Heaven What is it like?

Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Paul,2Cor. 12:4 was
caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. Phil. 1:23 I am torn
between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; h

Resurrection is our final state, but what is heaven like now? What does the future hold?

John in Rev 4 saw a door standing open in heaven, and what did he see, but a throne.

Vision of God as enthroned

Rev. 1:4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was,
and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,

2Chr. 18:18 Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with
all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.

Ezek. 1:26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne
was a figure like that of a man. Ezek. 10:1 I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the expanse
that was over the heads of the cherubim.

Dan. 7:9 "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as
snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Eternal throne of justice and power

Ps. 9:4 For you have upheld my right and my cause; you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

Ps. 9:7 The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgement.

Ps. 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.

Ps. 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.

Ps. 93:2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.

Ps. 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Lam. 5:19 You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.

His throne in heaven is the true temple

Matt. 5:34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;

Ps. 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes
examine them.

Ps. 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Ps. 123:1 I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.

Isa. 63:15 Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your
might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.

Isa. 66:1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will
build for me? Where will my resting place be?

Throne on earth

Jerusalem. 3:17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to
honour the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

Ezek. 43:7 He said: "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I
will live among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name --neither they nor their
kings --by their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings at their high places.

King Jesus to be enthroned

Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his
father David,

Future throne

Matt. 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly
glory.

Hebr. 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the
sceptre of your kingdom.

Hebr. 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Hebr. 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God now reigns in heaven

Rev. 4:2-6 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the
one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were
dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals
of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne
there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures,
and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

Rev. 4:9-10 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives
for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for
ever and ever.

The lamb is on the throne

Rev. 5:6-7 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four
living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all
the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

The fact that he is the lamb, like a lamb that has been slain, speaks of his atonement as a theme of heaven

All creation praises God in heaven
Rev. 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand
times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

Rev. 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them,
singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

Eternity of praise and unspoiled joy

Rev. 7:9-11 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation,
tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and
were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits
on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living
creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,

Rev. 7:15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on
the throne will spread his tent over them.

Rev. 7:17 For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Rev. 14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could
learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

He will judge

Rev. 6:16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the
throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

Rev. 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and
there was no place for them.

Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book
was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

Prayer reaches God's throne now

Exod. 17:16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the
Amalekites from generation to generation."

Hebr. 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help us in our time of need.

Rev. 8:3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer,
with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

We will share his throne

Matt. 19:28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his
glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Rev. 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down
with my Father on his throne.

Our future place

Rev. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live
with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Rev. 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down,
for these words are trustworthy and true."

Rev. 22:1 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

Rev. 22:3 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.