Evidently, many people, including Christians, have only a vague understanding of what their eternal life will actually be like. Because the Bible indicates that only Christians can be assured of eternal salvation, this article will focus on what eternity will be like for those who are genuine Christians (i.e., people who have sincerely trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior).
[Note: For readers of this article who are not Christians, we encourage reading our articles under the category “Basic Issues Regarding Eternal Salvation,” especially the article entitled “What Must a Person Do to Be Assured of Eternal Salvation?,” which can be directly accessed by clicking on its title.]
In addition to relying on the Bible to determine what eternity will be like for Christians, this article considers a number of the perceptions about heaven that are expressed in a booklet entitled “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn, who has an honorary Doctorate of Divinity.
Although we will attempt to answer a number of questions as to what eternity will be like for Christians, there are other questions in this regard that we have not attempted to answer, primarily because of the lack of information to provide what we would deem to be credible answers.
Will Christians spend eternity in heaven?
Although Christians go immediately to heaven when they die (as discussed in our article entitled “Do Christians Go Immediately When they Die?”), they will not remain in heaven forever. Their eternal home will be what Christian Bible scholars refer to as the new Earth. Thus, heaven is only an intermediate place for Christians to sojourn before they go to live forever afterward in their permanent home on the new Earth.
Revelation 21:1-3 indicates that ultimately the dwelling place of God will be on the new Earth. According to Alcorn, “since heaven is, by definition, God’s dwelling place, the fact that He will come down to dwell on the new Earth will make it synonymous with heaven.”
Revelation 21:1-3 states,
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
[Note: When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible.]
As to when this transition of Christians from heaven to the new Earth will take place, Chapters 20 and 21 in the book of Revelation indicate that it will occur after God’s final judgment of everyone, which will follow the millennial (i.e., 1,000-year) reign of Jesus Christ on the current Earth.
Will both heaven and the new Earth be actual places?
In John 14:3, Jesus Christ tells the 12 disciples in His inner circle, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Alcorn states in reference to this scripture, “The word where refers to a location.” He then asks, “If heaven isn’t a place, in the full sense of the word, would Jesus have said it was?” In other words, it is reasonable to believe that heaven, as well as the new Earth, will be an actual place.
What will be the topographical features of the new Earth?
Revelation 21 and 22 describe several topographical features of the new Earth. Alcorn believes these features will include cities, houses and other types of buildings, as well as mountains, trees, and water. However, only one city – the new Jerusalem – is mentioned in the two cited chapters in the book of Revelation. Furthermore, although all cities on the current Earth have buildings, we are not aware of any mention in the Bible of buildings on the new Earth other than dwelling places for the people who will live there, which we discuss next.
Will the people who reside in heaven – and subsequently on the new Earth – have their own dwelling place?
In John 14:2, Jesus Christ tells His inner circle of 12 disciples, “ In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” [Note: A number of Bible translations use the term “dwelling places” or “rooms,” instead of “mansions.”]
This scripture indicates that each of the people who reside in heaven – and subsequently those who reside on the new Earth – will have their own dwelling place (evidently, an abode similar to an exquisite room or apartment) in the “house” of God the Father (i.e., not a separate house or mansion). In any case, Christians will have a specific place in which to dwell throughout eternity.
What will be the attributes of the people who reside on the new Earth?
According to Alcorn,
Christ’s physically resurrected body is the model for our resurrected bodies on the [new] Earth. After our resurrection, we will not be ghosts; we will be physical human beings.
Jesus had a physically resurrected body that allowed him to walk, talk, and eat (John 21:1-14; Luke 24:36-43). We’re told that our bodies will be like his (1 Corinthians 15:20, 48-49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
Alcorn’s statements suggest that the people who will reside on the new Earth will have many of the same attributes they had while they lived on the current Earth. However, there does not seem to be a valid reason to believe that these people will have physical bodies while they are still in heaven (i.e., before they reside on the new Earth). The Bible implies that the people in heaven will not have physical bodies after their physical death until their mortal remains are resurrected from the grave. This resurrection will not occur until the Rapture of the earthly bodies of all the people whom God deems righteous, both the dead and those who are still alive at that time. If the people who are in heaven have a physical body already, the resurrection of their physical body would not be necessary.
What will the people who reside in heaven – and subsequently on the new Earth – do throughout eternity?
Alcorn believes that the people who will reside on the new Earth (and, presumably, previously in heaven) will “find our greatest pleasure in God. We’ll worship and thank him. . . .” He goes on to assert,
We’ll reign with Christ over the New Earth, where we’ll exercise leadership and authority, making important decisions. This implies specific, delegated responsibilities for those under our leadership, as well as specific responsibilities given to us (Luke 19:17-19). We will set goals, devise plans, and share ideas.
Whether or not Alcorn’s beliefs in this regard are valid is questionable. The scripture passage that he references (i.e., Luke 19:17-19) is a parable without any indication of relevance to what people who reside in heaven or on the new Earth will do during eternity.
