By: Professor Peter Miller
Part 2 – What will see and experience in the new Heaven and new Earth
The new city is ‘twelve thousand furlongs’, in length, breadth and the height of it are equal (Revelation 21:16). This is over two and half thousand kilometres square and about the size of the existing moon (diameter 3475kms).
The city walls are made of jasper, and ‘The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst’ (Revelation 21:19-20).
The walls of the city have twelve foundation stones and on them are the names of the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14).
There are 12 gates made each of one single pearl (Revelation 21:21). The gates are never shut.
God’s glory lights the city and therefore there is no other light, no sun and no moon required (Revelation 21:23) for a light in the city.
The new city has God’s throne with a ‘rainbow around about the throne in sight like unto an emerald’ (Revelation 4:3) and God sits there surrounded by His angels (1 Kings 22:19).
Jesus sits on a throne to the right of God (the universe’s highest seat of honour) (Colossians 3:1-2).
There are an addition 24 seats surrounding the throne of God for the 24 elders (Revelation 4:4). This is the Council of the Universe (Psalm 82:1).
There are multitudes of angels (Revelation 5:11). They number in the hundreds of millions or perhaps more (Hebrews 12:22) of various types and categories e.g., Archangels (Daniel 10:13, Jude 1:9), cherubim (Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 10:1–20), seraphim (Isaiah 6:2, 6) and watchers (Daniel 4:17). They also appear to differ in rank and dignity, some being described as archangels, princes, or rulers (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1; Daniel 10:20–21, 12:1; Ephesians 6:12).
There are other heavenly and intelligent beings with faces resembling bulls, lions eagles and humans (Revelation 4:6-7).
While all believers receive salvation (access to Heaven) equally and God loves us equally and not based on any works done here on earth (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6), not everyone in Heaven will be treated equally. We will receive different rewards based on works in our earthly lives, but each will have important roles in God’s Kingdom plans. Jesus said ‘I will bring my rewards with me to give to each one according to what he has done (Revelation 22:12).
At the Judgement Seat in Heaven, the ‘quality of each person’s work will be seen when the day of Christ exposes it’ (1 Corinthians 3:13). ‘If what has been built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it (the reward); but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire’ (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). During this event, all personal sins will be burnt and not remembered as we are saved by the blood of Jesus. End times are the opportunity to bear the most spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control (you will be known by your fruit – Matthew 7:20, Galatians 5:22-23) and be rewarded in Heaven accordingly.
We will drink and eat in Heaven even with our heavenly bodies. The Tree of Life will bear ‘fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations’ (Revelation 22:2). Jesus said, ‘I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom’ (Matthew 26:29). We will also drink from the ‘Spring of the Water of Life’ (Revelation 21:6). There will be extensive gardens and vineyards to bear food (Isaiah 65:21-22).
We will have real physical glorified bodies as Jesus did when he was resurrected and we will be wearing clothes (Matthew 17:1-2, Job 19:26, Luke 24:39, Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 22:14, 2 Corinthians 5:3).
There is one passage that directly says there will be a new language in Heaven and there are three passages that imply that there will be a new one language used in Heaven. Zephaniah 3:9 ‘For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord’. Isaiah 62:2 indicates that Israel will ‘be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give’, while Revelation 3:12 indicates that Jesus himself will have a new name. Finally, Revelation 2:17 says ‘To the one who conquers . . . I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Each of these passages indicates a ‘new’ naming system, and a very special one at that.
We will recognise loved ones as Jesus’s glorified body was recognised by his friends (I John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:47, Philippians 3:21, John 20:16) but there is no marriage (Matthew 22:30, Luke 20:34-36, Mark 12:22).
In the city, there is no pain, no death and no grief (Revelation 21:4) and we will be full of joy and be happy (Isaiah 65:18).
There are many mansions in the city: ‘if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2).
We will have roles and responsibilities to undertake to serve God that will be a joy to us (Revelation 14:13, Revelation 22:3).
The Bible speaks of believers receiving crowns for different things. The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10. At the judgment seat of Christ, the crowns will be awarded, and this will take place in Heaven soon after the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
The roads of the city are made of pure gold and are transparent as glass (Revelation 21:21).
There is a river of the water of life, ‘bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month’ (Revelation 22:1-5).
No one enters the city unless their names appear in the book of Life (Revelation 21:27).
The new earth has no oceans or seas (Revelation 21:1).
The new earth contains animals of various kinds. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6). One day perfect peace will reign, and everything that has breath, including animals, will praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6).
Part 3 – Who may enter and live in this new city of Heaven and who lives on the Earth outside the city? follows as the next part in the series.
Related articles:
Heaven – A Travel Brochure Part 1 – Vision Christian Media
Heaven – A Travel Brochure Part 3 – Vision Christian Media
Heaven – A Travel Brochure Part 4 – Vision Christian Media
Heaven A Travel Brochure – Part 5 – Vision Christian Media
About the Author: Peter has more than thirty years’ experience working in senior management roles in the public sector, the mining industry and in higher education. He is an author of seventeen books. He retired in 2011 as an Associate Professor, Southern Cross University, Australia. Over a career with SCU, he held the positions of Associate Dean and Dean, Director Graduate Studies and Research, Director Doctor of Business Administration program and Director, International Centre for Professional Doctorates.
