Theology of heaven...questions (religious content)

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

This is something I've been pondering, but it is not a usual topic for casual conversation IRL. I know I could get a good variety of answers here.

 

If you are religious, what does heaven mean to you? How do you visualize it?

Do you take descriptions of an afterlife from religious literature literally or figuratively?

 

I've asked a few people close to me what they think and I got different answers from each of them.

 

My dad thinks Heaven will be a place where each of us has work to do that our life on earth prepared us for.

 

A minister I know once mentioned that he thinks Christians will become part of God's spiritual army and war against forces of evil.

 

Others have said it will be a place of perpetual singing God's praises. (So if we don't care for congregational singing on earth, we are in trouble)

 

I've also read about people who believe that our heaven (or hell) is here on earth and we create it ourselves by our actions.

 

If you don't mind replying... What is your theology of heaven?

Edited June 25, 2009 by Virginia Dawn

[The Girls' Mom]

I believe in a Biblical heaven.

 

We will get to be in the presence of God. There will be a new earth. We will have glorified bodies (no pain, sickness or death). We will praise God, but not in a sitting on clouds playing harps kind of way. We will have work, but it will be fulfilling work, not drudgery. We will not be bored ;) I don't dare to speculate beyond that. The Bible doesn't go into more detail, and I think there will be things there that my poor mind can't yet comprehend.

[Pamela H in Texas]

Wow, I don't think I can define Heaven concisely! LOL

 

HOWEVER, I can state what I believe of HUMANS going there. The scriptures say that a certain number of humans will be resurrected to serve as kings and priests with Jesus in the Heavenly gov't. So that is what I believe. Obviously a government, kings and priests all have jobs to do AND have subjects. The scriptures say there will always be humans upon the earth, eventually JUST in the original will of our Father. So I believe the kings and priests will aid those wishing to do God's will (both those who cross over to the "new system" and those who are resurrected to it) in making the entire earth a paradise of perfection that truly glorifies the Creator.

[asta]

It's a combo platter:

 

On the one hand, it is where all of one's unanswered "life" questions are answered.

 

On the other hand, it is where all of the above questions suddenly seem irrelevant.

 

 

a

[KidsHappen]

It's a combo platter:

 

On the one hand, it is where all of one's unanswered "life" questions are answered.

 

On the other hand, it is where all of the above questions suddenly seem irrelevant.

 

 

a

 

I like this. Not exactly the same beliefs as mine but simple and concise.

[Tea Time]

This is something I've been pondering, but it is not a usual topic for casual conversation IRL. I know I could get a good variety of answers here.

 

If you are religious, what does heaven mean to you? How do you visualize it?

Do you take descriptions of an afterlife from religious literature literally or figuratively?

 

I've asked a few people close to me what they think and I got different answers from each of them.

 

My dad thinks Heaven will be a place where each of us has work to do that our life on earth prepared us for.

 

A minister I know once mentioned that he thinks Christians will become part of God's spiritual army and war against forces of evil.

 

Others have said it will be a place of perpetual singing God's praises. (So if we don't care for congregational singing on earth, we are in trouble)

 

I've also read about people who believe that our heaven (or hell) is here on earth and we create it ourselves by our actions.

 

If you don't mind replying... What is your theology of heaven?

 

My concept comes from reading lots of C. S. Lewis. His writings gave me an idea of heaven and also of space/time from a Christian perspective that is intellectually satisfying for me.

 

If you are not familiar with his writings, an excellent starting place is a small book called, The Great Divorce. You can read it in one sitting. But don't stop there. Go on to read more of his writings, and the idea will flesh out and expand. Books like his space trilogy and Till We Have Faces also expand on this concept of space, time, and the "spiritual world."

 

His concept is more toward this idea (please read him because I am going to butcher it, okay?): What we are experiencing now seems very real and solid to us, but heaven and God's reality are what are truly "real." What we experience now is kind of like a dream and heaven will be kind of like waking. Right now we are as ghosts to what we will become. Strange if you have come to think of the afterlife in purely spiritual terms. But he describes this idea very well, and I think it is satisfying to the Biblical ideas. It also somehow satisfies the complexities you find in physics and science, too.

