Heaven's Eternity

Let’s briefly explore some prophecies of heaven. Though heaven may be timeless, the Bible speaks of heaven’s eternity in human terms.

At Hand

The first thing we may notice is that heaven is at hand. What does that mean?

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2 CEV)

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” (Matthew 4:17 ESV)

This can be better translated as “the reign of heaven draws near.” It’s not yet the fullness of the kingdom in the return of Christ, but the reign of Christ in the hearts and lives of the saints.

Written

The most important thing in life is where we are headed for eternity. Is your name written in heaven?

“But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Luke 10:20 NLT)

When

When is the kingdom of heaven?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 ESV)

The kingdom or reign of God has come (Matthew 12:28; Luke 10:9-11; 11:20) and will come (Matthew 6:10; 25:34; Luke 22:18). It is both now and future. How? Some submit to heaven’s reign now. The fullness of the kingdom will come when Jesus returns. Where is our reward?

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:12 KJV)

Resurrection

There is a resurrection to life and a resurrection to judgment.

“Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29 HCSB)

When will the dead in Christ rise?

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV)

Intermediate State

Where will our spirits be between the death and resurrection of the body at Christ’s return? This is called the intermediate state. Perhaps Steven the martyr gives us a clue in his dying words.

“They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ ” (Acts 7:59 NASB)

Jesus at that time was in heaven. So, where was Stephen’s spirit to be received? Obviously, into heaven. Are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dead or living?

“But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” (Luke 20:37-38 NKJV)

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are spoken of as alive, not dead. A vision reveals Moses and Elijah.

“who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31 NASB)

Was this a vision of present reality or the future? Notice that they talked of a then future event, not a past event seen from the future. What does heaven include?

“You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.” (Hebrews 12:23 NLT)

The account of a named beggar, Lazarus and an anonymous rich man indicates two conscious human spirits after death. Too late, the rich man regrets his selfish life in hell and the destitute beggar is carried by angels to Abraham’s side. This is eternity’s Great Reversal.

“One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.” (Luke 16:22-23 HCSB)

After death, the faithful look forward to being in God’s presence.

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11 NLT)

The souls of deceased martyrs are pictured as being in heaven, conscious and asking God a question.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10 KJV)