What will it be like in Heaven?
Ok, caveat before we begin. Much is indicated about specific things for Heaven, Lion sleeping with Lamb, Mansions, new Jerusalem, etc. I'm not debating what's indicated in the Bible regarding heaven, but just pondering the things that are not indicated there, and wanted to put it up here just for fun. Some of the things I've thought about:
"Steak" flavored trees, as I really love a good steak, and don't think we'll be killing any animals in eternity.
Flight? Hasn't everyone dreamed about unassisted flight. Wouldn't it be fun?
Space exploration? Eternity is an aweful long time. Assuming a universe similar to our own, would we be able to navigate the stars to explore other worlds. Possibly colonize?
C.S. Lewis' description at the end of The Last Battle also one of my favorites.
Anything else anyone has thought we might be able to see/do/be in Heaven? Just for fun?
Tags: Afterlife, Eternity, Heaven, Jerusalem, New
Views: 1
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Arthur Smith on -
I want to try out Michael's sword! :)
In His Service... Arthur Smith
www.HaveYouNotRead.com
http://YouDontHaveToHaveAPhD.blogspot.com/
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Permalink Reply by Terrance Egolf on -
Well, first let's look at what a glorified body will be able to do.
We will be able to move from place to place instantaneously. (Luke 24:36)
We will be able to move through solid matter. (same)
We will be able to eat and drink. (Luke 24:43)
There will be no more pain or death. (Rev. 21:4)
So what does this portend? I expect that we will be given a new creation mandate (Gen. 1:28), to exercise dominion over all creation again, but one that is not fallen. With billions upon billions of new stars to explore, we could take all of eternity to report our findings back to our Creator. And He will sit on His throne beaming at us as we extol the wonders of our Creator. No starships for us. All we will have to do is look at a star and set our intent to travel there, and there we will be! I'm sure every other possible venue of culture will be open to us, with new music, art, and literary interpretations. I can't wait!
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Permalink Reply by Arthur Smith on
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People think I've lost it. But this is why I not only do not fear death, I welcome it. But anyone I have talked to about death, thinks I have a screw loose (well, I probably do, but that's a different topic). I've only found one other person that actually feels the same. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she figured it was a win-win. Either she beat it (she did) and has a great testimony and gets to stay with her family, or she doesn't and she gets to be the first one in her family to get to go to Heaven and see Jesus. What an attitude!
In His Service... Arthur Smith
www.HaveYouNotRead.com
http://YouDontHaveToHaveAPhD.blogspot.com/
Terrance Egolf said:Well, first let's look at what a glorified body will be able to do.
We will be able to move from place to place instantaneously. (Luke 24:36)
We will be able to move through solid matter. (same)
We will be able to eat and drink. (Luke 24:43)
There will be no more pain or death. (Rev. 21:4)
So what does this portend? I expect that we will be given a new creation mandate (Gen. 1:28), to exercise dominion over all creation again, but one that is not fallen. With billions upon billions of new stars to explore, we could take all of eternity to report our findings back to our Creator. And He will sit on His throne beaming at us as we extol the wonders of our Creator. No starships for us. All we will have to do is look at a star and set our intent to travel there, and there we will be! I'm sure every other possible venue of culture will be open to us, with new music, art, and literary interpretations. I can't wait!
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Martin on -
Will there be stars in the new heaven? I believe Revelation indicates there won't as well as no sun or moon as God will be the light and there will be no more darkness. I think that also implies there will no longer be a need to sleep. We will know even as we were known implies our knowledge capability will no longer be finite. There will no longer be fatigue from exercise now really a reason to exercise.
I don't believe there will be anymore male or female distinction as there will no longer be a need for mariage or giving in mariage and no need for reproduction. We will view each other with new eyes. A big question is whether we will be carbon based life forms anymore or something else entirely.
