Bible prophecy: Heaven
Do Christians go to heaven when they die? Paul said that when he died, he would go to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). The Lord is in heaven, and that is where Paul thought he would go.[i]
What is heaven? The biblical writers knew that God did not live on earth, nor in the underworld. They could not see God in the sky, but they often used the word heaven, or sky, to describe where God lives. Some people probably imagined a giant man on a throne somewhere in space, but others would think more in terms of spirit beings without bodies.
Despite the misunderstandings and the limits of human words, God inspired the writers of the Bible to describe the divine realm with words that are translated into English as “heaven.” Sometimes these words refer to God, sometimes to his glory, power, or holiness.
Solomon said that heaven cannot contain God, but he lives there (1 Kings 8:27-30). Although God is omnipresent, he is not present everywhere in the same way. He lives in believers, for example, in a way that he does not live in unbelievers. We “come into his presence” by responding to his presence.
Limits of language
Since God is spirit (John 4:24), words that suggest distance and space can be used only as figures of speech. Heaven is neither up nor down, neither east nor west. It cannot be located on a three-dimensional model of the universe. When people wonder whether Christians “go” to heaven when they die, they are using terminology that may not be suited for the spiritual world.
Our words cannot fully describe spiritual realities. The love of Christ is greater than we can know (Ephesians 3:19). God gives us a joy that we cannot put into words (1 Peter 1:8). His peace is beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:7). If we can’t describe love, joy and peace completely, how much more will we be limited when it comes to discussing the presence of God?
We see only a fraction of reality. Though we may hear that a spiritual world exists, we cannot see it or explore it. Except for Jesus, people who leave this world to explore the afterlife don’t come back. We must admit that we don’t completely know what we’re talking about when we discuss our eternal future with God (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Heavenly realities already here
With Christ, we enter heavenly places even before we die (Ephesians 2:6). “We have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). We enter his presence not through a physical move, but in the heart and soul. It is a change of the spirit, not the body — a change in attitude, not altitude.
Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We belong in the spiritual world, so we need to focus on heavenly realities. It is our future, and who we are even today. We share in a heavenly calling; we have tasted a heavenly gift (Hebrews 3:1; 6:4). We have already come to a heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22).
Like Abraham, we desire a heavenly homeland (Hebrews 11:16). We want to be with God, for him to satisfy our deepest desires. We have an eternity of joy in front of us. “In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Words cannot describe how good it is. It is everlasting joy, peace, and righteousness.
Our inheritance is being kept for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). There is an eternal “place” reserved for us in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1; John 14:2-3). We will be in the presence of God. No matter where that is, it is called heaven. “We groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2). We will be people “of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:48).
The rewards of heaven will be ours to enjoy forever. Our exact location is not very important. The important thing is that we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Even more important, it is only through the Lord that we can be with him at all. It is only by grace that we can enter the kingdom of heaven.
Thanks be to God, our future is secure: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).
Revelation 21 describes the glorious future, a new heaven and a new earth. “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” and he will live with us (verses 1-3). Earth will be God’s dwelling place – it will be the new heaven, and we will be in it.
Eternal rewards
Peter once asked Jesus, “We have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27). We might paraphrase it: “We’ve given up a lot to be here. Is it really worth it?” Some people today might ask a similar thing: “We have given up a lot — careers, families, jobs, status, pride — to follow Christ. Is it worth it?”
Yes, we will be rewarded. God inspired the biblical writers to talk about rewards, and when God promises a reward, we can be confident that it will be extremely rewarding — far above what we could even think to ask (Ephesians 3:20).
Let’s note how Jesus answered Peter’s question:
When the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:28-29; see also Mark 10:29-30)
Jesus is not promising to give 100 fields to everyone who gave up a farm to follow him. He is not promising to give 100 mothers. He is not talking in literal terms. He means that the things we receive will be 100 times as valuable as the things we give up in this life — as measured by real value, eternal value.
