HEAVEN: What do you think of when you imagine heaven?

[Raggedy Anne]

When I think of being permanently in a heavenly state, it would have to be a place where there is uninterrupted peace, rest, beauty, music and joy.   I never imagine the resurrection as being anything like living in this world where I will be cooking and cleaning and tired.   But this world gives us glimpses of heaven:
Maybe it is kind of like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ItNxpwChE&feature=related

[fullarmor2]

The last time I tried to envision it I had thoughts of flying through the heavens after the coming of the Lord in the air to "catch up"  the body of Christ,   and all around us in the distance were many different and beautiful heavenly cities or kingdoms ,   and we were making our way somewhere.   I don't know where because my dream ended before we arrived anywhere.  :happy3:     

[sparrow]

When I think of being permanently in a heavenly state, it would have to be a place where there is uninterrupted peace, rest, beauty, music and joy.   I never imagine the resurrection as being anything like living in this world where I will be cooking and cleaning and tired.   But this world gives us glimpses of heaven:
Maybe it is kind of like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ItNxpwChE&feature=related

Ok, I just literally laughed out loud. Not 5 minutes before I was just talking about how my mom used to love to bake things. I was just thinking how I would give anything to just be in the kitchen with my mom baking these little butter cookies that we used to decorate together. Little snowmen and bells, reindeer, etc. I thought to myself.."Oh God, I don't know what it's going to be like... I have no idea, but please just let me be able to experience that scene with my mom again... just baking cookies with my mom."  (Most of the time my mind forces my heart not to think those things, but...then I think "with God, anything is possible"...and my heart kind of sighs a peaceful, hopeful sigh and I tell my mind to shut up.) hope that made sense.

I have so many thoughts of heaven...but what it all seems to go back to is those who I have loved that have passed on. As much as I am so in love with His creation, as much time as I spend thinking about exploring all of His creation...all of that majesty almost pales into comparison with the longing in my heart to just be with my loved ones again, enjoying the simplest of pleasures together. The love in my heart.... for them, it's my biggest treasure in heaven. And it builds up a little more every single day. I would be happy in heaven living in a cardboard box if I'm surrounded by my loved ones. Yes, I know... we will ALL be family. OF course. But we all have "our people" too.
I miss a lot of my people. Treasures in heaven, to me have a lot to do with "my people".

Well... I love this topic. I think about it every day.
I would love to just explore.
So much on earth that I haven't explored.
To just have the time... to have no fear... and to just explore what HE has created.
ahhh heaven. To explore God for eternity.

[Raggedy Anne]

Sparrow -
That's funny!  Okay, baking cookies I can go with - (chocolate chip, please).  But I don't want to have to cook dinner when I'm tired and sick.   I would enjoy reliving the sharing of a beautiful dinner with my family, my grandma and mother and brothers and sisters.  But it's hard for me to imagine it all fitting together.  For instance, my dad died at age 36 - so he seems so far removed from being around the table in my mind.  And we had some unpleasant times around the table when I was a kid as well - times I don't want to re-live.

As for my family - some of us are closer to our "family" than others.   I do love my family, but I love my brothers/sisters in Christ most of all and don't always feel that close connection with my immediate family members - even some who are Christian because they don't understand me or my beliefs about God.  Perhaps I should be worried about that.   

Seriously though, I don't want to be mortal again when I pass away.   I want to just be free from all types of bondage and somehow be able to travel at the speed of light/thought.

Full-Armor, thanks for sharing your dream.  I love those spiritual dreams.   

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: My  :2c:.......heaven is not a place, but a state of being made possible by being baptized and walking in His Spirit.

If you put off this body (speaking to believers here) you would be surprised to find you were 'in heaven' all along, but the denseness of this body and the spirit of forgetfulness we were given when we were lowered into this bondage of corruption, prevent us from entering back into that realm WITH UNDERSTANDING/PERCEPTION of it, without going thru His Spirit first.

