Welcome to Our Journey into Heaven’s Promise

Friends, as we gather for our fourth home study group meeting, we stand at the threshold of something breathtaking: a vision of Heaven, not as a distant, ethereal realm, but as God’s vibrant, restored creation—a New Earth where we will live, laugh, and thrive. Our session today, titled “Living in Heaven,” invites us to let scripture ignite our imaginations and stir our hearts with longing for God’s eternal kingdom. Through the words of the prophets, the apostles, and John’s Revelation, we’ll explore God’s plan for an earthly kingdom that is tangible, joyful, and deeply connected to the world we know—yet perfected beyond our wildest dreams.

The Bible tells us that God created humanity in His image, placing us in a garden teeming with life, beauty, and purpose (Genesis 1:27-28). But sin fractured that perfection, bringing pain and separation (Genesis 3:14-24). Yet, God’s story doesn’t end in brokenness. The prophets, like Isaiah, paint vivid pictures of a restored world where sorrow vanishes, where people build homes and live in peace, where even the wolf and lamb lie down together (Isaiah 65:17-25). Jesus Himself assures us that the kingdom was prepared for us from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). And in Revelation, John unveils a city where God dwells with His people, where a river of life flows, and where night is no more (Revelation 22:1-5).

Why does God give us these glimpses? Because we cannot love what we cannot imagine. If Heaven feels like a vague, disembodied existence, it alienates us. Satan thrives when we picture Heaven as unappealing or unimaginable, stripping away our desire for God’s promise. But scripture counters this lie with a vision that engages our senses: a world where we walk on renewed ground, where we work with purpose, where we see God’s glory face-to-face. Isaiah 60 describes a radiant city where nations stream to worship. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, reveals that our resurrected bodies will be imperishable, suited for an eternal life empowered by the Spirit (Romans 8:9-11). This is no ghostly existence—it’s life as God intended, fully physical, fully joyful.

So, what will our lives on the New Earth look like? Imagine stepping outside to a world where every blade of grass sings of God’s glory. Picture communities filled with laughter, creativity, and worship, free from fear or strife. Envision work that fulfills, relationships that flourish, and a creation that reflects its Creator’s perfection. The prophets and John don’t describe a sterile, otherworldly plane—they show us Earth redeemed, humanity restored, and God’s presence making all things new.

As we study these passages today, let’s open our hearts to God’s vision. Look out your window. See the trees, the sky, the faces around you. Now imagine them as they were meant to be—unmarred, alive with God’s purpose. Let’s discuss how these scriptures shape our understanding of Heaven and fuel our hope for the day when we’ll live in God’s earthly kingdom, forever in His presence.

For Discussion: How do these vivid biblical images of the New Earth change the way you think about Heaven? What aspects of this restored creation stir your imagination most?

New Living Translation (NLT) is widely accepted, accessible, and easy to read, making it ideal for your study group. Below are the applicable scriptures, formatted clearly for group use or distribution. Each passage is presented in full to provide context and support discussion.

Scriptures for “Living in Heaven” Study Group

Isaiah 60
1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.
3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.
4 Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.
5 Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.
6 Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.
7 The flocks of Kedar will be given to you, and the rams of Nebaioth will be brought for my altars. I will accept their offerings, and I will make my Temple glorious.
8 And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel, like doves to their nests?
9 They are ships from the ends of the earth, from faraway Tarshish, bringing your people home. They bring their silver and gold with them to honor the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has filled you with splendor.
10 Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns, and their kings will serve you. For though I have destroyed you in my anger, I will now have mercy on you through my grace.
11 Your gates will stay open day and night to receive the wealth of many lands. The kings of the world will be led as captives in a victory procession.
12 For the nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed.
13 The glory of Lebanon will be yours—the forests of cypress, fir, and pine—to beautify my sanctuary. My Temple will be glorious!
14 The descendants of your tormentors will come and bow before you. Those who despised you will kiss your feet. They will call you the City of the Lord, and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations.
16 Powerful kings and mighty nations will satisfy your every need, as though you were a child nursing at the breast of a queen. You will know at last that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
17 I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron. I will make peace your leader and righteousness your ruler.
18 Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.
19 No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.
21 All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory.
22 The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Matthew 25:34
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.’”

Revelation 22:1-5
1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.
4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Genesis 3:14-24
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”
17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
20 Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.
21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. They must not be allowed to reach out and take fruit from the tree of life and eat it, or they will live forever.”
23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.
24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Isaiah 65:17-19
17 “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.
18 Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.”

Isaiah 65:21
21 “In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.”

Isaiah 65:25
25 “The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

1 Corinthians 15:35-58
35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?”
36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first.
37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.
38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant rises from each kind of seed.
39 Similarly, there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.
40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.
41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.
46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.
47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.
48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man.
49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Romans 8:9-11
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Question 1: Look at Isaiah 60. This passage does not contain the term New Earth, but we know it is related to that concept because John used some of the very same language to depict the New Earth in Revelation 21-22. Read Isaiah 60:1-6. Make a list of the nouns that are mentioned here, telling us who and what comprises the New Earth.

