What About Heaven
As of this moment, there are two parts of Heaven. The Holy City - New Jerusalem, which is believed to be the dwelling place of God and the resting saints; and the New Earth, which has not yet exists. Life in New Jerusalem is still a mystery to me. Since the holy city will descent from sky and resides on the New Earth forever (R1), information below are mostly refer to the New Earth AFTER the big judgement has taken place.
History
It is believed that the Heaven is the ultimate goal of God's creation. This current Earth is only a temporary ground. Ever since the beginning of time, God has already acknowledged the rebellion of men, and have planned out the work around(R2) on gathering the victorious among all, and place them in the final world God has decided to create from the very beginning(R3).
Geography
The previous (now current) Earth will be gone... New Jerusalem will be sitting on top of the New Earth(R1). New Jerusalem is huge... while it is square in shape, it covers over 2,000,000 sq miles of land area, with the tallest point of the city up to approximately 1500 miles above ground(R4). It is the size of the city that leads us to believe that the New Earth will also be huge, several times bigger then the current Earth! It will be a completely beautiful and perfectly new planet. The light of God will shine upon the whole new world and there shall no longer be night(R5). Mountains and rivers reamins but there will not be oceans to separate nations(R6). Roads are golden and rocks are gems(R7), we will never run out of land during the time in heaven.
Government and Politics
While most countries on Earth are now running as republic nations, we believe that Heaven is running as an absolute monarchy(R8). The victorious will receive blessings from God with glories crowns and glories throne(R9). God will be the most high of ALL(R8). Domains will be given to saints according to their works on Earth and they will sit on their own throne as kings to rule over their own kingdom for ever to come(R10).
Law
In terms of Christianity, there shall not be laws in Heaven. Not even now. We are already saved by grace and freed from laws(R11). Nothing should bound you from whatever you wanted to do. You are free to do anything you wish. However, as a true believer, His/her likes and dislikes, his/her discipline and natural behaviours, should have already lined up with what the "Law" would have said(R12).
Economy
While currency of Heaven are unknown, what we know is that we earn them on Earth. Whatever good deeds you've done here, will be transferred to heaven as tresures and keep safe for you(R13). We have no idea if you can keep earning in heaven but why does it matter on Earth to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" if we could go empty and have eternity to make it up?
Also, what you've earned and brought to Heaven, can never be exhausted. Though there is no explaination in the Bible on how this could be, I do have my own thought on this. I believe that we can view it as the level of citizenship, with unlimited access to Heaven properties(R14):
- barely saved would enjoy heaven with public land and entertainment, and small houses
- preimum citizens would enjoy heaven with private mansions, private land, and personal servants
- platinum citizens would enjoy heaven with private castles, crowns, throne, thousands of servants, and an entire kingdom to rule over.
HAHAHA Who knows?
Culture
In heaven, there shall no longer be different nations, countries, races, not even marriages(R15). All living as the bride of Christ and serve the same Heavenly Father - God. People in heaven are united and become one big family(R16).
Heaven is a world of love. Only people with love live in the area. Whoever made it to Heaven, are the ones with abundant loves(R17). There will no longer be any killing or harmful acts, not even the deadliest animals will try to harm you(R18). People do taste happiness, calmness, harmony and peace for ever and ever(R19).
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References
Revelation (R1)
21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
1 Peter (R2)
Matthew (R3)
Revelation (R4)
Revelation (R5)
Psalms (R6)
Revelation
22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation (R7)
21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
1 Corinthians (R8)
15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
2 Timothy (R9)
4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Matthew
Revelation (R10)
2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
Galatians (R11)
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians (R12)
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Matthew (R13)
6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Luke (R14)
19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
Luke (R15)
20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Ephesians (R16)
2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God
Matthew (R17)
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.