Death, heaven and hell
What is heaven actually like?
Short answer
Heaven is being with God. In the end He makes a new heaven and earth, without death, pain or tears, and raises our bodies.
Forget clouds and harps. When a Christian dies, they go to be with Jesus, which Paul says is far better than this life. But that isn't the final chapter.
In the end Jesus will return, the dead will be raised, and God will make a new heaven and a new earth, with real people in healed bodies. No more death, mourning, crying or pain. God Himself will live with His people.
The best thing about heaven is God. We will see His face. Every good thing you have loved on earth is a small taste of what is coming.
When life is hard, remember: our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
My verses
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.