Questions & Answers about heaven...

One of the Bible teachers that I listen to on a regular basis is James MacDonald. His teaching approach is a very down to earth and practical style. So recently I was listening to him teach about heaven. I took notes as I listened and so I'd like to share them with you here.I will also be adding a bit of my own commentary as I write.

Questions and Answers about Heaven


1) Will we know each other in heaven?
Short answer is - Yes
In Matthew 17 we find the story of the transfiguration. Jesus took Peter, James and John onto a mountain top and there He was transfigured before them. It says Jesus's face shone and his clothes became white as the light. It was here that Moses and Elias ( Elijah ) came to talk with Jesus. Pastor MacDonald pointed out that there was no need for introductions as this time. Moses and Elijah knew Peter, James and John and likewise the disciples knew Moses and Elijah though though they had never met before. This indicates that in heaven, not only will we know the people we have known on earth here in our life time but we will also know everyone from other generations and people whom we have never met before. There will be no need for name tags in heaven!
Matthew 17: 3-4 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

2) Will we be married in heaven?
Short answer is - No
In Matthew 22 is the story where the Sadducees came to Jesus with a trick question - If a woman has been married to seven husbands- whose wife would she be in the resurrection?
Jesus answered them very well. Read Matthew 22: 28-30 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
There will be no need for people to be married in heaven. A man will not need a helper and a woman will not be in need of a protector. There will be no procreation in heaven.
You will know your spouse in heaven though - you will be united in perfect friendship . The focus of heaven will be on the Lord - not on each other. Heaven will be a place of perfect relationships.

3) What about angels - what will they do?
Here on earth, the angels are messengers, they instruct people, they protect and comfort believers.
In heaven the angels will still be messengers - Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
And they will be worshippers as well - Revelation 5: 11-13  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

4) Will there be pets in heaven?
Short answer - No
Many people like to joke around and say there will be dogs in heaven but no cats - but we all know that is not actual truth. I remember Billy Graham saying that people would sometimes ask him if their pets would be with them in heaven - Billy's response was that heaven will have everything that you need to make you happy. But James MacDonald says no, no pets.
The Bible teaches there will be some animals in heaven but they are not the animals that we have in our lives today.  Ecclesiastes 3:19 - 21 NKJV says  For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.  Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?
Here we see that the spirit of man goes upward while the animals have no soul and thus do not live on after death.
Isaiah 11:6 talks of animals in heaven - The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
We also see animals mentioned in the book of Revelation.

5) What will we do in heaven?
Short answer - We will serve the Lord, worship the Lord, rule with the Lord, have fellowship with the Lord and with others.
This reminds me of my husband's grandmother. As she was nearing death and looking forward to her going home to be with the Lord, someone asked her this question - "What do you most look forward to about going to heaven?" Her answer was "visiting". She was longing for the fellowship that will be ours in heaven - fellowship with Jesus and with everyone else there!
While we are here on earth, we often feel like we do not fit in or we do not know where we fit in or exactly what to do - it can be hard to find your place here on earth. But in heaven that will not be the case. We will fit in, we will know our place and our job. We will do what we were created to do. It will be fruitful work.
Revelation 22: 3 And 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:

6) What will we get - will there be rewards?
Short answer - yes
 Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Here is a good description of heaven found in Revelation 22. I want to post the entire chapter.
 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
 And 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:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And 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.
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.