IS HEAVEN AN ACTUAL PLACE ON EARTH?
There will be “a new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1 NIV).
When Jesus appears and returns to the earth, the earth will be transformed and glorified into “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1 NIV). Specifically, the apostle Paul explained that the earth will be transformed and glorified just like the bodies of Christians will be transformed and glorified. “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:19-22 NIV). The apostle John described the new heaven and new earth, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” Revelation 21:1-4 NIV). If you are a Christian, you can yearn for and look forward to living with God in the new heaven and new earth that God will make for you (Isaiah 65:17,66:22; Romans 8:19-23; Hebrews 13:14; 2 Peter 3:13).
Although Jerusalem will be the capital city of the new heaven and new earth, some Christians contend that it most likely is not a place somewhere up there or a place made of jewels like jasper (Revelation 21:11, 18-19), with pearly gates and a street of pure gold (Revelation 21:15, 18, 21). They contend that heaven’s descriptions in the book of Revelation are not intended to communicate what heaven looks like any more than hair “white like wool, as white as snow” is intended to tell us what Jesus looks like (Revelation 1:14). The dimensions of the new city of Jerusalem from heaven as a cube with each side measuring “12,000 Stadia” which is about 1,400 to 1,500 miles (Revelation 21:16) may not be a literal description of the physical dimensions of heaven. Instead, these descriptions most likely are intended to communicate that heaven is like a majestic and glorious city. Heaven is a place where God and Christians are. Hank Hanegraaff, After Life: What You Need to Know About Heaven, the Hereafter & Near-Death Experiences (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013), 19-22, 27; Kenneth D. Boa and Robert Bowman Jr., Sense and Nonsense about Heaven and Hell (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), chapter 17.
However, other Christians point out that Revelation may describe actual dimensions and physical attributes of the new city of Jerusalem from heaven. The size of the city will be 396,000 stories (at 20 feet per story), each have an area of about one half the size of the United States. That provides plenty of room for all of God’s people in heaven since the beginning of time. In addition, Revelation chapters 21 and 22 specifically mention earthly things including: atmosphere, mountains, water, trees, people, houses, cities, buildings, and streets. For example, the apostle John described the new heaven and new earth that an angel showed him, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever” (22:1-5 NIV). The angel appeared to describe many physical aspects of the new heaven and new earth. The author of Hebrews describes heaven as a city (Hebrews 11:10,13:14) and a nation (Hebrews 11:16).
Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Carol Stream, IL; Tyndale House: 2004), 77-96, 119-126, 145-161; Randy Alcorn, Heaven: Biblical Answers to Common Questions booklet (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2004), 17; Erwin Lutzer, One Minute After You Die: A Preview of Your Final Destination (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1997), 83-86; Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994, Appendix 6 and glossary copyright 2000), 1158-1165.
In summary, Christians agree that the new heaven and new earth is an actual renewed and glorified place, but Christians debate over which of the descriptions of the new heaven and new earth are literal verses symbolic or figurative.