 

He also talks about how we will have our questions answered, but that this is not "boring" in the sense that some people perceive it. It is more like finally eating after being very, very hungry for a long time. And our individuality will be fully realized in God's presence. We will become our true selves. This is radically different than pantheistic notions of dissolving into *oneness* or *the collective*. These are very different notions of heaven. I found it very helpful in clarifying the differences and the similarities of various belief systems.

 

Reading lots of Lewis has truly helped me to understand the philosophical underpinnings of different views. I now recognize various views and their philosophical foundations.

 

BTW, Lewis, who had a very classical education, does not make this all up from his own ideas, nor does he claim to do so. His views are taken from much older sources (the Bible, of course), the Church fathers, Augustine, Aquinas, and more recent authors such as G. K. Chesterton and many others. Lewis has a gift for translating very difficult ideas into very understandable terms. If you read Lewis, you get a kind of classical education by proxy. I highly recommend him.

 

Please forgive me if you are already familiar with him. I'm surprised by how many people have not read any of his works even though they may recognize the name.

[angela in ohio]

I'm close to the third one you listed. I believe we will spend eternity in heaven worshipping the Lord in perfect union with Him. I am personally looking forward to not having to battle sin anymore. It will be so restful. :)

 

Sort of like Asta's post... I heard a radio program once with call-in questions. Someone called in and asked if all of our questions would be answered when we got to heaven. The pastor replied that when we get to heaven, we won't even remember the questions. :001_smile:

[Michelle My Bell]

My perspective is just my thoughts on what I hope heaven will be like. I don't want to see us sitting around singing constantly. I am hoping it mirrors our world now, except perfect. I know that marrying and having children will be over, however I like to believe that our families on earth will still be part of us there, but slightly different. I envision us eternally living and working together in paradise, giving praise to God in what we do.

 

I am a christian, a pastors wife actually, and I know my ideas are just that. But I don't think the Bible is very clear on what Heaven will be like and these are my hopes.

 

Michelle

[Laurie in CA]

Randy Alcorn wrote a great book called Heaven. I'll list some of the table of contents.

 

Part I. A Theology of Heaven

Section 1. Realizing Our Destiny

1. Are You Looking Forward to Heaven?

2. Is Heaven Beyond Our Imagination?

3. Is Heaven Our Own Default Destination?

4. Can You Know You're Going to Heaven?

Section 2. Understanding the Present Heaven

5. What Is the Nature of the Present Heaven?

6. Is the Present Heaven a Physical Place?

7. What is Life Like in the Present Heaven?

Section 3. Grasping Redemption's Far Reach

8. This World Is Not Our Home....or Is It?

9. Why is Earth's Redemption Essential to God's Plan?

10. What Will It Mean for the Curse to Be Lifted?

Section 4. Anticipating Resurrection

Section 5. Seeing the Earth Restored

Section 6. Celebrating Our Relationship With God

Section 7. Ruling the New Earth

(Skipping to Part II)

 

Part II. Questions and Answers About Heaven

Section 8. What Will the Resurrected Earth Be Like?

23. Will the New Earth Be an Edenic Paradise?

24. What Is the New Jerusalem?

25. What Will the Great City Be Like?

26. Will There Be Space and Time?

27. Will the New Earth Have Sun, Moon, Oceans, and Weather?

Section 9. What Will Our Lives Be Like?

Section 10. What Will Our Relationships Be Like?

Section 11. What About Animals?

Section 12. What Will We Do in Heaven?

41. Will Heaven Ever Be Boring?

42. Will There Be Arts, Entertainment, and Sports?

43. Will Our Dreams Be Fulfilled and Missed Opportunities Regained?

44. Will We Design Crafts, Technology, and New Modes of Travel?

 

Part III. Living In Light Of Heaven