Setting The Record Straight On Heaven

Text: Revelation 7:9-17

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Just like angels, it is safe to say that many people today understand heaven more from culture and Hollywood than from the Bible.  For example, many films and books portray heaven as peaceful and idyllic clouds, fields, or gardens - where people go after they die.  Other people view heaven as a place where the deceased go to do their most favorite thing they enjoyed in life: 

Grandpa Tom, well… he is fishing in heaven.  Uncle Bob is hunting in heaven.  And Aunt Betsy is golfing, gardening, and enjoying an iced tea.  Good for them; they must be happy.  

Other people view heaven more mysteriously – a place of glowing lights, gates, or fog.  It is a place beyond human logic and grounded in our imaginations.  Finally, some view heaven as a place where those who have passed away help God govern the world. You know what I am talking about: 

Grandma is looking down from heaven and is helping me.  Uncle Phil… he watches over me and helps me on the farm with little hints of mysterious coincidences.

Indeed, we Americans seem to understand heaven more from contemporary culture, Hollywood, and local folklore than the Bible itself.  

And so, today, just like we did with angels several weeks ago, and since it is All Saints Day, let’s take everything we know about heaven and toss it aside.  Then, let us hear straight from the Bible about heaven.  

Before we talk about heaven, though, we must talk about death.  Yes, death!  When we die, it is self-evident that something is missing.  In other words, when a loved one dies, their body is present, but something is missing.  What is missing is what we call the ‘soul.’  Death is what separates the body and soul.  After death, our bodies will remain here on earth in this vale of tears, often being placed in a coffin and laid in the ground six feet under, but our soul does not. And so, that begs the question, what happens to the soul?  

Scripture is very clear that the souls of the unbelievers are ‘spirits in prison’ (1 Peter 3:19).  In other words, when non-Christians die, their souls suffer excruciating and endless torment in hell. On the other hand, the Bible teaches us that the souls of believers are with Christ in paradise (Luke 23:43).  The scriptures say that those who are with Christ are supremely happy.  And so, at death, the souls of unbelievers are in prison with agony, but the souls of believers are in paradise with joy.  These are the only two options. 

Now, concerning your loved ones who are joyfully in paradise with Jesus right now - at this moment - let’s clarify several things.  

First, these departed souls in paradise do not return to earth to communicate with you and me (Luke 16:27-31).  In fact, the Bible is very clear that they are unaware of all the problems that we endure here on earth (Isaiah 63:16).  Now, this should not be discouraging for you and me, for if we think about it, would we want our loved ones in paradise to be further burdened by all the struggles that we are enduring in this vale of tears?  No, we would not.  Dear friends, thankfully, our loved ones in paradise experience no more pain, sorrow, fear, or anxiety.  They are ignorant of the current problems of this life.  They no longer worry about war, inflation, elections, debt, suffering, layoffs, and slander.  They are free from all of this.  Someday, we, too, will be free from all of this.  As much as death stings, nonetheless, it will be a joyous day to be free from this vale of tears with its toils and problems.    

Secondly, these departed souls in paradise are free from sin and the attacks of the evil one.   Perhaps this is one of the most comforting things we can embrace this morning.  Our loved ones are completely cleansed from all original and actual sin, and they are no longer targets of the devil.  At death, we rest from not only the toils of this life, but we rest from the curse and burden of sin and the spiritual warfare of the devil.  Our loved ones in paradise no longer have to battle temptation, persecution, or trials.  What a joyous day that will be when we will be free from sin and its damning effects with those who rest with Christ.    

Thirdly, our loved ones in paradise will not be body-less souls forever.  You see, as we have already established, their bodies are in the ground, and their souls are with Jesus in paradise.  However, on the Last Day, Jesus will return, and the dead in Christ will resurrect from the grave.  That is to say, on the great Last Day, bodies and souls will be put back together again. And so, the same body that is laid in the ground will be the same atoms and particles that will reunite with the soul on the Last Day (1 Thess. 4:14-17).  Just as death separates the body and soul, the resurrection reverses death and unites the body and soul.  This means that the body of your loved one that you laid in a sanctified grave, will be raised and joined to their soul on the last day to be made incorruptible, glorious, and powerful.  The resurrected bodies of our departed loved ones in Christ will be the same body that they had in the vale of tears, but better – without sin.  These bodies will be 2.0 bodies.  And so, for your loved ones who have died in the faith, mark this: you will hug them at the resurrection.  You will dance with them at the resurrection.  Together with them, you will laugh and cry with tears of joy at the resurrection.  You will see them eye to eye.  You will hear the sound of their voice again. You will feel their touch again.  What a joyous day that will be – to stand bodily, shoulder to shoulder with your loved ones in the presence of Christ.    

Fourthly, hear this loud and clear: the world as we know it will pass away at the Last Day.  The world as we know it will be destroyed – it will be burned up. The Apostle Peter tells us, 

“The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10

Now, please do not let this discourage you or cause you fear.  Please listen, with brand new resurrected bodies, you and your loved ones are promised eternal life, not in this sin-infested world.  That is to say; we are not returned to this world that is marred by sin after the resurrection.  We are not resurrected to live again in this vale of tears.  No, the old will pass away, and we will be given a new heaven and earth. We will be given eternal life, for in Christ - sin, death, the devil, and the corrupted world are taken away from us so that the Lord Jesus Christ may give everything back to us as very good.  

And so, with our loved ones who abide in paradise, we all await eternal life – life that will be free from sin and its effects. It will be perfect and full of comfort and bliss. Eternal life will be like a great feast of joy surrounded by the glory of angels.  Eternal life will have no more toil with the land, no more conflict with your neighbor, no more shame or a dreadful conscience, no more hiding from God – it will be perfect, far beyond what you and I can imagine or describe.  And it will be given to you, me, and our loved ones in paradise by Christ and through Christ.  

And so, today, while we remember and mourn the passing of our loved ones, we rejoice with those who fell asleep in Jesus, for they are with Christ just as we are with Christ right now.  Furthermore, we rejoice with these departed saints, for we know that we will – together with them – be given new bodies on the last day and be ushered into eternity forever.  

In this life, you, me, and the departed baptized saints often did not receive the recognition that we deserve as children of God.  We have often endured tribulation, trials, and struggles in this pilgrimage through this vale of tears.  But take comfort, for there is a sure inheritance in Christ, who is the victor over sin, death, and the devil.  He is the one who will give us new bodies, a new heaven and earth, and eternal joy.  And so, do not be discouraged right now.  Christ holds you in life and in death, and He is making all things new for you and for your loved ones who abide with Him in paradise right now.  

In the name of Jesus. Amen.