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Martin on
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I'm pretty sure we won't be bouncing around on clouds. I'm also pretty sure "heaven" will be the new earth. One interesting question though is where will the lake of fire be? Will it be in a separate "dimension" or realm or will it be right there on the new earth outside the new Jerusalem the way Gehenna was just outside the gates of the old Jerusalem.
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Permalink Reply by Terrance Egolf on
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Well, first, I think the "new heaven" mentioned in Rev. 21:1 really has to be a new interstellar universe and not a new abode for God the Father. There would be no need for the latter, since His abode was not tainted by sin. We will not be living in Heaven, but on the new earth. And our abode will be in the New Jerusalem, with God the Son, Jesus, as its illumination. Whether there will still be a sun or not is unknown, but there isn't any reason why there shouldn't be, especially if there are stars elsewhere.
Recognizing that much of this vision of John may be allegorical, there is also much that seems to be a physical description of what will be. If the new city is as large as it seems to be described, then it will protrude quite a distance from the new earth's surface (12,000 furlongs = 1500 statute miles!) So either we will have a much larger new earth with a thicker atmosphere, or we won't need to breathe, either, since most of the city will be above our present atmosphere....
I don't think our knowledge will be infinite, because only God has that attribute. But I believe our capacity to learn will be much greater, our ability to reason will be perfected, and we will not be motivated by biases or the other limitations of a fallen heart and mind.
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Permalink Reply by Phoebe Kautt on -
Yeah, I remember that from one of Dr. Hovind's seminars. That is very interesting to think about!
Brad Bond said:I remember Kent Hovind saying that maybe our senses would be expanded to the full spectrum and maybe we could taste a color or a musical note. It was a cool concept.
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Permalink Reply by Phoebe Kautt on
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Amen! May we all be like that! It is a win-win situtation. Praise the Lord!!
Arthur Smith said:People think I've lost it. But this is why I not only do not fear death, I welcome it. But anyone I have talked to about death, thinks I have a screw loose (well, I probably do, but that's a different topic). I've only found one other person that actually feels the same. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she figured it was a win-win. Either she beat it (she did) and has a great testimony and gets to stay with her family, or she doesn't and she gets to be the first one in her family to get to go to Heaven and see Jesus. What an attitude!
In His Service... Arthur Smith
www.HaveYouNotRead.com
http://YouDontHaveToHaveAPhD.blogspot.com/
Terrance Egolf said:Well, first let's look at what a glorified body will be able to do.
We will be able to move from place to place instantaneously. (Luke 24:36)
We will be able to move through solid matter. (same)
We will be able to eat and drink. (Luke 24:43)
There will be no more pain or death. (Rev. 21:4)
So what does this portend? I expect that we will be given a new creation mandate (Gen. 1:28), to exercise dominion over all creation again, but one that is not fallen. With billions upon billions of new stars to explore, we could take all of eternity to report our findings back to our Creator. And He will sit on His throne beaming at us as we extol the wonders of our Creator. No starships for us. All we will have to do is look at a star and set our intent to travel there, and there we will be! I'm sure every other possible venue of culture will be open to us, with new music, art, and literary interpretations. I can't wait!
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Martin on
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Realizing that the vision of John may be alegorical there may be nothing he says that you can trust. However, if you take literal the things that can be taken literal there will be no sun, moon, or stars. The reasoning behind this is that John says there will be no sun or moon because the glory of God, the lamb of God, was the light and there will be no more night there. The sun, moon, and stars were all created to divide the day from the night and to be for signs and for seasons, for days and years. Once revelation is complete there will no longer be a need for signs and for seasons and when living in eternity there will be no need to mark the days and the years. As was already mentioned, there will be no more night and so there will be no need to have a sun or moon to divide the day from the night. There is no mention of stars but as they played their part in dividing the day from the night and for being for signs and for seasons I don't believe there will be a need for stars either, especially since there will be no night to see them.
