It seems only natural to study the subject of heaven after a study of “hell.” As a matter of fact, I would like to know more about heaven than I would about hell. You see, I have no desire to go to hell, be it the Greek “Tartarus” (2 Pet. 2:4), or “Gehenna” (Matt. 10:28). Of course, it must be understood, no one who dies can miss going to “Hades,” all who die go to “Hades” at death! It is true, not all go to the same place in “Hades,” as it has both a place of comfort and torment. You remember, the “rich man” in Luke chapter sixteen was in “Hades,” but he was in “torment;” while Lazarus “the beggar” was also in “Hades,” but he was comforted. Jesus makes the point that a “great gulf” was fixed between them through which no one could pass. So, no one can miss “Hades” who dies; while on the other hand, the Bible reveals that “most” souls will never see heaven!
So, what do you really know about heaven? It might surprise you how little you know about heaven, the eternal home of the saved. One writer, which was found in a search on the internet, wrote: “Neither the artist’s brush, the sculptor’s chisel, nor the theologian’s exegesis can depict the things which God hath prepared for them who love Him.” (Liberty University Online Bible College, Leman Strauss). As true as the words are in the first part of this statement; the scripture quoted: First Corinthians chapter two, verse nine, do not refer to heaven, the eternal home of the saved. The full text reads: “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” The first words, “But as it is written,” means this is a quotation from the Old Testament. In fact, it comes from Isaiah 64:3; though the words are somewhat different, the Holy Spirit gave Paul the Greek meaning of the Hebrew words. They do not refer to heaven, the eternal home of the saved, but to the blessings of being in the church, the kingdom of Christ. The words, “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” are things which those who obey the gospel of Christ receive! The point being, this, “taking a text out of context,” is one of the problems we have when it comes to knowing about heaven, the eternal home of the saved!
So, what do you know about heaven, the eternal home of the saved? More than likely you know more about what does not refer to heaven, than what does refer to heaven. Even those beautiful words from the book of Revelation, which are so often read, may not refer to heaven at all. What words? These words: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4). It is most important to notice the words that appear just before verse four, as they are most revealing; read with great care: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Rev. 21:1-3). Did you notice that whatever John saw, it was “coming down from God out of heaven?” It was “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Please answer this question: What is the bride of Christ? Is it not the church? John is describing a victorious church as it relates to events, “for time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3 and 22:10). Therefore, John writes: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Whatever “the holy city,” “new Jerusalem,” and “the bride adorned for her husband,” may refer to, they were said to be “coming down from God out of heaven,” not going to heaven and not referring to heaven! The Book of Revelation is a book full of symbolic language; it is filled with figures of speech. It is a book that uses physical things to reveal spiritual things. One must be very careful when studying this book and this is so true with references which may appear to refer to heaven.
— Frank R. Williams