What Will Heaven Be Like?

  "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. At once I was in the Spirit and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were all dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightening, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal (Revelation 4:1-6)."

     Here in these words from Revelation, we get a glimpse of our Holy and magnificent God on His throne. I believe these words are just a taste of the awesome beauty of His majesty. Many people have misconceptions of heaven and what it will be like because they base their perceptions on movies, books they have read or television shows they have watched. While we don't know a lot about heaven, we do know certain things about heaven and this is based only on the word of God. 
     Heaven is a real, tangible place, one that Jesus Himself is preparing for His own. Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place I am going (John 14:2-4)."
     We as Christ followers will live in a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more sin, no more tears and no more pain, a place where God Himself will be. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I say the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and He will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!" Then He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true' (Revelation 21:1-5)."
     There will be work in the new heaven and the new earth. We read in Revelation 22:3 that "His servants shall serve Him." The Lord also tells us in Matthew 25:23, "You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." There is a correlation in what we do now and what we will one day be doing in heaven. 
     We will also recognize loved ones and friends in heaven. After Jesus was resurrected, His disciples knew who He was.The disciples also recognized  Moses and Elijah when they appeared with Jesus at the mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-31). Our bodies will be made into His image, one that is incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:53), so we will never age and we will have flesh and bones just as Jesus did . Jesus told His disciples  to touch Him and watch Him eat. "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have (Luke 24:37-39)." 
     We will receive rewards in heaven according to what we have done here on earth. "The man who plants and the man who water have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor (1 Corinthians 3:8)." "His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. if what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)." For those who are saved, but lived a selfish life, will still get into heaven, but will not receive any rewards. I do not want to be one of those who just barely get into heaven...and I want to have crowns to lay at the feet of Jesus!
     Heaven is going to be the most beautiful place we could ever imagine and more importantly, we will get to see our Savior face to face. "No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:3-5)."