The Bible has a lot to say about heaven, the eternal dwelling place of God and the redeemed. Here are some key Bible verses about heaven:
Heaven is a real place
Heaven is not just a concept or state of mind, but a real physical place created by God. Jesus told his disciples he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven (John 14:2-3). The apostle Paul wrote that he was caught up into the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). Revelation describes heaven as a place with gates, walls, streets, and a river flowing from God’s throne (Revelation 21-22).
Revelation 21:1-4 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Heaven is perfect
Heaven is a place of perfection, without sin, pain, sorrow, or anything negative. God’s presence fills heaven and ensures it is flawless in every way. There is no more curse in heaven (Revelation 22:3). Believers will have new resurrection bodies and perfectly worship God and serve him face to face.
Revelation 21:27 – “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Heaven’s inhabitants
Heaven is inhabited by God, angels, and the redeemed who have trusted Christ for salvation. No sinful person can be admitted into heaven and God’s presence (Revelation 21:27). The angels worship and serve God ceaselessly in heaven (Revelation 5:11-12). The redeemed in heaven will rule and reign with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 22:5).
Matthew 22:30 – “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”
Hebrews 12:22-24 – “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
Heaven’s activities
Heaven is not a place of idleness or boredom. Those in heaven will worship God, serve and reign with Christ, and fellowship with one another. There is joyous feasting and celebration in heaven (Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Luke 14:15-24). Believers will see God face to face and rest from earthly labors (Revelation 14:13).
Revelation 7:15-17 – “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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.”
Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Heaven’s splendor
Heaven is a place of incredible beauty, splendor, and richness beyond anything we can imagine. The streets are made of gold, the gates are giant pearls, the buildings sparkle with precious stones (Revelation 21). God’s throne radiates awe-inspiring light, rainbows, lightning, and thunder (Revelation 4:2-5). Heaven shines with the glory of God (Revelation 21:23).
Revelation 21:18-21 – “The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
Heaven’s music
Music fills heaven as a key way the angels, creatures, and redeemed praise and worship God. Their songs extol God for his holiness, glory, power, goodness, and salvation. Musical instruments like harps accompany the singing (Revelation 5:8). The melodies bring joy and awe at God’s greatness.
Revelation 5:11-12 – “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Psalm 150:1-6 – “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Heaven lasts forever
One of the most incredible promises about heaven is that it will never end. Heaven is an eternal dwelling place that lasts forever. Once someone enters heaven, they will never experience death, pain, sin, or separation from God ever again (Revelation 21:4). It is an inheritance that never fades away (1 Peter 1:4).
John 14:2-3 – “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
2 Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
Jude 1:24-25 – “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
How to get to heaven
The way to heaven is by putting one’s faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). God welcomes repentant sinners who come to him through Christ (Luke 15:7). Receiving Christ and believing in his name gives the right to become children of God and eternal life in heaven (John 1:12-13).
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Romans 10:9 – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Titus 3:4-7 – “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
These are just a few of the many treasures the Bible contains about heaven. It is a certain hope that fills believers with joy and anticipation as they look forward to eternal life with Christ.