2026-07-31
Good morning, Dear Ones,
Last week the Holy Spirit directed me to write about the people who inhabit heaven for eternity. This week, He commands me to look at what the Lord has told us in the Scriptures about heaven itself. If you can imagine a saltshaker with openings of a certain size, and salt with particles of all different sizes, this metaphor will give us an idea of what will happen in the end times. The particles that are too large for the holes won’t pass through, and the others will pass through and be lost. The shaker itself is heaven, and the particles represent the separation of those who are faithfully obedient to God and those who aren’t. This is the separation of sheep and goats that Christ spoke of in MT 25: 32.
Of course, my metaphor is an oversimplification of the process described in the book of Revelation. Throughout the Scriptures, we are given hints about receiving rich rewards in heaven and that this place is more wonderful than we can imagine. As the Bible moves from the beginning in Genesis inching toward the end in Revelation, God’s believing students will see that His teaching is totally consistent and increases in detail. It is like a mirror that has been in a fire, one which is recovered and gradually polished to the point of being a true image of the person standing in front of it. But as we are told in 1 COR 13: 12, it is only a reflection. All believers want to meet our Lord in person and live a life of bliss with Him for eternity.
1 THESS 4: 16-18 describes the rapture, when those who have died in faith rise first followed by those still alive in faith are, “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. They will be with the Lord forever.” If we think about how wonderful the Garden of Eden was before the serpent (evil one) does his dirty work, that isn’t even as wonderful as what REV 21 and 22 tells us about heaven. John saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, where we are “to dwell with God.” REV 21: 3 repeats for the 19th time in the Bible, “They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” The mourning, pain, sadness, and death will disappear that we have experienced on earth. “The old order of things has passed away” [REV 21: 4].
God identifies Himself as the “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” Those who are victorious over evil will inherit the rewards of being His children. The serially evil will be “consigned to the Lake of Fire.” A comment that John relates is, “To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” We can take this to believe that no money is necessary in heaven and that the life of its inhabitants is eternal. The city shows with God’s glory, and it is brilliant, like a jasper, clear as crystal” [REV 21: 11]. It has a great wall with 12 gates, each with an angel at it and the name of one of the tribes of Israel inscribed on it. Three gates were in each of the four directions. The walls of the city had twelve foundations, and on them are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Jesus) [REV 21: 12-14].
The wall is made of jasper and the city of gold as pure as glass. Its foundations are embedded with precious stones. Each foundation is studded with its own precious stone—jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth, and amethyst. The gates are made, each of a single pearl. The streets are gold, “as pure as transparent glass” [REV 21: 18-21]. Missing are a temple, stars, moon, and the sun, “as the glory of God lights the city.” The gates never need be shut, as nothing impure will enter the city. There is no night. “Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” with inhabit it [REV 21: 22-27].
PRAYER: O Lord, what You tell us is no dream or fairy tale. Instead, it is the truth! It gives us a goal to work toward, a release from the illnesses, misery, greed, and evildoing that we experience on earth. For us, earth is a test of our self-discipline, relationship with You, and the faith we have. This test is necessary for You to separate the sheep from the goats. Throughout the Bible, You have given us true stories of heroes and heroines that were overcomers to encourage us to be the same. You have provided us with truths that help us to avoid the pitfalls set for us by Satan and his followers. We are amazed at the quantity and quality of the information You tell us about heaven throughout the Scriptures. PS 16: 11 describes the eternal joy to which we can look forward. “You make know to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Our words of thanks and praise seem hardly enough. We pledge You our love and loyalty forever, in Christ’s holy/mighty name. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As you can see, there is still much more for me to write about heaven. We can be grateful to the Holy Spirit for all we’ve already been told. Next week, I am directed by Him to continue describing heaven from what we have been told. The details and their implications for us are delightful. Our God is a Joy for our lives—a good reason to lovingly obey Him and allow Him to grow us in our faith. Let me end today with 2 COR 2: 14, “But thanks to God Who always leads us in triumph in Messiah, and manifests through us the knowledge of Him in every place.” Praise and thanks be to God!
Grace be with You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2026. All Rights Reserved.
<-- Back to Archives