Also, based upon a number of scriptures that Alcorn does not specifically cite, he believes that the people who reside on the new Earth will engage in many of the same activities that people engage in on the current Earth, such as eating, drinking, learning, travelling, working, and worshipping. Although the Bible does not necessarily support Alcorn’s inclusion of some of these activities, it does imply that all of the activities in which those who dwell on the new Earth will engage will be pleasurable.
Will there be any death, sorrow, or pain on the new Earth?
Revelation 21:4 clearly answers this question, stating with regard to the new Earth, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
What will be the nature of the relationship between God and the people who reside in heaven and subsequently on the new Earth?
Revelation 22:3-4 declares,
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it [the new Jerusalem on the new Earth], and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
Alcorn believes this scripture indicates that the people who will be living on the new Earth will actually see the face of God the Father. This is significant because, although people saw the face of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, when He was on the earth, the Bible states that no human being has ever seen the face of God the Father (see 1 Timothy 6:15b-16). We believe that Revelation 22:3-4 implies that there will be an intimacy with God the Father that no person has been able to have while on the current Earth. In this regard, Alcorn says, “God [the Father] and humanity will live together in eternal happiness, forever deepening their relationships. . . .”
Will the people who reside in heaven – and subsequently on the new Earth – recognize people they knew on the current Earth, particularly family members and friends?
In addressing this question, Alcorn states, “Being with Christ will be the greatest joy of heaven. The next greatest joy will be reuniting with our loved ones who have died.” Alcorn goes on to state, “Scripture nowhere suggests a ‘memory wipe’ causing us not to recognize family and friends.”
Although Alcorn provides no scriptures to support his beliefs in this regard, we think it is reasonable to believe that he is correct, especially in light of the fact that the followers of Jesus Christ recognized Him after He had been resurrected, although not always when they first saw Him after His resurrection.
Will the people who reside in heaven – and subsequently on the new Earth – know everything there is to know?
First Corinthians 13:9-12 states,
For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect [or complete] has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
In reference to this passage of scripture, Alcorn offers the following perspective:
God sees clearly and comprehensively. In heaven [and, presumably, on the new Earth], we will see things with clarity. . . . But we will never see comprehensively. We will know much more than we do now, but we will never know everything. . . .
We are aware of no reason to disagree with Alcorn about this matter,. However, we believe that it may be necessary for those who reside in heaven – and subsequently on the new Earth – to learn many facts from God or angels, rather than automatically knowing these facts immediately after they enter eternity.
Are the people who reside in heaven aware of the tragic things that are happening on the current Earth?
Alcorn argues that “God knows exactly what’s happening on the earth, yet heaven is not diminished by that knowledge. Likewise the angels know what’s happening on the earth, yet they enjoy heaven.” Alcorn concludes that the people who reside in heaven will be aware of the tragic things that are happening on the current Earth, but they will not be unhappy as a result.
Note that Alcorn does not say that either God or the angels are not saddened by the tragic things that happen on the earth. However, the Bible indicates that God can feel sorrow as a result of the tragic things that are happening on the earth. Consider Genesis 6:6, which states, “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” With regard to the angels in heaven, there is no indication in the Bible as to whether or not they, like God, are grieved when tragic things happen on the earth. So, people in heaven might likewise be grieved if they became aware of tragic things that occur on the earth. Therefore, we question the validity of Alcorn’s belief that the people who reside in heaven will be aware of the tragic things that are happening on the current Earth, but they will not be unhappy as a result.
Instead, we believe that it is much more likely that the people who reside in heaven are not aware of the tragic things that are happening on the current Earth, because if they are aware, that probably would cause them to experience some degree of sorrow, and as we indicated previously in this article, the people on the new Earth – and, by inference, those in heaven – will not experience sorrow.
Will there be animals on the new Earth?
In a scripture passage that seems to pertain to the new Earth, Isaiah 11:6-8 says,
The wolf . . . shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
Their young ones shall lie down together. . . .
This passage indicates that a number of different types of animals, both those that are currently predators and those that are currently prey, will peacefully co-exist with people, as well as among themselves, on the new Earth.
Conclusions
Christians will initially spend eternity in heaven and subsequently on the new Earth, which will have many of the same topographical features as the current Earth. Both heaven and the new Earth will be actual places, and each of the people who reside there will have their own dwelling place. These people will have many of the same attributes they had while they lived on the current Earth and they will do many of the things that they and other people do on the current Earth, but without experiencing death, sorrow, or pain.
In addition, there will be an intimacy with God the Father that no person has been able to have while they are living on the current Earth. Furthermore, everyone in heaven and on the new Earth will recognize the other people there whom they knew on the current Earth – most notably, their family members and their friends.
Although the people who reside in heaven – and subsequently on the new Earth – will not know everything there is to know, it is likely that they will know considerably more than they did while they were on the current Earth. Nevertheless, while they are in heaven, these people probably will not be aware of the tragic things that are happening on the current Earth. Furthermore, the Bible indicates that there will be animals, as well as people, on the new Earth.