Abstract
According to Charles Ferguson Ball (2019), everyone wants to know about Heaven or wants to go there. Recent studies suggest that nearly 80% of the human race believe there is a place called heaven. However, many are not actively working towards going there. This statistic is encouraging because it tells us that even in this skeptical age, there is something deep inside the human heart that cries out that there is something more than meets the eye—something more than the pain and suffering of this life, and more than the 70 or 80 years on planet earth.
Sometimes we talk about a “God-shaped vacuum” inside the human heart. We believe there is also a “heaven-shaped vacuum,” a sense that we were made for something more than this life. We were made to live forever somewhere. In a real sense, we were made for heaven.
Not only do most humans believe in heaven, but most expect to go there when they die. If you took a microphone to the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, and asked, “Do you think you will go to heaven when you die?” many people would answer, “I hope so,” or “I think I’ve got a good chance.” However, if a person is wrong about heaven, they are going to be wrong for a very long time. The only things we can know for certain about heaven are the things revealed in the Bible; everything else is just speculation.
Background of the Study
There are three primary facts we can deduce regarding the actuality of Heaven from a Biblical perspective:
- Heaven is a Real Place: Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Heaven is as real as any beautiful country in the world or the place you call home.
- The Dwelling Place of God: His throne is there, the Angels are there, and the Lord Jesus Christ is there. Philippians 3:20 states: “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Proximity to Believers: The Bible suggests heaven is not as far away as we might think. Apostle Paul in Hebrews 12:22-24 describes believers as having “come near” to heavenly realities, including the city of the living God and thousands of angels.
Who are the Inhabitants of Heaven?
The imagery of streets paved with gold and gates of pearl comes from Revelation 21 and 22. These descriptions are literally true, yet they signify that the things we value most highly on earth are used as mere pavement in heaven. It will be much greater than we can imagine.
Who is in Heaven Right Now?
- The Trinity: God the Father and the Lord Jesus, who ascended shortly after His resurrection (Acts 1:9-11).
- The Angels: Myriads of heavenly beings serving the Lord.
- The Saints: Every true believer from every continent and denomination, including Old Testament saints who trusted in God’s Word.
- The Innocent: Children who died before the “age of accountability” and those with mental limitations that prevent understanding the gospel.
The Great Dividing Line: Not everyone is in heaven. The Bible speaks of the “saved” and the “lost.” You are either saved by trusting Jesus Christ, or you are lost. There is no middle category.
What is Heaven Like?
Heaven is described as the opposite of the things we dislike on earth. In the city God builds, there is no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears, and no more death. It is a place of prepared people.
Key Biblical Facts:
- God’s dwelling place (Psalm 33:13).
- Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11).
- A city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10).
- A better country (Hebrews 11:16).
- Paradise (Luke 23:43).
Physicality and Recognition: New Testament scholars suggest that heaven for resurrected believers will be a physical existence on a reconstituted earth. We will have physical bodies, we will recognize our loved ones intimately (as seen in the Mount of Transfiguration, Matthew 17:1-9), and we will have active roles.
What Will We Be Doing in Heaven?
Heaven will not be boring; we will use our gifts to administer the new heaven and the new earth. Here are five things that will occupy us:
- Worship without distraction.
- Serve without exhaustion.
- Fellowship without fear.
- Learn without fatigue.
- Rest without boredom.
Findings and Personal Testimony
The Experience of Dr. L.A. Stephen
On September 2nd, 2018, during a service in Lagos, I experienced what I believe was a glimpse of heaven. After collapsing during a prayer session, I felt my spirit leave my body. I saw myself in a spotless white garment in a serene, beautiful place—beyond description. I felt an unexplainable peace and joy, forgetting all earthly worries and struggles.
I heard the voice of my pastor commanding heaven to release me. I woke up 40 minutes after being confirmed dead, though it felt like seconds. I am a living proof that heaven is not a mirage, but very real.
The Reality of Judgment: Heaven and Hell are real. Revelation 20:11-12 describes the Great White Throne judgment where the dead are judged according to their works as written in the Books. No one goes to heaven by accident; it is God’s prepared place for prepared people.
Conclusion and Recommendations
As Christians, we must take heaven and hell seriously. We are deeply shaped by what we hope for and what we fear. We must constantly prepare to meet the Almighty God with our robes spotless through Jesus Christ. We recommend further study into the nature of hell and the state of the “wicked” as a necessary companion to understanding the weight of eternity.
Bibliography
- • King James Bible (KJV/NKJV).
- • Ball, Charles Ferguson (2019). Heaven: A Paradise to Be.
- • Graham, Billy (2015). Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity and Our Life Beyond.
- • Kreeft, Peter (2015). Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven.
- • Leininger, David (1997). Sermon on “Heaven” from The Presbyterian Pulpit.
- • Stewart, Don (2017). Did the Old Testament Believers Go Immediately to Heaven?
- • Killinger, John (2014). The Second Coming of the Church.
