Heaven

by Randy Alcorn

  Mankind glorifies God by taking what God made from nothing and shap­ing it into what is for mankind's good and God's glory. The entire universe—in­cluding angels and living creatures in Heaven—should look at our creative ingenuity, our artistic accomplishments, and see God in us, his image-bearers. If that's true now, how much more will it be true when there's nothing in us to dishonor him?

  We should expect the old Earth's social dynamics to carry over to the New Earth, except when they are a product of our fallenness or when God reveals otherwise. It's true that with engines have come pollution and fatalities. With printing and publishing have come godless books and magazines. With televi­sion has come the glorification of immorality and materialism. Computers have led to Internet pornography. With the splitting of the atom came a destructive bomb and loss of human life. With medical advances have come abortion and euthanasia. Yet none of these negative byproducts is intrinsic to the cultural ad­vances themselves. Imagine those advances used purely for righteous purposes, without sin to taint them.

  What you are imagining is the New Earth.

  WILL WE HAVE ETHNIC AND NATIONAL IDENTITIES?

  Theologian Abraham Kuyper said, "We find it extremely difficult to form any idea of the social state in heaven."285 If by "heaven" Kuyper meant the present Heaven, he was correct. Scripture gives us pictures and hints, certainly, but they're not con­clusive. But if by "heaven" he meant the eternal Heaven, he was wrong.

  We're shown that the eternal Heaven, on the New Earth, will be a physi­cal environment with physical people who work, eat, converse, and hold po­sitions of authority. People live both inside and outside the city, come into each other's homes, travel, and worship together. Leaders of nations will bring the splendor of different cultures into the city where Jesus Christ will reign on the throne. These are only some of the indicators of our "social state" in Heaven.

  Will we have ethnic and national identities? Yes. Is the risen Jesus Jewish?Certainly. Will we know he's Jewish? Of course. Our resurrected DNA will be unflawed, but it will preserve our God-designed uniquenesses, racial and other­wise.

  The elders sing to the Lamb: "You are worthy.... Your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God's Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10, NLT). Who will serve as the New Earth's kings and priests? Not people who were formerly of every tribe, language, peo­ple, and nation. Their distinctions aren't obliterated but continue into the inter­mediate Heaven and then into the eternal Heaven.

  Tribe refers to a person's clan and family lineage. People refers to race. Nation refers to those who share a national identity and culture. Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck said of the New Earth, "All those nations—each in accor­dance with its own distinct national character—bring into the new Jerusalem all they have received from God in the way of glory and honor."286

  Like the current earthly Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem will be a melting pot of ethnic diversity. But unlike the current city, the groups in the New Jerusalem will be united by their common worship of King Jesus. They will delight in each other's differences, never resent or be frightened by them.

  Unfortunately, in this world under the Curse, there's often hostility between races and nations. They're divided by sin, intolerant of differences in appear­ance, language, and culture. Speaking of the racial divide between Jews and Gentiles, Paul says, "For [Christ] himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.... His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16).

  Christ died for our sins of racism. His work on the cross put racism to death. The redemption of mankind and the earth will include the redemption of hu­man relationships and the uniting of different people groups in Christ. Racist groups that purport to be Christian are the opposite of Christian. There will be no racial prejudice in Heaven. There will be no illusions of racial or national su­periority, no disputes over borders.

  Some scholars argue that the image of God has a corporate dimension: "There is no one human individual or group who can fully bear or manifest all that is involved in the image of God, so that there is a sense in which that image is collectively possessed. The image of God is, as it were, parceled out among the peoples of the earth. By looking at different individuals and groups we get glimpses of different aspects of the full image of God."287

  If this is true, and I believe it may be, then racism is not only an injustice to­ward people but also a rejection of God's very nature. On the New Earth we'll never celebrate sin, but we'll celebrate diversity in the biblical sense. We'll never try to keep people out. We'll welcome them in, exercising hospitality to every traveler. Peace on Earth will be rooted in our common ruler, Christ the King, who alone is the source of "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased" (Luke 2:14, NASB).

  Peace on Earth will be accomplished not by the abolition of our differences but by a unifying loyalty to the King, a loyalty that transcends differences—and is enrichedbj them. The kings and leaders of nations will be united because they share the King's righteousness, and they, with him, will rejoice in their differ­ences as a tribute to his creativity and multifaceted character.

