What will heaven be like? We have seen already seen something of what we called “the geography of glory”—what heaven will look like (Rev. 21:1–21). In the succeeding verses the focus changes to the experience of glory—what it will be like to live in that new heaven and new earth as the saved, sanctified, and glorified people of God.

We must remember that this is a vision and not a video. Jonathan Edwards commented on this Scripture passage, “There is nothing upon earth that will suffice to represent to us the glory of heaven.” The glimpses of glory that God gave in the past—for example, to Moses on Mt. Sinai and to the disciples at Jesus’ transfiguration—all confirm this concept of heaven’s glory. The brightest visions point to glories even greater than their own brilliance. The visions of heaven and the holy city represent realities which will not only be seen and felt, but which will vastly transcend all the foretastes given us in Scripture. The “heavens” of newspaper cartoons are as boring as they are ridiculous, but God’s heaven will be a feast for the senses and the soul, exciting our wonder for all eternity. This Scripture passage reveals something of what it means to be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12). It unfolds six particular qualities of that experience.

Unhindered Worship (Rev. 21:22)

There is “no temple” in heaven. This must have been astounding to both Jewish and Gentile Christians, who historically associated public worship with buildings dedicated to that purpose. God had visibly manifested His presence as the Shekinah—the glory-cloud—in the tabernacle and the temple (Ex. 40:44-45; 1 Kings 8:11).

This might bring up the question, “Where will we go to church?” But the thought of having no dedicated location for worship seems to imply no worship at all and raises the specter of an absent God. “How will we worship him? Will we be able to ‘enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise’ as in the past?” (Ps. 100:4).

The answer is that ”the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple.” The Jerusalem temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., ending the offering of animal sacrifices forever. Even before that, these had been rendered obsolete by the sacrificial death of Jesus. His description as “the lamb” makes that very point. The meaning of the tabernacle/temple and its sacrificial offerings is Christ and the gospel of salvation through His shed blood (Luke 22:20; cf. Ex. 22:2-3). It is therefore impossible for there to be a temple in heaven and, furthermore, there should be no thought of rebuilding the temple here upon the earth. Christ is the final temple, the great high priest, and the once-for-all sufficient sacrifice for sin.

The point is that the triune God is the ever-present center of life in heaven. In a sense, “the worship never stops” (J. MacArthur, The Glory of Heaven, p. 110). There is pure worship, with praise in the assembly of the just (Heb. 12:23), but all of heavenly life will be worshipful with a perfection that has eluded our discipleship here. In glory, “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17) and experience the ultimate fulfillment of the often expressed hope of the psalmist, that he might “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of [his] life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” (Ps. 27:4; see 23:6). In heaven we will enjoy unhindered worship of God, in Christ.

Ever-Dawning Light (Rev. 21:23)

There is “no need of the sun” (or moon) for light in heaven. This too astounds us. It runs counter to all our experience, and to the assumptions of a scientific age with respect to energy. Yet, there will be an ever-dawning light, for “the glory of God illuminated it, and the lamb is its light.” So is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, “Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; for the lord of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion … gloriously” (Isa. 24:23). This is uncreated light manifesting the very glory of God’s being and presence.

This means that we will see God (Matt. 5:8), behold Jesus’ glory (John 17:24), and “shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise,” clearly implying visual recognition, even in the so-called “intermediate state” between death and resurrection. How much more must this be true of the vision of the resurrection body in the eternal, consummated new heaven and new earth?

Light and vision are also used figuratively, in Scripture, of spiritual insight and discernment. Paul says, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). “The eyes of the blind shall be opened” (Isa 35:5) foresees not only the conversion of lost people to Christ, but the perfect, glorified, eternal vision, physical and spiritual, of the people of God in heaven.

Unclouded Love (Rev. 21:24)

It must come as no surprise that “the nations of those who are saved shall walk in [heaven’s] light.” The Greek for “nations” is ethne, from which we have the English ethnic and ethnicity. What is this world’s record in regard to ethnic groups? Rivalry, discrimination, strife, oppression, war, even extermination! In heaven, however, they will still be “ethnic” but there will be shared love among them all. All one in Christ Jesus, they love one another, with the love with which Christ has loved them and given Himself for them (Gal. 2:28; John 13:34; 15:12; Gal. 2:20). There will be no wars in heaven. Heaven is a world of love.