Analysis: Isaiah 60:1-6 paints a radiant picture of a restored Jerusalem, often understood as a prophetic vision of the New Earth, given its parallels with Revelation 21-22 (e.g., light, glory, nations gathering, and God’s presence). By identifying the nouns in these verses, we can discern the key elements—people, places, and things—that characterize this future reality.

List of Nouns in Isaiah 60:1-6 (NLT):

• People/Groups:
  • Jerusalem (v. 1): The city, representing God’s people or the central place of His presence.
  • Nations (v. 2, 3): Various peoples or ethnic groups drawn to the light.
  • Kings (v. 3): Rulers or leaders among the nations.
  • Sons (v. 4): Returning exiles or descendants, symbolizing restored people.
  • Daughters (v. 4): Female descendants, carried home, emphasizing inclusion.
  • Merchants (v. 5): Traders from around the world, bringing wealth.
  • People of Sheba (v. 6): A specific group from a distant land, offering tribute.
• Places:
  • Earth (v. 2): The world, contrasted with Jerusalem’s glory.
  • Lands (v. 5): Distant regions from which wealth and people come.
  • Midian (v. 6): A region associated with nomadic tribes.
  • Ephah (v. 6): A clan or region linked to Midian.
  • Sheba (v. 6): A wealthy, distant land known for trade.
• Things:
  • Light (v. 1, 3): Symbolizing God’s glory or presence.
  • Glory (v. 1, 2): The Lord’s radiance and majesty.
  • Darkness (v. 2): The spiritual or moral state of the nations.
  • Radiance (v. 3): The brilliance emanating from Jerusalem.
  • Heart (v. 5): The seat of emotion, thrilled with joy.
  • Joy (v. 5): The emotional response to restoration.
  • Wealth (v. 5): Resources or treasures brought by merchants.
  • Caravans (v. 6): Groups of camels used for trade.
  • Camels (v. 6): Animals carrying goods.
  • Gold (v. 6): Precious metal offered as tribute.
  • Frankincense (v. 6): A valuable resin used in worship.
  • Lord (v. 6): God, the recipient of worship.

Who and What Comprises the New Earth:

• Who: The New Earth is populated by a diverse array of people—God’s restored community (Jerusalem), returning exiles (sons and daughters), nations, kings, merchants, and specific groups like the people of Sheba. This suggests a global, inclusive gathering of humanity, united in worship and purpose.
• What: The New Earth features physical elements like light, glory, and radiance, symbolizing God’s presence, alongside material wealth (gold, frankincense) and trade goods transported by caravans and camels. Places like Midian, Ephah, and Sheba indicate a world connected by relationships and exchange, centered on a glorified Jerusalem.

Connection to Revelation 21-22: The nouns in Isaiah 60:1-6 echo Revelation’s depiction of the New Jerusalem, where nations and kings bring their glory (Revelation 21:24-26), light emanates from God (Revelation 22:5), and wealth (gold, precious materials) adorns the city (Revelation 21:18-21). These shared images affirm that Isaiah’s vision foreshadows the New Earth as a place of human community, divine presence, and abundant resources.

Question 2: Note that nations and kings are mentioned here. What clue does that offer about life in the eternal Heaven?

Analysis: The mention of “nations” and “kings” in Isaiah 60:3 (“All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance”) provides a significant clue about the nature of life in the eternal Heaven, particularly on the New Earth. This imagery is mirrored in Revelation 21:24, where “the nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.”

Clue About Life in the Eternal Heaven: The presence of nations and kings suggests that the New Earth will retain elements of human culture, diversity, and organized society, but transformed and unified under God’s glory. Specifically:

• Cultural and Ethnic Diversity: “Nations” implies that distinct people groups, with their unique identities, will persist in Heaven. This counters the notion of a homogenized or ethereal existence, pointing to a vibrant, multicultural community where differences are celebrated in worship of God.
• Leadership and Authority: “Kings” indicate that structures of leadership or governance may exist, but unlike earthly systems often marred by corruption, these leaders will humbly come to honor God’s light. Their presence suggests roles of responsibility and service, aligned with God’s perfect will.
• Unified Purpose: Both nations and kings are drawn to Jerusalem’s light, symbolizing God’s presence. This indicates that life in Heaven will be characterized by a shared focus on worshiping and glorifying God, with all human endeavors—cultural, social, or governmental—oriented toward Him.

Implication: Life in the eternal Heaven will not erase human identity or societal structures but will redeem and perfect them. The New Earth will be a place where diverse peoples and their leaders thrive in harmony, contributing their gifts and “glory” (Revelation 21:26) to a kingdom centered on God. This clue invites us to imagine Heaven as a dynamic, organized, and culturally rich world, far from a static or disembodied state.

