Hoe Sal die Hemel Wees?

Die Skrif gee aan ons baie beelde wat vol implikasies is oor die Hemel.  Sit hulle bymekaar, en hierdie legkaartstukke vorm ʼn pragtige prentjie.  Byvoorbeeld, ons word gesê die Hemel is ʼn stad (Hebreërs 11:10; 13:14).  Wanneer ons die woord stad hoor, behoort ons nie kop te krap en te dink, Ek wonder wat dit beteken?  Ons verstaan stede.  Stede het mense, geboue, bedrywighede, byeenkomste, kuns, musiek, atletiek, gebeurtenisse van alle soorte, en goedere en dienste.

Die Hemel word ook beskryf as ʼn land (Hebreërs 11:16).  Ons weet van lande.  Ons weet ook hoe die Aarde is, en ons weet dus baie van hoe die Nuwe Aarde sal wees.  As ons nie ons teenswoordige Aarde sonder riviere, berge, bome, en blomme kan voorstel nie, hoekom sal ons dan die Nuwe Aarde sonder hierdie kenmerke probeer voorstel?

As die woord Aarde enigiets beteken, beteken dit dat ons kan verwag om aardse dinge daar te kry – insluitende atmosfeer, berge, water, bome, mense, huise – en selfs stede, geboue, en strate (wat spesifiek genoem word in Openbaring 21-22).

Net soos wat ʼn nuwe motor ʼn beter weergawe is van ʼn ou motor – maar met al die nodige komponente (vier wiele, ʼn motor, transmissie, stuurwiel, ens.), so is die Nuwe Aarde ook ʼn vêr beter weergawe van die ou Aarde, maar met al die nodige fisiese komponente.

Die Nuwe Aarde sal die woonplek van God wees, maar dit sal ook deur God gevorm wees vir opgewekte mense om daar te woon.  Ons sal lief wees vir ons ewige tuiste, en ons sal lief wees daarvoor om saam met Jesus en sy familie te wees – wat vir ewig ons familie sal wees.

What Will Heaven Be Like?

Scripture gives us many images that are full of implications about Heaven. Put them together, and these jigsaw pieces form a beautiful picture. For example, we’re told that Heaven is a city (Hebrews 11:10; 13:14). When we hear the word city, we shouldn’t scratch our heads and think, I wonder what that means? We understand cities. Cities have people, buildings, activities, gatherings, art, music, athletics, events of all kinds, and goods and services.

Heaven is also described as a country (Hebrews 11:16). We know about countries. We also know what Earth is like, and thus we know much of what the New Earth will be like. If we can’t imagine our present Earth without rivers, mountains, trees, and flowers, then why would we try to imagine the New Earth without these features?

If the word Earth means anything, it means that we can expect to find earthly things there—including atmosphere, mountains, water, trees, people, houses—and even cities, buildings, and streets (which are specifically mentioned in Revelation 21–22).

Just as a new car is a better version of an old car—but with all the same essential components (four wheels, an engine, transmission, steering wheel, etc.), so too will the New Earth be a far better version of the old Earth, but with the same essential physical components.

The New Earth will be God’s dwelling place, but it will also be fashioned by God for resurrected people to live there. We’ll love our eternal home, and we’ll love being with Jesus and his family—which will be our family forever.

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