The immediate reason for this is that “the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.” This is another way of saying that they acknowledge Christ as King of kings (Rev. 17:14). “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Rev. 11:15). The Lordship of Jesus Christ is the fruit of the cross and applies to everything we do now. To love Jesus is to live for Jesus, loving Him who first loved us.

Perfect Peace (Rev. 21:25-26)

An unclouded mutual love can only result in peaceful society. The fact that “the gates shall not be shut at all by day” tells us that there is no threat. There are no locks on heaven’s doors!

The reason given is that “there is no night there.” This is literally true, for God’s glory shines there and is never switched off. “That is too hard to believe,” we might react. But who goes to bed if he is neither tired nor ill? It is only our present frailty in a fallen world that makes sleep a necessary expenditure of one-third of our life. Without weariness, we would go on being active. Just as the God who watches over Israel (His people) never slumbers or sleeps, so likewise will the saints in heaven be eternally and tirelessly active.

The more fundamental truth arising from this is that where there is no sin, there will be no strife, but only marvelous, harmonious fellowship. There will be no night in our experience of heaven, or in our relationships with others, or in our own hearts and minds. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3). “The sin which we have as believers,” notes Maurice Roberts, “will be eradicated from our natures at every conceivable level” (The Thought of God, p. 207).

Comprehensive Godliness (Rev. 21:27)

There will be nothing in heaven that “defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie.” Maurice Roberts comments that “unpardoned sinners will never be admitted (Rev. 21:8);…merely formal Christians will knock on the door…[and] find it shut (Matt. 7:23; Luke 13:25). Those who imagined they would be safe…without the wedding garment of Christ’s righteousness will be found out and solemnly excluded (Matt. 23:11-13)” (The Thought of God, p. 207).

The reason for this exclusion has to do with “the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Whose names are written in this Book? Those who “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14). Those, in other words, who have believed in Jesus as their Savior, on the basis of His death as the atonement that pays the penalty of sin and who are made righteous in Him, with a righteousness not their own (Rom. 10:3; Phil. 3:9). We need Christ, we need forgiveness of our sins, and we need His righteousness. We need a holiness from God to be our own (Rom. 6:22; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:24; Heb. 12:10, 14). God “did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7). The Westminster Shorter Catechism question 37 asks, “What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?” The reply: “The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23).” This is why they “do immediately pass into glory; (2 Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Phil. 1:23; Luke 23:43).”

Unbounded Happiness (Rev. 22: 1-5)

The persistent caricature of heaven as a featureless place and a boring existence rests on a determination not to take seriously the only source of information on the subject, the Word of God. Scripture reveals heaven to be a place of unbounded happiness and exhilarating joy. It is the reality of which so much worldly happiness is the temporary and illusory substitute.

First, all true human needs are met in heaven (Rev. 22:1-2). The New Jerusalem has a river, streets, and trees. The rivers flow with “the water of life,” and the trees are of the “tree of life,” bearing fruit every month and carrying leaves “for the healing of the nations.” This is to say that, on a physical level, heaven affords every comfort and provision to delight both body and soul.

The symbolism goes much deeper. The “water of life” takes us to Christ washing away sins: “If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37; see 4:13-14). The “tree of life” takes us to the Garden of Eden and Adam’s sin, and then to Jesus on the cross—from creation and fall to new creation and redemption. Secondly, all causes of distress are eliminated in heaven (Rev. 22:3). There will be “no more curse,” because God and Christ rule in glory and God’s people can serve Him without any hindrances whatsoever.

Last, all of God’s people will glory in Christ in heaven (Rev. 22:4-5). Life is lived in the presence of the Lord in happy fellowship with Him.

Believers are reconciled to him— “they shall see his face.”

Believers belong to him— “His name shall be on their foreheads.”

Believers are taught by him— “the Lord God gives them light.”

Believers rule with him— “they shall reign forever and ever.”

The gospel is forever. Jesus saves forever. New life in Christ is forever. Heaven is forever. But hell also is forever for those who steadfastly reject the Savior. Hell will be the endless night of God-denying souls.

The visions of heaven call us to Christ. Christ calls us to Himself, to repent of sin and flee to Him in faith for forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. God promises to those who are His people through faith in Christ as their Savior, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2:9-10).

Gordon Keddie is the pastor of the State College, Pa., RPC. He is the author of several Bible commentaries and is a member of the RPCNA Board of Education & Publication.