Question 3: Read Isaiah 60:11, 17-22. What do these images about the structure and materials of the place called “Zion” tell us about what life in the Newr life on the New Earth might be like? What parts of the life we experience now are missing from the life described in these verses? What parts are the same as or similar to what we experience now?

Analysis: Isaiah 60:11, 17-22 describes Zion (a prophetic image of the New Jerusalem or New Earth) using vivid imagery of its structure, materials, and characteristics. These verses provide insight into the nature of life on the New Earth, highlighting both differences from and similarities to our current experience.

Text (Isaiah 60:11, 17-22, NLT):

• Verse 11: “Your gates will stay open day and night to receive the wealth of many lands. The kings of the world will be led as captives in a victory procession.”
• Verses 17-18: “I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron. I will make peace your leader and righteousness your ruler. Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.”
• Verses 19-20: “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.”
• Verses 21-22: “All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory. The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

What the Images Tell Us About Life on the New Earth: The structure and materials of Zion in these verses paint a picture of a transformed, perfected world:

• Abundance and Beauty: The exchange of lesser materials (bronze, iron, wood, stones) for superior ones (gold, silver, bronze, iron) suggests a place of unparalleled wealth, beauty, and quality. Life on the New Earth will be marked by abundance, where everything is elevated to its ideal form, reflecting God’s glory (v. 17).
• Openness and Accessibility: Gates that “stay open day and night” (v. 11) indicate a city that is safe, welcoming, and constantly active, receiving the “wealth of many lands.” This suggests a global community where resources and people flow freely, united in purpose.
• Peace and Righteousness: Peace as the “leader” and righteousness as the “ruler” (v. 17) point to a society governed by God’s perfect justice and harmony. The absence of violence, desolation, and war (v. 18) underscores a world free from conflict or destruction.
• Divine Presence and Light: God Himself is the “everlasting light” (v. 19-20), eliminating the need for sun or moon. This implies a life fully illuminated by God’s presence, with no darkness—physical, spiritual, or emotional.
• Joy and Righteousness: The end of mourning (v. 20) and the righteousness of all people (v. 21) suggest a life of unbroken joy, holiness, and communion with God. Praise will be universal (v. 18), reflecting a worshipful existence.
• Stability and Growth: The promise that people will “possess their land forever” (v. 21) and that small groups will grow into mighty nations (v. 22) indicates permanence, security, and flourishing communities.

Parts of Life Missing from the New Earth: Compared to our current experience, several negative aspects of life are absent:

• Violence and War: The text explicitly states that “violence will disappear” and “the desolation and destruction of war will end” (v. 18). Conflict, oppression, and suffering caused by human strife are gone.
• Mourning and Sorrow: “Your days of mourning will come to an end” (v. 20). Grief, loss, and emotional pain will no longer exist.
• Sin and Unrighteousness: “All your people will be righteous” (v. 21), implying the absence of sin, moral failure, or rebellion against God.
• Darkness and Uncertainty: The need for sun or moon is eliminated because God’s light is constant (v. 19-20). This suggests no spiritual darkness, fear, or uncertainty.
• Instability and Transience: Unlike our temporary lives, the New Earth offers permanent possession of the land (v. 21), with no displacement or loss.

Parts of Life the Same or Similar to Now: Despite the transformation, some elements of life on the New Earth are recognizable:

• Community and Society: The presence of nations, kings, and people (v. 11) suggests organized human communities, similar to our current social structures, but perfected and unified in worship.
• Wealth and Trade: The “wealth of many lands” (v. 11) and references to gold, silver, and other materials (v. 17) indicate economic activity or resource exchange, akin to trade and commerce now, but without greed or exploitation.
• Physical Place and Structure: Zion has gates, walls, and materials (v. 11, 17-18), implying a physical environment with cities and architecture, much like our world, but made glorious and imperishable.
• Human Activity: The act of receiving wealth and offering praise (v. 11, 18) suggests purposeful activities, similar to work or worship today, but fulfilling and free from toil.
• Growth and Flourishing: The growth of families and groups into mighty nations (v. 22) mirrors human reproduction and societal development now, but without hindrance or decay.

Summary: Life on the New Earth, as depicted in Isaiah 60:11, 17-22, will be a perfected version of our current existence—physical, communal, and active, with cities, wealth, and diverse peoples. However, it will lack the pain, sin, and instability that define our world, replacing them with peace, righteousness, and God’s unending presence. This vision invites us to imagine a life both familiar and gloriously transformed, where the best aspects of now are enhanced, and the worst are absent.

For Your Study Group: These answers can be used to guide discussion by:

• Sharing the list of nouns from Question 1 to help participants visualize the people and elements of the New Earth.
• Using Question 2 to discuss how diversity and leadership might look in Heaven, encouraging imagination about roles and relationships.
• For Question 3, prompting reflection on what participants most look forward to (e.g., no mourning) and what familiar aspects (e.g., community) excite them about the New Earth.