I. The “

Reveal Answer

” Heaven: Paradise

• Heaven is a different dimension of reality where God’s presence is specially made known to bless (Isa 66:1; Matt 6:9; 1 Pet 3:22; Acts 7:55‒56).

It is a place of glory, splendor, joy, and beauty (Rev 4:1‒6).

Three times in the NT the term “paradise” is used for this heaven (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7). This word originally referred to a walled park or garden, and it is used in the Greek translation of Genesis for the garden of Eden (Gen 2:8).

“The idea of a walled garden, enclosing a carefully cultivated area of exquisite plants and animals, was the most powerful symbol of paradise available to the human imagination, mingling the images of the beauty of nature with the orderliness of human construction” (McGrath, A Brief History of Heaven, 40).

• Believers in Jesus go to this heaven at death (Phil 1:21‒23).

Our existence in this “intermediate” heaven will be disembodied as we await the great resurrection, but it seems that in the realm of heaven, our spirits will still be “body-like”; we won’t just be whisps of ethereal vapor (Rev 6:9‒11; 2 Cor 12:3; Luke 16:19‒31).

As wonderful as the beauty of heaven is, and as great as it will be to meet loved ones, the best part about heaven will be the presence of God and of Jesus (Psalm 73:25; Phil 1:23; Rev 5).

II. The Eternal “Heaven”: A New

Reveal Answer

and

Reveal Answer

• While some passages imply that the physical world will be destroyed completely (Heb 1:11‒12; 12:26‒27; 2 Pet 3:10‒12; Rev 20:11; 21:1), it is also possible that this describes not absolute destruction, but a kind of remaking, purifying, and restoring (Acts 3:21; 2 Pet 3:5‒6 [compare with 3:10‒12]).

If so, this would parallel how we experience the new creation at conversion (2 Cor 5:17) but remain the same person.

The restoration view seems preferable to the destruction view, because complete destruction would mean Satan had “won” with the material world. It is better to see God as victorious. So: “The earth’s death will be no more final than our own” (Randy Alcorn, Heaven, 151).

• After our resurrection in glorified bodies (Phil 3:20‒21; 1 Cor 15:20‒28), this New Heavens and New Earth will be our eternal home (Rev 21:1‒22:5; Isa 66:22‒24).

We will dwell with God forever in the New Jerusalem, the city of God (Rev 21:1‒3).

There will be no death, sorrow, pain (Rev 21:4), or even night there (Rev 21:25). God will illuminate it himself (Rev 21:23).

This will be the final paradise, Eden restored (Rev 22:1‒5).

No sin or agent of temptation will come to trouble us; humanity will not fall again (Rev 21:27). In an improvement over the first creation, there will be no “sea” (Rev 21:1), because in ancient, biblical thinking the sea is a symbol of chaos and evil (e.g., Isa 27:1; Ps 74:13). Thus the new creation is an improvement over Eden and the original creation.

• The reality of our eternal life with Christ orients us to the future, gives us hope, and motivates us toward godly living (1 John 3:2‒3; 1 Cor 15:58; 2 Pet 3:11‒14; Rom 8:18‒25).