Resources by Topic: Heaven

We know that on the New Earth, sin will be done away with and will be no more.

Question from a Reader: In our church it was stated that at present Hell is empty. Is this really true?

Revelation talks about the marriage of the Lamb, between Christ and His bride (Revelation 19:7). This bride is made up of His collective people, who are “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). Therefore, the New Jerusalem will be the dwelling place of all believers, not just those who are ethnically Jews and have trusted Jesus.

Here are some resources that can help you understand the issue and what the Bible actually says. 

In this audio clip, Randy answers a question about where Satan fell from when he sinned.

The New International Version rendering of John 14:2 is this: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Place is singular, but rooms is plural. This suggests Jesus has in mind for each of us an individual dwelling that’s a smaller part of the larger place. This place will be home to us in the most unique sense.

Over the years, people have told me they can’t get excited about the New Jerusalem because they don’t like cities. But this city will be different—it will have all the advantages we associate with earthly cities but none of the disadvantages. 

We can think of the Bride as one entity. But it’s like all the students of a school can be called together “the school.” Many students make up one school. Or even better, all believers in Jesus can be called together “the Church.” It’s one thing made up of many members.

With our finite understanding, it’s a logical conclusion that if the souls of the martyrs can be seen, in a certain location–under the altar—and they can cry out with a loud voice, then they have bodies to make those things possible. God may have a different way to make those things possible, but we have no particular reason to think so.

The concept of a bucket list, a list of things you want to do before you “kick the bucket,” is entirely understandable for people who believe that this is the only life they will ever live.

I enjoyed speaking in Plano at First Baptist Prestonwood, a mega-church that is Bible-based and Jesus-centered. I thank God for Jack Graham and the other pastors and staff. And this was my first time at Church at the Cross in Grapevine, with my friend JR Vassar. I love that church, another body of believers bringing Jesus to their community. 

Animals aren’t humans, but they have personalities and display love and affection, and God creates a great bond between us and them. I believe this love of animals is God-given, part of the way He wired us as stewards of His creation.

Sadly, even among Christians, it’s a prevalent myth that Heaven will be boring. Sometimes we can’t envision anything beyond strumming a harp and polishing streets of gold. We’ve succumbed to Satan’s strategies “to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place” (Revelation 13:6).

Our own personal history and identity will endure from one Earth to the next. “‘As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,’ declares the Lord, ‘so will your name and descendants endure’ ” (Isaiah 66:22).