A Glimpse of Heaven
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
—Revelation 7:9-12
The Residents of Heaven
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
—John 3:5
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
—Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus Is Preparing a Place for His Own
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 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. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
—John 14:1-6
In Heaven, All Things Are New
1 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. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
—Revelation 21:1-2
We Will Have New Bodies Without Tears or Pain
[Christ] will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
—Philippians 3:21
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.
—Revelation 21:4
There Is Perfect Peace In Heaven
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
The lion shall eat straw like the ox,
And dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,”
Says the Lord.
—Isaiah 65:25
Heaven Contains Houses, Vineyards, and Fruitful Gardens
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
—Isaiah 65:21
The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.
—Isaiah 35:1
“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
—Matthew 26:29
Heaven Is a City and a Country
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
—Hebrews 11:13-16
We Will Have Physical Bodies in Heaven
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.
—1 Corinthians 13:12
20 … we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body …
—Philippians 3:20-21
42 … The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. … 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. … 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
—1 Corinthians 15:42b, 44a, 53
We Will Join the Heavenly Host in Praising God
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
—Luke 2:13-14
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
—Revelation 4:9-11
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
—Revelation 5:11-12
Heaven Will Be a Joyful Reunion
Like many of you, Carmen and I will see our godly parents again. What a Day that will be when we are reunited with family and friends! I (Reuben) will see my dad again—a godly evangelist, pastor, missionary, and father to six children. I will also be reunited with my mother who demonstrated her intense love for the Lord in innumerable ways to our family and to many others. We all have family and friends that we will meet again.
We hope to see you there for that glorious Reunion!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Reuben & Carmen Sequeira