What Does Heaven Look Like?
Whether you have lost a loved one, or whether you are pondering what it is like for a believer of God to enter such a Holy place, there is a comfort in knowing that the picture has already been painted to give you a glimpse. You may wonder what it is that a loved one is seeing as they enter the majestic beauty of heaven. You may wonder what you will see when you get there, if you have a heavenly hope of salvation with Christ. Many people can quickly try to envision a bright and shining place, and to each person, the picture of heaven may be different. Such a place should not be made the subject of “pearly gates” jokes. The bible leads us on a short journey to John’s vision of heaven that was revealed in Revelation.
If you’re wondering, “What does heaven look like?”, or, “Will I go to heaven?”, or perhaps you’ve heard of heaven in Revelation as being described as a glorious place and you never really read it before, then here is the picture of heaven. A place to marvel and dream of is the spectacular heavenly Jerusalem. Try to imagine it, if you will. Shut off the sounds of your life, and the chatter of your mind, and try to imagine it for just a moment.
“The wall is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there, are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness; they have communion, not only with God, but with one another. All these glories but faintly represent heaven.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)
Heaven in Revelation:
Rev 7:13-17 “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
I will not dare attempt to create a vision in it’s complete picture, for such a glory is known only to God, and the saints who reside in His presence. However, from a biblical standpoint, this may answer the question: What does heaven look like?
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Bible researchers tend to have varying opinions on whether this scripture is referring to a true Jasper stone, or an actual diamond, which would be the most precious of all clear gems, depicting the holy excellence of God. Nevertheless, the light itself will be clear as crystal.
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
(*The wall of heaven is 18 feet tall)
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
The Foundations of Heaven
Imagine these colors, vibrant and vivid, adorned for us by the Holy Savior. The foundation of heaven will be like no other foundation ever known to man.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
What Will Heaven Be Like?
Surely, a more exquisite place cannot be imagined. One can only look forward to such a place of exquisite beauty. Just imagine the gardens, the lake that runs through it, the magnificence of God, the animals, the homes which will be built and dwelt in. No worries, debt, sickness, sadness or negative feelings. All things will be made new. There will be eternal peace, and we shall worship Christ in His very sight. We will get to see Him, and all those who He has chosen from the foundation of the world. All those who stayed in faith and persevered through Christian suffering will not remember the things of this life, for nothing but love, beauty and Godly majesty will be laid before us.
This gives us just enough to think on regarding what is promised to us. The day shall come, as Jesus said, where we will receive this eternal gift. He has prepared the place. There is truly no need to create a picture in one’s mind as to the intracacies of heaven, as even in our wildest dreams, we cannot do such a Holy house of God justice. The final treasure shall be in heavenly Jerusalem on the day the Lord calls us to our new home. Ponder on this gift in your daily life, and you will be focused on the things of heaven. In our darkest hours, we still have a promise and a hope. As long as we stay in faith to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will undoubtedly be with Him in the glory of heaven.
