What Jesus Says About Heaven

With the advent of Jesus’ arrival heaven and earth are joined!

16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 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.(Col. 1)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.(Eph. 1)

Heavenly things are equated to invisible things! 

30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(Mk 13)

So, if everything of life, life now and in the future, comes through Jesus’ being.  Then what Heaven is, and what it is like, and who will be there, is in the Gospels where God, in Jesus’ skin, speaks.   

Yesterday, as I was studying all of this, I was getting flashed of these words from Jesus:  “The Kingdom of God is like…..”  So I looked up some verses!  

In Matthew 13 we are told, the Kingdom of God is like: a mustard seed, yeast, (vs. 31-33)  I like treasure hidden in a field!  A  merchant in search of fine pearls!  A net thrown into the sea! (vs. 44-50) Then Jesus gives the disciples a summary of his teaching (vs 51-53)

In The Gospel of Mark Jesus talks about the sowing of seeds and then says to his disciples:  

10 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12 in order that "they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.' " 13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?(Mark 4)

In John 18:33-36 We are told that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. 

33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

The one clue, that we are given, about what Heaven is NOT like,  comes in Luke’s Gospel chapter 13:

25 When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, "Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, "I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, "We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, "I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

And in 1 Cor. 4:19-21:

19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. 21 What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

The Kingdom of God is not like arrogant people who use their power against what God desires.  It is not noises or rude or unkind or selfish.  That is probably why Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

The Kingdom of God - Heaven and on earth — is like a precious treasure that spreads like yeast and grows like seed thrown on good soil where fine pearls our found.  And like nets are full to overflowing with a giant catch.  The kingdom of God is a place of blessing that we cannot ever, not ever, imagine with our limited minds.  It is a “secret” given to all who believe when the time is right.  It is the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Mysteries are not too often reveal until the time is right!