What Will Heaven Be Like?

Many books have been written about heaven.  Numerous people even claim to have visited heaven in a "near death" experience.



But honestly, the answer is...we don't know what heaven will be like.  

Genesis 5 records that Enoch "walked with God...and...God took him."

From Martin Luther's lectures on Genesis:

But what sort of life it is that [Enoch] is now living, we who are still flesh and blood cannot know. For us it is enough to know that he was taken away also in respect to his body...But what Enoch is doing, where he is, and how he is living, we do not know. We know that he is living, but surely not this physical life; for he is with God...God desired to impart to the...world the hope of a better life after this life.

The experience of Enoch is recorded for our comfort and for our hope.
 
The apostle Paul recounts a revelation he had of the "third" heaven:

...and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter...because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.       2 Corinthians 12:4, 7 

In discussions and debates about Paul's famous "thorn in the flesh" we often miss the reason for that thorn - Paul's knowledge of heaven.

Detailed insight into heaven is God's privilege and not mine.  But He gives His Word for my comfort and hope.

These passages come to mind:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.    1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 57

And [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:43

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 

...and so we will always be with the Lord.                                     1 Thessalonians 4:17b

The truth of heaven is...heaven is not just a better version of this world, where everything runs perfectly. There's something more, and that more is God.  In heaven, we will fear, love, and trust God above all things, and be in a perfect relationship with Him, and we will be with Him.