Even our trials have spiritual value to our benefit (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4), and this is worth more than gold (1 Peter 1:7). God sometimes gives us wealth and other temporary rewards (perhaps as a hint of better things to come), but the rewards that count most are those that last forever.
In several parables, Jesus indicated that his disciples would be rewarded. In one parable, the gift of salvation is symbolized by one day’s wage (Matthew 20:9-16). In another, the reward is a marriage banquet (Matthew 25:10). Or the reward can be described in general terms: being “in charge of many things” and being able to “enter into the joy of your master” (verses 21-23).
In the parable of sheep and goats, the faithful inherit a kingdom (verse 34). In a parable of servants, the faithful servant is put in charge of everything the master has (Luke 12:42-44). In the parables of pounds, the trustworthy servants were given authority over cities (Luke 19:16-19). Jesus promised the 12 disciples authority over the tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). Members of the church in Thyatira were promised authority over the nations (Revelation 2:26-27).
What will we value?
Jesus advised his disciples to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21). He implied that what we do in this life will be rewarded in the future — but what sort of reward is it? When streets are made of gold, what will be the value of gold? What good is a treasure when there is nothing to buy?
When we think of eternal rewards, we should think primarily about spiritual rewards, not physical things that will pass away. We do not have the words to describe details of a life we have not yet experienced. We need to use words based on the physical world, but we should remember that they represent something spiritual.
Our eternal reward will be like a treasure. In some respects, it will be like inheriting a kingdom. In some way, it will be like being given all our master’s possessions. It will be similar to having a vineyard, or a city. It will be like a wedding banquet when we share in our master’s happiness. It is like all these things, and much more.
Our spiritual blessings will be much better than the physical things we know in this life. Our eternity in God’s presence will be much more glorious and joyful than physical rewards. All physical things, no matter how beautiful, enjoyable or valuable, are only weak shadows of infinitely better heavenly rewards.
John described it as a time when “death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more” (Revelation 21:4). We will have reached the purpose for which God has made us. We will be in the presence of God, happier than we have ever been. This is what Christianity has tried to teach by talking about “going to heaven,” but many people have focused on physical things instead of what they might represent in a spiritual world.
Motivated by rewards?
“Whoever would approach God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Belief in rewards is part of the Christian faith. When life is difficult, it is helpful for us to remember that there is another life, and we will be rewarded. Paul gave up temporary pleasures to seek better, longer-lasting pleasures in Christ (Philippians 3:8-11).
Paul used the language of “gain” (Philippians 1:21; 1 Timothy 3:13; 6:6; cf. Hebrews 11:35). He knew that his future life would be much better than the persecutions of this life. Jesus was also aware of his own rewards – he was willing to endure the cross because he saw great joy on the other side (Hebrews 12:2).
God has prepared something wonderfully good for us, and we will find it extremely enjoyable. We eagerly look forward to these great blessings, and when we count the cost of following Jesus, it is also right for us to count the blessings and rewards promised for us.
“Whatever task you must do, work as if your soul depends on it, as for the Lord and not for humans, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward” (Colossians 3:23-24).
“Whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:8). “Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for but may receive a full reward” (2 John 8).
Exceedingly great rewards
The biblical writers didn’t give us many details. But one thing we know for certain — it will be the most wonderful experience we have ever had. It is better than the most beautiful scenery, better than the most delicious food, better than the most exciting sport, better than the best feelings and experiences we have ever had. It will be a tremendous reward!
God is generous. We have been given “precious and very great promises” — and the joy of sharing this wonderful news with others. We have much to be thankful for, much to praise him for. In the words of 1 Peter 1:3-9:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Endnote
[i] Some people say Paul is now enjoying the presence of God. Others say he is unconscious. Either way, he is in heaven with Christ. Some people make a huge issue about whether people are conscious between death and the return of Christ. It is an interesting question, but not terribly important – it makes no difference to the way we live right now, or the message that we teach. For a much longer discussion of whether dead people are conscious, see https://learn.gcs.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=4273.
Author: Joseph Tkach and Michael Morrison, updated 2025
