What the Bible says
Jesus spoke of heaven to calm troubled hearts: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:1–2). The heart of heaven is His presence: “where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). Paul says that for the believer to be “absent from the body” is “to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), and to depart and “be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).
Heaven is a gift of grace, not a reward we earn. To the dying thief who trusted Him, Jesus said, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Peter says God has begotten us again “unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4). The way there is a Person: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
Scripture tells us what will be gone. “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” (Revelation 21:4). “There shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3), and “there shall be no night there” (Revelation 22:5). Above all, “the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3), and His servants “shall see his face” (Revelation 22:4).
Much remains beyond our sight. “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” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Yet for those in Christ, death has lost its sting: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). That victory is offered to all who come to Him.
13 verses, King James Version
1 Corinthians 2:9
What God hath prepared for them that love him
9But 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.
John 14:6
I am the way, the truth, and the life
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Hebrews 11:16
A better country, that is, an heavenly
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
John 14:1–3
Jesus prepares a place
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
2 Corinthians 5:6–8
At home with the Lord
6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:21–23
Departing to be with Christ
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
1 Corinthians 15:54–57
Victory over death through Jesus
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 2:14–15
Freed from the fear of death
14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
1 Peter 1:3–4
An inheritance kept in heaven
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Luke 23:42–43
Today with Jesus in paradise
42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Revelation 21:1–4
No more death or tears
1And 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. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And 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. 4And 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.
Revelation 22:3–5
We will see His face
3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
2 Timothy 4:7–8
The crown laid up
7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.