhood” [McClintock and Strong, 1969].

                        3.         “The Qur’an basically pictures heaven in terms of the life of seventh-century Arabia’s wealthiest nobles, men who enjoyed lavish feasts in lush private gardens, in the region’s richest oases. Being poor, most of Muhammad’s early followers only dreamt of such a life. Hence, this vision of the super-rich lifestyle, taken to the nth degree, had strong appeal to them. The Qur’an describes believers feasting in heaven amidst the richest of fabrics and furnishings, and of rivers flowing with not just fresh water—extremely scarce in the region—but also with milk, honey and wine” [Mark Anderson, “Muslim Views of Heaven,” Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies].

                        4.         “Being firmly committed to the idea of physical resurrection, the Qur’an pictures believers enjoying consummate physical pleasure. Since we’re sexual beings, God’s provisions include everything believers need to be perfectly happy.” [Mark Anderson, “Muslim Views of Heaven,” Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies].

            B.        Women have a separate place since “they are not of a prominently spiritual nature,” and could not enjoy the male environment.

                        1.         They believe the majority in hell are women due to their ingratitude toward their husbands.

                        2.         “What about the reward of female believers in paradise? Judging by the fact that it says little about the topic, the Qur’an seems to have little interest in it:

                                    a.         It makes a few general statements to assure women that, being equally responsible to obey God, they’ll be rewarded along with their men (e.g. Q 4:124, 33:35).

                                    b.         But it otherwise pictures them only in relation to male believers, who will have their wives and children with them. (Q 36:56).

                                    c.         It never promises female believers sexual pleasure equivalent to that of their men, nor would any woman in Muhammad’s audience ever have expected such equality.

                                    d.         Indeed, the idea that women would have multiple heavenly male partners would have been as offensive to Muslims in Muhammad’s day, as today.

                                    e.         The Qur’an says nothing about how their husbands’ abundant sexual activity will affect their wives.” [Mark Anderson, “Muslim Views of Heaven,” Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies]

            C.        “God is presented as the believers’ host in paradise, with the best of those admitted favored with a vision of him. In qur’anic terms, they’re allowed to glimpse his face (Q 2:272, 13:22, 30:38-39, 56:11, 75:22-23, 83:24, 28). This joy is reserved for only some, however, and it suggests neither the intimacy of personal friendship with God nor of union with God.” [Mark Anderson, “Muslim Views of Heaven,” Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies].

IV.      The Mormon view

            A.        Joseph Smith claimed there are three heavenly realms

                        1.         The Celestial realm is blessed by the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is reserved for the faithful who accept the fullness of the Mormon belief, those who would have accepted it if they had been given the opportunity, children who had not each an age to accountable for their actions, and those who entered the covenant of “celestial marriage.” Eventually, all of these can eventually evolve into gods.

                        2.         The Terrestrial realm is blessed by the presence of the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is for those who reject the Mormon belief, but are still morally good. It is also for those who had accepted the gospel but did not remain faithful and those who had “benefitted” from the baptism of the dead” (post-mortem salvation). Also, it includes those who never were exposed to the truth.

                        3.         The Telestial realm (a made-up word) is for those who reject the Mormon gospel, liars, murderers, adulterers, and whoremongers. These experience the fires of hell but will be rescued from torment when Christ finishes his work. In other words, this is modeled after the Roman Catholic idea of pergatory. Only the Holy Spirit visits this place.

                        4.         Only Satan, his angels, and those who commit the unpardonable sin are left in the Telestial realm.

V.        The Jehovah’s Witnesses view

            A.        The Jehovah’s Witnesses concluded “the final number of the heavenly church will be 144,000, according to God’s decree” [Let God Be True, p. 113, 1946].

            B.        The rest of humanity will live on God’s glorified earth.

            C.        This idea is actually not unique to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was popular in the late 1800s

            D.        Commonly sited passages:

                        1.         Isaiah 65:17

                                    a.         But notice that Isaiah 65:20 says people still die.

                                    b.         And people are still working and having children - Isaiah 65:23

                                    c.         Jesus said in heaven there is no marriage - Matthew 22:30

                                    d.         This is talking about a new order: the age of the church

                        2.         Isaiah 66:22

                                    a.         Notice that Isaiah 66:20 talks about God’s holy mountain (Isaiah 2:2-4), which is a reference to the church.

                                    b.         There is still death - Isaiah 66:24

                                    c.         There is still a moon and a counting of days - Isaiah 66:23

                                    d.         This is again symbolically talking about the new age when the church is established.

                        3.         II Peter 3:13

                                    a.         It cannot be this present world - II Peter 3:10-12

                                    b.         This is referring to another new order: life in heaven

                        4.         Revelation 21:1

                                    a.         Again, it says the current earth passed away

                                    b.         This again is referring to heaven symbolically

VI.      The Atheist’s view

            A.        They deny that there is any after life, and thus, there is no heavn.

            B.        Death is merely a mechanical process. The brain stops functioning, and your existence ends.

            C.        But have you notice that we have funerals and cemeteries for loved ones, but not for cars?

            D.        If there is nothing after death, what is the difference between a mass murderer and an exterminator eliminating bugs?

VII.     The Scriptures present a view of heaven that no other religion offers

            A.        No longer are we separated from God.

            B.        No longer are we under the curse that Adam brought upon the world

            C.        Revelation 21:22-27

            D.        Do you want to go home? You can’t reach heaven while remaining in sin.

Based on “A Study of Heaven” by Wayne Jackson