This is why He is the mediator between man and God the Father, and why none can go to the Father without first going thru the Spirit of the Son. Blessings.....

[Molly]

I think of

thy will be done on earth [as it is in heaven]


heaven on earth

[sparrow]

I think of

thy will be done on earth [as it is in heaven]


heaven on earth

:HeartThrob:

[Redlettervoice]

.

I have often said "I don't need to go anywhere NEW" "I just need
to get back to what I have "already" seen and STAY THERE!!!

My used to be pastor said God had "spoiled me" ........maybe so.
But no one, including him, ever wanted my cross! ha ha

I have "seen" many things supernatural.  God Himself "is" SUPERNATURAL.  Anne, you won't be "cooking" and you sure
won't be sick.

I have seen God show places that are ON THIS EARTH, with the
SPIRIT so on it that it was "changed" ......from "earthly" to "heavenly."
I saw my mother and daddy's homeland where I grew up like that
more than once.  I saw my mother standing in the kitchen window
and she was young, 23.  Later I learned she was that age when I
was born.  Supernatural things are hard to "explain." 

I really pray that God gives supernatural seeing to His people, it
should be the normal thing for Christians........

Do I believe there is a literal City.???  I know there is a Spiritual meaning to it, but I STILL HOPE SO. and the Bible says it has not
entered into the mind of man what God has prepared for them
that love and wait for HIM.  So I don't think He will disappoint any.

[aspiring son]

:cloud9: My  :2c:.......heaven is not a place, but a state of being made possible by being baptized and walking in His Spirit.

If you put off this body (speaking to believers here) you would be surprised to find you were 'in heaven' all along, but the denseness of this body and the spirit of forgetfulness we were given when we were lowered into this bondage of corruption, prevent us from entering back into that realm WITH UNDERSTANDING/PERCEPTION of it, without going thru His Spirit first.

This is why He is the mediator between man and God the Father, and why none can go to the Father without first going thru the Spirit of the Son. Blessings.....

:thumbsup:

[fire walker]

It is obvious that no one of mankind has a corner from which to stand in our finite mortal condition and see all the infinite truth of the Heavenly state, yes we each I believe receive glimpes or revelations of what we shall be in part and that along with what is hoped or longed for also plays a part. to me it is a place within us and also in the whole universe, it is not limited to a physical place because heaven is of the spiritual .

What we are shown in scripture itself about the ressurection isn't that many verse yet the vast differances between that body and this mortal body in this world can't be measured by us or perfectly described in words,

I see a restful refreshing state of exsistance
without the wars, without manual toil to maintain it, make a living or to live, and a place of belonging that we never really find or have while in this transitory world we now live in, everything here is temporary
the good things and the not so good things,
the fiery trials that we pass through shall be behind us. 
I think the only treasures we have now that shall not perish is our love for others, our fellow man and for the other living creatures, the birds, the fish, all of these, all material possesions, money, and things perish, we won't have any use for those things  when we do leave this world, and many of us live already without very much of these things to do with anyway.

Peace,
Fire Walker

[noname]

I see an uncorrupted Earth...in all its splendour
no violence, no strife, no need, life in abundance - natural and spiritual, the lion lying with the lamb, no death or decay, rest, peace, righteousness

[WhiteWings]

I think it will look like my childhood memories.
Somehow I only remember sunny days. (and I can tell you they are quite unusal here)
Forest. Creek. Birds. And a HiFi set   :laughing7:
Basicly I want to live outside the city  :mshock:

[martincisneros]

Heaven is when you're finally in the plan of God for your life, and are experiencing His blessings because you're where ground zero is at for His blessings.  For some people, that's going to mean moving to the last place on earth they want to move to and starting a Church.  For others that's going to be His choice in where you live, even if He places you in a quarter of a million square foot mansion that mortifies your religious pride everyday of your life 'cause you're being seen in that, and what are folks going to think of you, et. al.  Having never personally given a damn about square footage, finally having some space to walk in when it's raining outside and to be able to share that with the love of my life would just be gravy, but for others that think that God created abundance for pimps and child molesters, then it genuinely becomes the crucifixion of their flesh and a temporary burning Hell for Him to place them in, until they get over all of their prejudices that aren't any different to Him than the gender, religious, and racial prejudices that stink just as badly to Him. 

