Dr. Hugh Ross, Astrophysicist, wrote, "Astronomy captured my curiosity when I was seven years old and it has never let go. I grew up thinking that our universe is the best example of Glory that anyone could ever investigate. And the more I learned about the cosmos, the more impressed I became by its immensity, perfection of beauty and intricately balanced physical laws.

So I was shocked when I first read the closing chapters of the Bible. There we learn that our universe and its physical features cannot adequately contain the reward that God intends for His people. He has something even more magnificent. As magnificent as the Garden of Eden must have been, God will take us to something that is far better. The physical realities of this planet -- darkness and pain, for example -- will have no part in His future creation.

We're talking about glory! No evil, and on top of that, no darkness, no weariness, no worry, no fear. No shame, no confusion, no disappointment, no brokenness. Not even the possibility of these things creeping in." "> (Click here to read Dr. Ross's Website "Reasons To Believe.")

SCRIPTURES ABOUT HEAVEN:

I.
HEAVEN IS GOD'S DWELLING PLACE -- Deut. 26:15; Zech. 2:13; 1 Kin. 8:30, 39,43,49; 1 Chr. 16:31; 1 Chr. 21:26; 2 Chr. 2:6; 2 Chr. 6:18,21,27,30,33,35,39; 2 Chr. 7:14; 2 Chr. 30:27; Job 22:12,14; Neh. 9:27; Psa. 2:4; Psa. 11:4; Psa. 16:11; Psa. 20:6; Psa. 33:13; Psa. 102:19; Psa. 103:19; Psa. 135:6; Psa. 113:5; Psa. 123:1; Eccl. 5:2; Isa. 57:15; Isa. 63:15; Isa. 66:1; Jer. 23:24; Lam. 3:41,50; Dan. 5:23; Dan. 4:35; Matt. 5:34,45; Matt. 6:9; Matt. 18:10,14; Matt. 10:32,33; Matt. 11:25; Matt. 12:50 Matt. 16:17 Mark 11:25,26; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:49; Rom. 1:18; Heb. 8:1; Rev. 8:1; Rev. 12:7-9; Rev. 21:22-27; Rev. 22:1-5.

II.
ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVE JESUS AS SAVIOR WILL BE IN HEAVEN -- Matt. 5:20; Matt. 25:34; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 22:15;

III.
WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE?
A. Continual praise and worship -- Neh. 9:6; Job 38:7; Psa. 103:20,21; Psa. 148:2,4; Isa. 6:3; Ezek. 3:12; Luke 2:13,14; Luke 15:10; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 4:8-11; Rev. 5:9-14; Rev. 7:9-12; Rev. 11:16,17; Rev. 14:2,3; Rev. 15:3,4; Rev. 19:1-7; Rev. 22:3.

B. Beautiful -- Rev. 21:2; Rev. 21:11, 18, 19, 21.

C. A place in God's presence, where we shall see Jesus!
Psa. 16:11; Psa. 17:15; Isa. 33:17; Isa. 49:9,10; Matt. 5:8; Luke 15:7,10; 1 Thess. 4:17; Heb. 12:22-23.

D. Heaven will be eternal -- Psa. 23:6; Matt. 25:46; John 10:28; 1 Pet. 1:4; 2 Pet. 1:11; Rev 22:5.

E. All races and every nation -- Rev. 5:9; Rev. 7:9.

F. No marriage -- Matt. 22:30- Luke 20:35.

G. Where the redeemed are -- "a great multitude which no one could number" (Rev. 7:9) - as well as angels (Matt. 18:10; Luke 12:8; Luke 15:7, 10) - "thousands upon thousands" of them (Heb. 12:22).

IV.
IN HEAVEN, THERE WILL BE NO . . .
A. No sickness or pain -- Rev. 21:4.
B. No sorrow or crying -- Rev 7:17. Rev. 21:4.
C. No violence but only perfect peace -- Job 3:17. 2Thess.1:7.
D. No more death -- Luke 20:36, Rev. 21:4.
E. No more hunger or thirst -- Rev 7:16-17

V.
DESCRIPTIONS OF HEAVEN:
A. The Father's House -- John 14:2; Psa. 23:6; 2 Cor. 5:1; Rev. 21:3.
B. A heavenly Country -- Heb. 11:10; Heb. 11:16; Heb. 13:14; Heb. 12:22.
C. A Rest -- 2 Thess. 1:7; Heb. 4:9; Rev. 14:13.
D. A grainery -- Matt. 3:12; Matt. 13:30.
E. The Kingdom of God -- Matt. 13:43; Luke 12:32; Luke 22:29,30; Eph. 5:5; 1 Thess. 2:12; Heb. 12:28.
F. Paradise, the Perfect Place -- Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:2, 4; Rev. 2:7.
G. The Mountain of the Lord -- Psa. 24:3,7; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1-3.
H. A great Feast -- Matt. 8:11; Luke 22:30.

VI.
HEAVEN IS "UP" IN THE SKY -- 2 Kin. 2:11; Acts 7:55,56.

VII.
THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN IS OUR JOY AND HOPE! -- Luke 10:20.

HEAVEN IS HOME!
WHERE JESUS IS, 'TIS HEAVEN THERE!

In childhood's days our thoughts of Heaven
Are pearly gates and streets of gold,
And all so very far away;
A place whose portals may unfold
To us, some far-off distant day.

But in the gathering of the years,
When life is in the fading leaf,
With eyes perchance bedimmed by tears,
And hearts oft overwhelmed with grief,
We look beyond the pearly gate,
Beyond the clouds of grief's dark night,
And see a place where loved ones wait,
Where all is blessedness and light.

And over all we see the face
Of Him who'll bring us to our own
Not to a far-off distant place,
For Heaven is, after all, just Home!
(Sue H. McLane)

Think of stepping on shore
And finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand
And finding it God's Hand!
Of breathing a new air
And finding it celestial air!
Of feeling invigorated
And finding it immortality!
Of passing from storm and tempest
To an unbroken calm;
Of waking up and finding
Yourself HOME!
(Robert E. Selle)

Since Christ my soul from sin set free,
This world has been a Heav’n to me;
And ’mid earth’s sorrows and its woe,
’Tis Heav’n my Jesus here to know!

Once Heaven seemed a far off place,
Till Jesus showed His smiling face!
Now it’s begun within my soul,
’Twill last while endless ages roll!

What matters where on earth we dwell?
On mountain top, or in the dell,
In cottage, or a mansion fair?
WHERE JESUS IS, 'TIS HEAVEN THERE!

O hallelujah, yes, ’tis Heav’n,
’Tis Heav’n to know my sins forgiv’n!
On land or sea, what matters where?
WHERE JESUS IS, 'TIS HEAVEN THERE!
WHERE JESUS IS, 'TIS HEAVEN THERE!
(Charles J. But­ler)

(Check out Peering Into Heaven here,
and What Is Hell Like? here,
and Choose Jesus--Choose Life! here.
Write to us here if you have any questions.)