What is Heaven like?

Mark this, it was in His Father's house, the place that He had as Son where He was at home, there He was going to prepare my place. That is unspeakable blessing! It was a comfort, a joy to have Christ with them in the world, but that was by the way. He was going to prepare a place where He was at home. Think what the home of such a heart as His must be!

In modern English, the word "mansions" implies the qualities of size and ornate display. But in the English of A.D. 1611, the word meant no more than the meaning that the original language would convey, that is, "resting-places," "abodes" or "dwellings." … "Many" should not be understood as indicating diversity of condition, but rather abundance of accommodation. There would be room not only for the Lord, but room for all them also.

So for us the joy of heaven is defined in this: "we shall always be with the Lord"; "where I am, there you shall be also." … And for us, every taste of communion now, every moment of enjoyed intimacy is the pledge of its renewal and perfection in the joy beyond. … We shall see in His face above the tender lowly kindness of the days of His flesh: "we shall see Him as He is," only to find Him as He was: nearer as better known.

There are two accounts of the glory of that place. We read of a new heaven and a new earth. The Apostle John in a vision saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. And what is the description of this place, God's dwelling place with men? It is largely negatively described. We are told in Revelation 21 of the things that are not there — no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain. The untoward things that accompany a world, into which sin has entered, will have no place there.

Instead of regarding it from a distance, God will not merely come to visit the scene that His hand has made for man as of old in the garden of Eden; but He will dwell eternally in their midst.

There was no concealment of God's glory in that which awed by its display — no temple where men approached but where they could not draw near, where God was hidden. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were its temple. They were approached in their own nature and glory, surrounded only by that fully displayed. Nor was there need of created light here; the glory of the divine nature lighted all, and the Lamb was the light-bearer in it.

We can scarcely imagine that a million ages spent in the presence and service of God will leave us the same at the end as we were at the beginning. Surely we shall rise higher and higher, and yet higher in our enjoyment, our acquaintance, and communion with God in that eternal day. As we rise in our understanding of God, our capacities for knowing Him will grow in proportion. … No standing still, but an ever-growing acquaintance with God.

Nothing that even saints can show could give a right of entry there; but the precious blood of Christ furnishes a title that is without flaw, and that never can be challenged.

This false teaching claims that when the believer dies he passes into a state of unconsciousness. If this were true it would certainly not be "far better" to depart… To pass out of the body and to be with Him is "much more better," for in the disembodied state, the saints of God enjoy and know the Lord in a degree that is impossible down here. And the best of all is when the Lord comes and all the redeemed receive their glorified bodies.