For them, it wouldn't be thinking lavishly, but Biblically per Psalm 112, et. al.  But with willing obedience comes those green pastures and still waters and peace like you've never known before.  For others, Heaven winds up being where all of their giftings are genuinely used to the highest glory of God's Name.  For others, per God's leading, it may be a career choice.  They've always been a college professor at the graduate level and the grench that stole Christmas and God's leaning on them about becoming an elementary school teacher and their first thought after they've spewed what they were drinking or eating all over the place at the mere thought of that is the fact that they won't be able to devote all of their personal study time to writing and research on the level that they're accustomed to.  For others, it means no more celebacy.  And that one's probably the biggest scare of them all, when you start feeling like you're getting a little set in your ways and wanna have the right to get up on the wrong side of the bed, and eventually start having thoughts of mischeviously being the spooky one in the middle of the block with all of those cats!!  And God's all like "no, I'm not letting you get weird and creepy, you're going to remember what it's like to love again, etc."  So, Heaven is transition thru the Hell into what He really intends for your life.

And there are a few places in the Old Testament that mention the "heaven of heavens," implying somewhere as much out there as right here and within the willing and obedient heart.  The multiverse is just sooooooooo huge -- don't discount certain things just 'cause of religious oversimplifications that limited it to what's out there somewhere 'cause then you're horribly oversimplifying.  Heaven is still that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, according to the book of Revelation, but we're in just as much error as the traditionalist if we make it an either/or or exclusively figurative or whatever.  For others, Heaven is anything/everything outside of the ages of ages in every direction.  For others, it's getting to know each and every single life that God's ever Created, here, anywhere else, and anywhen else :Sparkletooth:

[Seth]

I think it will look like my childhood memories.
Somehow I only remember sunny days. (and I can tell you they are quite unusal here)
Forest. Creek. Birds. And a HiFi set   :laughing7:
Basicly I want to live outside the city  :mshock:

Classic.  :laughing7: :icon_king:

[Raggedy Anne]

I see an uncorrupted Earth...in all its splendour
no violence, no strife, no need, life in abundance - natural and spiritual, the lion lying with the lamb, no death or decay, rest, peace, righteousness

Me too, amen!  The natural world shows forth the glory of God.  There will be a New Nature within us and without.  It's really beyond my ability to think of what will be, and the scriptures say that as well....  "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen"Ephesians3:20,21

[sparrow]

I see an uncorrupted Earth...in all its splendour
no violence, no strife, no need, life in abundance - natural and spiritual, the lion lying with the lamb, no death or decay, rest, peace, righteousness

Me too, amen!  The natural world shows forth the glory of God.  There will be a New Nature within us and without.  It's really beyond my ability to think of what will be, and the scriptures say that as well....  "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen"Ephesians3:20,21

Amen!!  :HeartThrob:  :icon_flower:  :HeartThrob:

[Tim B]

I'm not really sure exactly what I think of Heaven, you know, exactly what or where it'll be, but I saw a preview for this movie called The Lovely Bones, by Peter Jackson, and inside the trailer were scenes of what I HOPE Heaven will be like. (Keep in mind, I didn't like ALL the scenes of "Heaven," or what's supposed to be like Heaven, but it was very cool.) Plus, it looks like a sweet movie.  :laughing7:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/thelovelybones/medium.html

[Raggedy Anne]

Tim,

Sure looks like it will be an interesting film.  Thanks for sharing it, I'd not heard about it before.

