What is Heaven?
Brother Charles reflects on what Heaven is and what we can expect.
The Resurrection: At the final judgment, those who have “fallen asleep” will rise first, followed by those still alive. All believers will receive transformed, heavenly bodies to inhabit the “New Heaven and New Earth.”
The Nature of Heaven (Revelation 21): Brother Charles clarifies that descriptions of jasper walls, pearly gates, and golden streets are metaphors. They are not literal architectural plans but linguistic tools to convey the immense beauty and value of a realm that far exceeds earthly worth.
The Cosmic Battle (Revelation 12): Heaven is currently a site of supernatural conflict. The “D-Day” of this war was the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. While the decisive victory has been won and Satan has been cast out of the highest heaven, the “mopping up” operations continue until the final surrender.
The State of the Dead (1 Thessalonians 4): For the believer, death is described as “falling asleep.” Upon death, the soul enters a “bodiless state” to wait with God. This is not a passive “zombie” state but one of continued intellectual engagement and influence.
Christ’s victory on the cross is spoken about in Rev 12:7-12
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”
Heaven is described like this in Revelation:
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of Godgives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Rev 21:22-27
Brother Charles challenges the congregation to move beyond “boring” or “cartoonish” views of the afterlife.
Reject Boredom: Heaven is not an endless, static concert of harps and singing. It is an intellectual and adventurous frontier where the mind will explore the “glorious wonder of truth.”
Live with Hope: Unlike the rest of mankind who “have no hope,” believers are urged not to grieve for the departed (specifically mentioning the late sister Araksi) as those without a future.
Recognize the “Chapter One” Reality: Using C.S. Lewis’s analogy, the congregation is reminded that life on Earth is merely the “cover and title page.” Death for a believer is the beginning of “Chapter One” of the real story.
Preparation for Judgment: The congregation is reminded that all will stand before Christ “completely helpless,” relying solely on His grace and mercy for entry into the kingdom.