I believe in … the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Most of us have some fixed ideas about Heaven Where did we get these ideas? Are they explicitly taught or are they constructions? Heaven

Many of us have been taught that our goal is to escape the earth “To go to heaven” The Bible as B.I.B.L.E. (cf. Ron Martoia) Heaven

“This world is not my home…” “But our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20) Being a citizen of heaven does not necessarily entail a move to another location. It is a matter of loyalty and allegiance. Heaven

“The ultimate future hope remains a surprise, partly because we don’t know when it will arrive and partly because at present we have only images and metaphors for it, leaving us to guess that the reality will be far greater, and more surprising still.” N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope, 29 Heaven

Three important biblical themes: The goodness of creation as a creation (Gen 1:31) Heaven

Three important biblical themes: The nature of evil and sin, which is rebellious idolatry and in which we worship parts of the creation rather than the creator (Romans 1:18ff.) Heaven

Three important biblical themes: The plan of redemption which does not include destroying what is there and starting over. Rather, it means liberating what has been enslaved. Heaven

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. 21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him– Col 1:19-22

Humanity –Reconciled ( apokatallassō ) through death in his [Jesus] body of flesh All things –Reconciled ( apokatallassō ) through him [Jesus] through the blood of his [Jesus] cross

If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 2 Cor 5:17 Then I saw a new heaven and new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…; for the former things have passed away… behold I make all things new. Rev 21:1-5

There is continuity between the ‘old person’ (who passes away) and the ‘new creation’ Perhaps we should understand the language of ‘new heaven and new earth’ in a similar way Heaven

In Revelation 21:1 John writes of seeing the ‘new heaven and the new earth’ John also sees the ‘New Jerusalem’ where God and the Lamb will dwell with the people of God (21:2-3, 22-23) Heaven

Many commentators equate the two The ‘new heaven and new earth’ = the ‘New Jerusalem’ (the city-temple) Heaven

Many commentators equate the two For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing. Isa 65:17-18 Heaven

Many commentators equate the two The OT temple was understood as a ‘microcosm’ of the cosmos (cf. Psalm 78:69; Josephus; Philo) The New Jerusalem as the city- temple represents the restored cosmos (cf. Greg Beale, Revelation, ) Heaven

Perhaps we should stop thinking of ‘the life everlasting’ in some ethereal realm and think of it more as an ‘earthly’ reality We are to inhabit the ‘new heaven and the new earth’ Heaven

What characteristics may we safely conclude to be part of ‘the life everlasting’? Physicality [1 Cor 15; 2 Cor 5] Heaven

What characteristics may we safely conclude to be part of ‘the life everlasting’? Fulfillment of created human nature [Rom 8:29;1 Cor 15:49; 1 John 3:2] Heaven

What characteristics may we safely conclude to be part of ‘the life everlasting’? Freedom from sin, failure, suffering and death [Rev 21:4;1 Cor 15:42-50] Heaven

What characteristics may we safely conclude to be part of ‘the life everlasting’? Immediate and intimate experience of God [1 Cor 13:11-12; Rev 21:3-4, 22-23] Heaven

Heaven involves the full and proper development and experience of our complete humanness; the full realization of our created design. Heaven

What seems to be strongly suggested? Heaven will involve the recreated, restored cosmos, including the earth [Rom 8:18-25; 2 Cor 5:18-19; Col 1:19-22; Rev 22:1-2, 5, 11] Heaven

“Immortal, Invisible” by Walter Chalmers Smith ©1997 Traditional Welsh Hymn Melody from John Roberts' Canaidau y Cyssegr, 1839 “Holy is the Lord” by Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs |sixsteps Music (Asm. by EMI CMP) “When you call my name” by Vinyard Songs ©2000 Vineyard Songs “Revelation Song” by Jenni Lee Riddle ©2004 Gateway Create Publishing (Adm. by Integrity’s Praise! Music) “Come to Me” by Jessie Rogers ©1997 Music Missions Publishing/Browns Music “It is Well with My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford ©1837 Public Domain “Awesome is the Lord Most High” by Chris Tomlin ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Adm. by EMI CMP) All Songs CCLI License # “Immortal, Invisible” by Walter Chalmers Smith ©1997 Traditional Welsh Hymn Melody from John Roberts' Canaidau y Cyssegr, 1839 “Holy is the Lord” by Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs |sixsteps Music (Asm. by EMI CMP) “When you call my name” by Vinyard Songs ©2000 Vineyard Songs “Revelation Song” by Jenni Lee Riddle ©2004 Gateway Create Publishing (Adm. by Integrity’s Praise! Music) “Come to Me” by Jessie Rogers ©1997 Music Missions Publishing/Browns Music “It is Well with My Soul” by Horatio G. Spafford ©1837 Public Domain “Awesome is the Lord Most High” by Chris Tomlin ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Adm. by EMI CMP) All Songs CCLI License #