:winkgrin:
Anne

[noname]

I see an uncorrupted Earth...in all its splendour
no violence, no strife, no need, life in abundance - natural and spiritual, the lion lying with the lamb, no death or decay, rest, peace, righteousness

Me too, amen!  The natural world shows forth the glory of God.  There will be a New Nature within us and without.  It's really beyond my ability to think of what will be, and the scriptures say that as well....  "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen"Ephesians3:20,21

Amen!!  :HeartThrob:  :icon_flower:  :HeartThrob:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Somehow I only remember sunny days.

those are my fav days as well...

here near my spec of the woods we have this place that would be heaven to me...
it has a sub-tropical climate, always sunny except for cooling thunderstorms...lily white beaches and a pleasant warm ocean with nice breaking waves in which you can play and bodysurf for hours without getting all cold or freckled up...
the beach is right next to a forest teaming with all kind of life...golden backed apes, troops of monkeys...all kinda weird looking insects...spiders resembling alien aircraft (to look at and not to touch)...and the ocean sports a few reefs where you can go and explore the wonderful sea-life...the only clothing you need are shorts and flip-flops...all day and night
the locals are friendly and sells all kinds of sweet tasty fruit...and the hot favourite is pineapples peeled in a way that you can hold it and eat it like an ice cream...
i'd like to live there when the spiders are not threatening anymore  :happygrin:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Geez, I like the sound of your neck of the woods better........sans the alien aircraft looking spiders, of course...........S-H-U-D-D-E-R.  :grin: Blessings....

[WhiteWings]

noname,

For all your spider problems.....  :laughing7:

(http://www.4tnz.com/files/spiderman_raid.jpg)

[Nathan]

No one can imagine with their minds what the completion of all things will truly be like because all we have to guage it by is this earth and this realm we're in now, which is still under the curse. 

But for me, I believe that we'll no longer be governed by the laws of the realm of knowledge of good and evil.  But we'll see the return of our original state before Adam went through the threshold of the natural realm.

The natural will no longer be the dominant realm.  Just as right now, the spirit is invisible to us and the natural is all we can see, I believe that will all be reversed and natural will become invisible and spirit will be all that we see.

The making of all things new is not saying God will make all new things.  I believe what's being made new is our perspectives of what already exists.

[Raggedy Anne]

No need for a can of RAID in heaven.  Some people are not now afraid of spiders.  They are God's creatures, after all.  It is kind of funny when you think about it how much we fear insects even though we are giants compared to them.  And I don't just mean the ones that are poisonous.  I usually get pretty wound up if a big roach shows up right in front of my eyes.  :-)  And I don't much like thinking about worms or flies.  But then I do like lots of bugs - bees, ladybugs, caterpillers, butterflies, dragon-flies.  Why don't they upset me?  Could that phenomenon be compared with the way the world discriminates against people who aren't particularly goodlooking.  I think "beautiful" people (physical beauty) are treated better by the world.  Why is that?

I digress.
Anne

[sparrow]

No need for a can of RAID in heaven.  Some people are not now afraid of spiders.  They are God's creatures, after all.  It is kind of funny when you think about it how much we fear insects even though we are giants compared to them.  And I don't just mean the ones that are poisonous.  I usually get pretty wound up if a big roach shows up right in front of my eyes.  :-)  And I don't much like thinking about worms or flies.  But then I do like lots of bugs - bees, ladybugs, caterpillers, butterflies, dragon-flies.  Why don't they upset me?  Could that phenomenon be compared with the way the world discriminates against people who aren't particularly goodlooking.  I think "beautiful" people (physical beauty) are treated better by the world.  Why is that?

I digress.
Anne

I totally agree with all you've said. Plus on the new earth, there will be no harm.
Perhaps creatures will have new jobs to do.
I love bugs now.
I used to be a big bug hater.
But God gave me love for them.

:icon_flower:

[sparrow]

p.s. there are though, still a few kinds I totally go :eek: over...
but I try not to do my first instinct and kill them, I try to just shuffle them out the door.


Nathan... when you talk of natural and spiritual...
what exactly are you referring to?
Why would anything need to be invisible?
I'm not following you on that one.

I think I get a little perplexed at all the talk of "no more natural", what does that mean to people?