Randy Alcorn - Heaven: Biblical Answers to Common Questions

What we usually think of when we hear the word Heaven is what theologians call the intermediate Heaven. For Christians, its where we go when we die. Its the place well live until our bodily resurrection.

Our Christian loved ones whove died are now in this present, intermediate Heaven. (This is not the same as purgatory, which is not a biblical concept. The Bible teaches that Christ paid the complete price for our atonement, and thus we can do nothing to add to it.)

The Heaven we go to when we die is a place without suffering, but it is not the place where well live forever. Our eternal home, where God will come down to dwell among his people, is called the New Earth (Revelation 21:1).

At the culmination of human history, were told in reference to the New Earth, The dwelling of God [will be] with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God (Revelation 21:3). Since Heaven is, by definition, Gods dwelling place, the fact that he will come down to dwell with us on the New Earth will make it synonymous with Heaven.

Often we think of going to Heaven as departing from our place into an angelic realm to live with God in his place. But the Bible says that in the ultimate Heaven God will come down from his place to live with us in our place, the New Earth.

Immanuel, one of the names of Christ, does not mean us with God; it means God with us. Where will he be with us? On the New Earth.

Weve heard it said, This world is not our home. Thats true, but its a half truth. We should qualify it by saying, This world the earth as it now is, under the Curse is not our home. But we should also say, This world the earth as it once was, before sin and the Curse was our home. And we should add, This world the earth as it one day will be, delivered from sin and the Curse will be our home.

In the intermediate Heaven, well be with Christ, and well be joyful, but it wont be our permanent home. Well be looking forward to our bodily resurrection and relocation to the New Earth. (Our loved ones wont go to the New Earth before we get there. Well go together to colonize the New Earth.)

The idea that well go to a disembodied state fits with Platonism and Eastern mysticism, but not with Christianity. Scripture says that there is a resurrection, but if there werent, we would be of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).

On the New Earth, were told, No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him (Revelation 22:3). God is the sovereign ruler, and all false gods will be taken down. Satan will be eternally dethroned. People who reject God will be eternally dethroned. God will be permanently enthroned. The Lords prayer, prayed countless millions of times over the centuries, will be dramatically answered: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Righteous human beings, enthroned by God to reign over the earth from Eden but dethroned by their own sin and Satan, will be re-enthroned forever with God. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). Gods people will reign with him on the earth, not only for a thousand years but forever. As the angel said to Daniel, speaking of an earthly kingdom that will replace the current Earths kingdoms, The saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever yes, for ever and ever (Daniel 7:18). Christ will become the unchallenged, absolute ruler of the universe. Then he will turn over to his Father the kingdom he has won (1 Corinthians 15:28). Redeemed humans will be Gods unchallenged, delegated rulers of the New Earth. God and humanity will live together in eternal happiness, forever deepening their relationships, as the glory of God permeates every aspect of the new creation.