What is heaven like according to the Bible?

In modern English, the word "mansions" implies size and ornate display. But in the English of 1611, the word meant no more than what the original language conveys — "resting-places," "abodes" or "dwellings." … "Many" should not be understood as indicating a variety of conditions, but rather abundance of accommodation. There would be room not only for the Lord, but room for all of them too.

Notice, it was in His Father's house, the place He had as Son, where He was at home. There He was going to prepare my place. That is unspeakable blessing! … Think what the home of such a heart as His must be! Where all His divine affections would flow out — the divine Son, and yet a Man — and to think that this is the place where He is going to take us.

Heaven itself is no scene of mere negations. It is not the absence of sin and sorrow and suffering that gives it its character, nor even the light and the glory and the many mansions of the Father's house. We may be allowed to speak of these things as its scenery and circumstances. But what will give it its character, what will make up its essential blessedness, is the presence of that Saviour who is there waiting for us — and of God Himself too, our Father.

The word never speaks of our going to heaven, but to Christ. The person makes the place, even in natural things — how much more in divine things!

He speaks of its jasper walls, great and high, its gates of pearl, its streets of gold, its foundations decorated with every kind of precious stone — and all this is exceedingly beautiful. But we ask, "Is this all?" And John answers back, "Oh no, I can tell you more. I can tell you the things that are not there. I saw no temple, no sun, no moon, no lamp, no night, no evil, and no curse." … "For in the middle of all the glories, and above all the glories of this heavenly city, I saw the Lamb."

The street — especially in the east — is the place of trade, the constant meeting-place of need and greed. But here, all circumstances, all dealings, the whole environment is absolute holiness and truth, fit for and filled with the felt presence of God.

Instead of viewing it from a distance, God will not merely come to visit the scene His hand has made for man, as of old in the garden of Eden. He will dwell eternally among them.

The history of this present world can be summed up as one of "tears," "death," "sorrow," "crying" and "pain." As we pass through this valley of tears, God in His infinite compassion may meet us in our sorrows and dry our tears. But again and again, as we go along our way, we meet fresh sorrows and shed more tears. But at last, in this eternal day, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

His servants shall serve Him. Heaven will not consist in idleness. The holy city knows service. And the service the saints will render to God in glory will be a perfect service. What will it be? We do not know what service it will be. God will have many surprises for His saints in glory.

We can hardly 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 higher still, in our enjoyment, our acquaintance, and our communion with God in that eternal day. As we rise in our understanding of God, our capacity for knowing Him will grow in proportion. … No standing still, but an ever-growing acquaintance with God.

Every one in that home will be spotless. Not a single stain of sin will be seen on any of them; all their garments will be whiter than snow. If it were not so they could not be in heaven, for God's word says, "nothing unclean will ever enter it" — and sins are unclean. So there will not be a single person in heaven whose sins have not been put away.