John Lennon’s song “Imagine” has been sung at the Olympics for many years now. It suggests that we forget about heaven and hell, and live selfishly just for the moment and disregard any possible consequences that might come to us or our children. (Consider Ben Shapiro’s critique of this song below [1]).
A less popular, more recent song entitled “I Can Only Imagine” was written by Bart Millard. It apparently was inspired by the loss of his father, who was abusive before being diagnosed with cancer. But then his life was transformed by faith. This song struck a chord with many people. It asks a lot of questions about what heaven will be like without giving answers.
Yes, it’s true, that while the Bible tells us quite a bit about the everlasting lake of fire (hell) as a place to avoid (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; Mark 9:42-48; Revelation 21:8), it doesn’t provide for us a lot of information about heaven (John 14:1-3). This may be due to our present inability to fully appreciate it because of our tendency, even as believers, to be more strongly motivated by our emotions (souls) rather than by our spirits that belong to the rational part of our minds (Ephesians 4:23). [2]
The heavenly New Jerusalem is laid out as a square at the base. The length, the width, and the height are the same – 1,500 miles. If it’s in the shape of a cube, it would have 3,375,000,000 cubic miles, and if it’s in the shape of a pyramid, it would have 1,125,000,000 cubic miles.
It would cover the United States from our northern border to our southern border, and would cover about half the country from the west coast eastward. It also has a wall around it that is 216 feet high and has 12 angels at the 12 gates with the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel (Jacob). There are 12 foundation stones with the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb on them (Revelation 21:9-27).
We believe that this city will be the source of diffused light during Christ’s 1,000 year reign on/over the earth since the sun will go out at the end of the 7 year tribulation (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 21:23). Such light will cause the desert to blossom as a rose and cause rapid growth (Isaiah 35:1; Amos 9:13). The light will come from Christ’s resurrected, glorified body which has a garment brighter than the midday sun (1 Timothy 6:15, 16; Acts 26:13). [3]
It seems that a pyramidal shape might be the more likely shape with Christ at the apex of it. As this satellite city circles the earth, everyone on earth will be able to see Christ once a day. [4] Sadly, after some time, there will be people on earth who will begin to take this view for granted.
But more important than the place where Christians will live forever, is the One with Whom we will spend it. He is the Second Person in the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who volunteered to come to our sin cursed world, and to die for our sins…and rise again bodily from the dead so He could deliver us from having to spend eternity in hell and take us to heaven (Hebrews 10:7-9; Philippians 2:1-11).
Is your faith resting in Him alone to save you? If not, why not believe on Him now, right where you are (Acts 16:31; John 3:16, 18, 36)? We’re here to help unsaved people so they can get saved and gain assurance of salvation (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5;13).
When Jesus decides to travel, whether it be to other galaxies in the new heavens, where unfallen spirit beings (cherubs, seraphs, and angels) apparently will dwell in the second heavens (Ephesians 6:12), or to the new earth to visit the Jewish believers and Gentile proselytes who will reside there (Romans 4:13), we (New Testament Christians – His Bride) will go with Him (John 14:1-3; Ephesians 5:25, 26; Revelation 1:1; 21:9 ff; 22:3). [5]
It will be like being on a never ending honeymoon with Jesus – the One Who graciously died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day. We will keep on learning new things about Him and the riches of His grace which will be shown to us in kindness in the ages of eternity yet to come (Ephesians 2:7). He said, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17).
In the eternal state righteousness will finally settle down and feel at home (2 Peter 3:10-13). All wars, being promoted by greedy people who defy God and His authority, will come to an end (James 4:1 ff; Revelation 20:11-15; Psalm 2).
In the eternal state we’re told that “[God] shall wipe away every tear from [the believers’] eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no long be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4 NAST).
This stands in sharp contrast to the lake of fire (hell) where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…where the fire will not be quenched and the worm [sinful nature of man] won’t die. [6] This place was prepared for the devil and his fallen angels/demons but all unbelievers will end up with them forever (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46; Mark 9:42-48).
There will be no annihilation of the wicked, or second chances to be saved after we die physically (Hebrews 9:27). Now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t boast about tomorrow; you may die today (Proverbs 27:1; James 4:14). “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul” (Mark 8:36)?
Are you among those who have some mistaken ideas of heaven? “Sir Walter Scott dreaded for himself ‘an eternity of music’ and hoped for ‘some duty to discharge.’ Lloyd George confessed: ‘When I was a boy, the thought of heaven used to frighten me more than the thought of hell. I pictured heaven as a place where time would be perpetual Sundays, with perpetual services from which there would be no escape.’”
If you’d like to learn more about heaven, we invite you to read “The Business Of Heaven”
– https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/heaven-can-wait/
We’re here to extend hope to unbelievers who are lost, and to provide valuable, life changing information to believers who want to grow spiritually and become more like Jesus (2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2, 3). Our hope (confident expectations) are based on promises from God for Christians. [7]
We can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com. To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”
For further cosideration –
[1] “Imagine” https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2016/09/19/imagine-no-heavenhell/
Ben Shapiro’s critique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGuYEDEkIP
[2] It is our understanding that man is a three part being with a spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We know that our bodies aren’t saved yet (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 John 3:2), and our souls (emotions) are yet to be saved at the time of the Rapture (1 Peter 1:9). The only part of a believer that currently is saved is his/her spirit that belongs to the mind (Ephesians 4:23; See John 3:3-8; Romans 8:16).
[3] When New Testament Christians see Christ face to face at the time of the Rapture in all His glory, we will also get our garments of light like His (1 John 3:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52). Old Testament believers will be raised from the dead and get their garments of light 75 days after the Tribulation (Daniel 12:1-3, 12).
The Order of Coming Events – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/the-order-of-coming-events/
The Comforting Hope Of An Intermediate Body –
http://bartimaeus.us/pub_dom/intermediate_body.html
[4] Some mathematicians have figured that the closest this satellite city could be to the earth during the millennial reign of Christ, and yet cover half of the earth with light at one time, would be about 17,500 miles above the earth.
[5] The devil and his angels/demons will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 8:28, 29; 25:41, 46).
[6] Throughout the ages of eternity man’s sinful nature, likened to a worm, will continue to crave the perversions of good things, but he will never have them gratified in hell (Mark 9:42-48). See these links:
[7] Promises – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/promises-for-christians-to-claim-2/
Scripture taken from the New King James Version
Copyright c. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission. All rights reserved.
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