Resources by Topic: Heaven

Question from a Reader: Will there be nation boundaries on the New Earth?

Heaven without God would be like a honeymoon without a groom or a palace without a king. Teresa of Avila said, “Wherever God is, there is Heaven.” The corollary: Wherever God is not, there is Hell.

We’ll have many desires in Heaven, but they won’t be unholy desires. Everything we want will be good. Our desires will please God.

Question from Reader: Does the promise of a New Heaven and a New Earth necessitate new planets, or is that a leap of imagination?

I believe the spirit leaves the body when true death happens, and that true death isn’t the same as “he hasn’t been responsive for months” or “we can’t detect brainwaves.”

We know that on the New Earth, sin will be done away with and will be no more.

Question from a Reader: In our church it was stated that at present Hell is empty. Is this really true?

Revelation talks about the marriage of the Lamb, between Christ and His bride (Revelation 19:7). This bride is made up of His collective people, who are “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). Therefore, the New Jerusalem will be the dwelling place of all believers, not just those who are ethnically Jews and have trusted Jesus.

Here are some resources that can help you understand the issue and what the Bible actually says. 

In this audio clip, Randy answers a question about where Satan fell from when he sinned.

The New International Version rendering of John 14:2 is this: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Place is singular, but rooms is plural. This suggests Jesus has in mind for each of us an individual dwelling that’s a smaller part of the larger place. This place will be home to us in the most unique sense.

Over the years, people have told me they can’t get excited about the New Jerusalem because they don’t like cities. But this city will be different—it will have all the advantages we associate with earthly cities but none of the disadvantages. 

We can think of the Bride as one entity. But it’s like all the students of a school can be called together “the school.” Many students make up one school. Or even better, all believers in Jesus can be called together “the Church.” It’s one thing made up of many members.

With our finite understanding, it’s a logical conclusion that if the souls of the martyrs can be seen, in a certain location–under the altar—and they can cry out with a loud voice, then they have bodies to make those things possible. God may have a different way to make those things possible, but we have no particular reason to think so.