Heaven (2)

A Powerful Testimony

On our return from Albuquerque a couple of years ago, Cindy and I downloaded an eBook called 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. We quickly became completely absorbed into Don’s testimony about a severe accident that happened very close to here back in the 80’s. For 90 minutes, Don was dead. During that time, he spent time in Heaven and described it for us. I want to give you just a couple of the things he saw:

“When I died, I didn’t flow through a long, dark tunnel. I had no sense of fading away or of coming back. I never felt my body being transported into the light. I heard no voices calling to me or anything else. Simultaneous with my last recollection of seeing the bridge and the rain, a light enveloped me, with a brilliance beyond earthly comprehension or description. Only that. In my next moment of awareness, I was standing in heaven.

Joy pulsated through me as I looked around, and at that moment I became aware of a large crowd of people. They stood in front of a brilliant, ornate gate. I have no idea how far away they were; such things as distance didn’t matter. As the crowd rushed toward me, I didn’t see Jesus, but I did see people I had known. As they surged toward me, I knew instantly that all of them had died during my lifetime. Their presence seemed absolutely natural.

They rushed toward me, and every person was smiling, shouting, and praising God. Although no one said so, intuitively I knew they were my celestial welcoming committee. It was as if they had all gathered just outside heaven’s gate, waiting for me.[1]

He described family and friends, now in perfect health and in the strength of their youth rejoicing as they reacquainted in Heaven. Listen to his description of the light of heaven:

Everything I saw glowed with intense brightness. The best I can describe it is that we began to move toward that light. No one said it was time to do so, and yet we all started forward at the same time… I had expected to see some darkness behind the gate, but as far ahead as I could see, there was absolutely nothing but intense, radiant light…

I wasn’t blinded, but I was amazed that the luster and intensity continually increased. Strange as it seems, as brilliant as “everything was, each time I stepped forward, the splendor increased. The farther I walked, the brighter the light. The light engulfed me, and I had the sense that I was being ushered into the presence of God…

A holy awe came over me as I stepped forward. I had no idea what lay ahead, but I sensed that with each step I took, it would grow more wondrous. Then I heard the music.[2]

I know this is getting lengthy but let’s find out a bit about the music:

My most vivid memory of heaven is what I heard. I can only describe it as a holy swoosh of wings.

But I’d have to magnify that thousands of times to explain the effect of the sound in heaven. It was the most beautiful and pleasant sound I’ve ever heard, and it didn’t stop. It was like a song that goes on forever. I felt awestruck, wanting only to listen. I didn’t just hear music. It seemed as if I were part of the music—and it played in and through my body. I stood still, and yet I felt embraced by the sounds…

The praise was unending, but the most remarkable thing to me was that hundreds of songs were being sung at the same time—all of them worshiping God.

Now, you can imagine why Cindy and I listened continuously for almost 14 hours!

Heaven Is, Well, … Heavenly.

Testimonies like Pastor Don’s increase our wonder of heaven, but within the Bible we have a good deal of information that should encourage us. The Apostle Paul hints at his personal testimony.

2 Corinthians 12:1–4 NIV

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

Heaven is a very real place. Bible scholars all agree that Paul is talking about himself. He couldn’t distinguish between the experience being physical or spiritual. What he does know is that it was an inexpressible experience…and one that Paul desired to have again (this time without coming back).

Philippians 1:21–23 NIV

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

The Amplified version translates the last phrase to “It is far, far better!” Paul has seen what is to come and he is excited about it! We also need to respect his passion for the work that he is doing. (Pastor Steve from Uganda). This should be our desire as well.

Our spirits were saved at salvation. Our souls are being transformed through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit as we allow Him to work, and we will one day receive our heavenly bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 NIV

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

This has already been a lot to think about…Just take a moment and let it sink in. What an amazing future for the believer!

What Do We Know About Heaven?

I think that it is sad that some people don’t believe in Heaven. For the atheist, all life ends at death. The eastern religions believe in reincarnation and that souls will pass into a new body, human or animal. Some believe that our souls go into a state of suffering called purgatory until they are purged of past sin. But, you and I know and can celebrate that we will be ushered into the heavenlies.

The Citizens of Heaven

Many who have had ‘Near Death Experiences’ have returned to tell of the people that they encountered in Heaven. The Apostle Paul describes to us the citizens of heaven…

Hebrews 12:22–24 NIV

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Mount Zion is another reference to heaven where, of course, the Heavenly Father abides. We will join “thousands and thousands” of angels. The church and the spirits of the righteous are, of course, us. Let’s not forget that Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant will be there as well.

Our Bodies

We talked a little last week about our glorified bodies as described in 1 Cor 15:

1 Corinthians 15:42–44 NIV

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Fortunately, the interaction and possibilities of the glorified body were demonstrated through Christ after His resurrection. Jesus was both physically present and able to move through walls. He could be in one spot at one moment and then miles away in the next. Jesus even ate with them!

My personal belief is that we will enjoy nature, laughter, relationships, and activities in heaven. We are told that the new Jerusalem will come down to the new earth. The city itself is 1400 miles north to south and 1400 miles east to west. The city rests on the newly created earth. So, there is the ‘world’ and the city and nations of the world, and we will be ruling and reigning with Christ.

The Government of Heaven

Let’s take a moment to review the last days. We are living in the church age. Our next event will be the rapture of the believer followed by a 7 year period of tribulation on earth. At the end of that time, Jesus will physically return to the earth with his army of angels and saints. This will begin the millennial reign. Jesus will reign for 1,000 years but the devil has yet to be destroyed.

As we approach our eternal state in heaven, the millennial reign of Christ did not put an end to man’s sin. Human nature has not been changed by a near-perfect Millennium. For a 1,000 years, humans have been under the perfect rule of Christ. However, the release of Satan reveals the true heart of many.

Revelation 20:7–10 NIV

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Evil is finally removed! God has executed his judgment and eternity in Heaven begins with the a new heaven and a new earth designed specifically for you and me. The Bible spends very little time describing it:

Revelation 21:1–4 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

The presence of God is the central theme of Heaven. He will be among the people. He will dwell with the people. All weeping, death, and pain will be gone!

Imagine Isaiah’s Description of Heaven

These things are hard for us to imagine. We remember the effect of sin in Genesis. The Garden of Eve simply disappeared, and thorns, pain, and toil became a part of the human existence. But if that could happen in an instant, isn’t it possible for God to create a new earth and bring the heavenly city into its center? That is exactly what the Bible describes.

I want to close with a reading from Isaiah 65 because it gives us a wonderful picture of what Heaven will be like:

Isaiah 65:17–25 NIV

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

I hope that you, like me, have gained a yearning for heaven! What really began to come to the surface for me was that I don’t want to wait until heaven to get to know God. There was a little 4-year-old boy, “Jonathan, [who] was trying to learn the Lord’s Prayer. He learned by listening at church each Sunday. One Sunday as we were praying the Lord’s Prayer, he could be heard above all the others, praying, ‘Our Father who art in heaven, I know you know my name.’”[3] We can’t even get into heaven without knowing Jesus, but for those who know Him, we have a greater opportunity to know Him even more!

Have you been in His presence? We are invited. When I get into the throne room of Jesus I want it to feel familiar because I’ve been there in prayer, in praise, in solitude. Yes, Heaven is going to be amazing but we are invited into His presence now.

[1]Excerpt From: Don Piper. “90 Minutes in Heaven.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/90-minutes-in-heaven/id433215588 [2]Ibid. Chapter 2. [3]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 107.