Terrance Egolf said:Well, first, I think the "new heaven" mentioned in Rev. 21:1 really has to be a new interstellar universe and not a new abode for God the Father. There would be no need for the latter, since His abode was not tainted by sin. We will not be living in Heaven, but on the new earth. And our abode will be in the New Jerusalem, with God the Son, Jesus, as its illumination. Whether there will still be a sun or not is unknown, but there isn't any reason why there shouldn't be, especially if there are stars elsewhere.
Recognizing that much of this vision of John may be allegorical, there is also much that seems to be a physical description of what will be. If the new city is as large as it seems to be described, then it will protrude quite a distance from the new earth's surface (12,000 furlongs = 1500 statute miles!) So either we will have a much larger new earth with a thicker atmosphere, or we won't need to breathe, either, since most of the city will be above our present atmosphere....
I don't think our knowledge will be infinite, because only God has that attribute. But I believe our capacity to learn will be much greater, our ability to reason will be perfected, and we will not be motivated by biases or the other limitations of a fallen heart and mind.
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Martin on
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Terrance Egolf said:I don't think our knowledge will be infinite, because only God has that attribute. But I believe our capacity to learn will be much greater, our ability to reason will be perfected, and we will not be motivated by biases or the other limitations of a fallen heart and mind.
Only God has infinite knowledge but sin will no longer divide us from God the way it did after Adam. Remember, Adam walked and talked with God in the garden before sin separated him. We will again live in His sight in the New Jerusalem. I believe we will no longer be separated from Him in that everywhere we go He will dwell in us and there will be an unbreakable link. Imagine what that will be like to be able to think God's thoughts after him in real time. So, while our minds will not be infinite separate from God, we will be "plugged in" to the infinite mind and we will "know even as we were known." That means our minds will not have the limitations we experience now.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Guiley on -
Have contemplated the issue of knowledge, and don't know if our understanding of things will be bequethed or developed, my inclination is bequethed, as a learning process can be tricky, especially if we're "learning" right and wrong. Something about us is changed so that we no longer sin. The text doesn't say if there will be stars or not, but I'm thinking there might be, just as they were in the original creation, before the fall, so why would God not create them again. May also be a sun and moon, just won't need them for their light. Or at least a sun. depends on the physics of the world I guess, as right now it's necessary, but may not be then.
I've also contemplated the marital relationship issue. There will be no marrying or giving in marriage, but anyone wonder if that which is somewhat metaphysical here becomes physical there - the two shall become one flesh. Just a thought.
Anyway, enjoying everyone's posts and ideas!
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Permalink Reply by Alexander Martin on
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Stars are certainly fun to look at but they were created for an entirely different purpose. If the purpose God created them for was to be for signs and for seasons and to divide the day from the night then what would be their need for creation if their purpose ceased to exist in that there will be no more night and no longer a way to view them during the daylight of the Lord?
In reference to men and women being one flesh you make an interesting point. I wrote another post about the issue of human knowledge in the New Earth. In it I proposed that we would have a direct link with God because sin would no longer separate us from Him. If everyone had a direct link with God I think it is reasonable that we would also have a direct link with each other and we would know others even as God knew us. In this sense we would all be one flesh. I believe the institute of marriage was to symbolize our union with God. Once sin has been defeated and we are no longer separated from Him the symbol will be complete and will no longer be useful as it's expression will no longer be a hope for the future but an experienced reality.
Brian Guiley said:Have contemplated the issue of knowledge, and don't know if our understanding of things will be bequethed or developed, my inclination is bequethed, as a learning process can be tricky, especially if we're "learning" right and wrong. Something about us is changed so that we no longer sin. The text doesn't say if there will be stars or not, but I'm thinking there might be, just as they were in the original creation, before the fall, so why would God not create them again. May also be a sun and moon, just won't need them for their light. Or at least a sun. depends on the physics of the world I guess, as right now it's necessary, but may not be then.
I've also contemplated the marital relationship issue. There will be no marrying or giving in marriage, but anyone wonder if that which is somewhat metaphysical here becomes physical there - the two shall become one flesh. Just a thought.
Anyway, enjoying everyone's posts and ideas!
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