  WHAT LANGUAGES WILL WE SPEAK?

  Will there be one central language in Heaven, a language we'll all speak and understand? (The Evangelical Covenant Church in which I became a Christian claimed it would be Swedish.) Scripture says of those with different languages, "They cried out in a loud voice" (Revelation 7:10). This singular "voice" implies a shared language.

  This could be a trade language, Heaven's equivalent to Swahili or English, second languages that many know in addition to their native languages, allow­ing them to communicate. Or the common language could be our primary one. It maybe a universal language God grants us without having to learn it. There's no indication Adam and Eve had to learn Eden's language, though no doubt their vocabulary expanded with use. We may have a similar experience in Heaven.

  God says of many different nations, "You have made them to be a kingdom" (Revelation 5:10). One kingdom, one world, one government. This implies one shared central language.

  God could allow us to understand all languages even if we can't speak them. (Science fiction portrays this with a "universal translator.") But Scripture seems to suggest more. The Babel account offers clues as to the importance of shared language in an ideal society. "Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.. . . Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.' . . . The Lord said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have be­gun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them'" (Gen­esis 11:1,4,6).

  God then confused their language and dispersed them, so their great city went unfinished. Notice that all people originally shared one language, which empowered them to cooperate together in great achievements. But because they were united in self-glorification rather than God-glorification, they em­braced a false unity that would've empowered further rebellion and self-destruction. Because the people weren't united around their God-designed pur­pose to rule the earth for his glory, God removed a source of their destructive unity and power—their shared language.

  In reversing the Curse, God will reverse Babel. Instead of people's building a city for their glory, God will build a city for them, uniting them for his glory. In Genesis 11 the people attempted to connect Earth to Heaven with their city, making Heaven one with Earth. In Revelation 21 God brings Heaven down to Earth, in his city, making Earth one with Heaven.

  Once mankind is made righteous and entrusted with stewarding the New Earth, God will likely again restore a common language (perhaps the same as
Eden's, which apparently existed until Babel). Why? To make communication easy, not frustrating, and to enhance cooperation and cultural accomplish­ments.

  This common language would make it so that "nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (Genesis 11:6). When the human heart is evil, that's bad; when the human heart is righteous, that's good. On the New Earth, all we propose to do will be for God's glory and our good. God will no longer need to protect us from ourselves. We will never unite to destroy and exploit, only to create and enhance. A shared language will likely be God's gift to em­power us.

  Nonetheless, it seems likely that in addition to our common language, we will maintain our current languages. Although the confusion of languages at Babel was originally a curse, the gatherings in Heaven of people of every nation, tribe, and language show that God will unite forever the people divided at Ba­bel—not by eliminating their differences, but by eliminating sin, suspicion, and hostility.

  Some argue from the Babel account that the existence of a variety of nations and languages is an aberration of God's ideal. Therefore, they conclude, it makes no sense that there would be more than one nation on the New Earth. But this perspective fails to take into account God's ability to accomplish his purposes even through human rebellion. It is God (not human sin or a curse) who is given credit for the making of nations: "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live" (Acts 17:26). Even if it defies our logic (though in my opinion it shouldn't), Scripture is ex­plicit about the fact that there will be different nations, and kings of those na­tions, on the New Earth (Revelation 21:24-26). Whether they will speak different languages is a matter of opinion, but the existence of different nations is directly revealed.

  Through understanding other languages, we'll broaden our view of God. "Is it possible that in heaven, we will have a word or words for 'worship' that will in­clude all the connotations from all the languages of the world?"288 I think it's likely.

  The diversity of languages provides a wider range of opportunity to glorify God: "We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (Acts 2:11). In Heaven we may hear people use a certain word from their language to describe one of God's attributes, and we may suddenly respond, "Yes, that's it! That's what I was trying to understand!"

  In Heaven will Cambodians place their hands together and bow their heads in greeting? Will Kenyans dance to their distinctive drumbeats? Will Argentin­eans love soccer? Will Cubans speak Spanish and Britons speak English and Brazilians speak Portuguese? Why wouldn't they?

  We won't be omniscient, so it's doubtful we'll know all languages. But cer­tainly we could learn them much faster. Those of us who aren't naturally gifted in languages may be amazed at our abilities. Language experts, including translators, may see their skills pick up where they left off and further develop at unprecedented rates. They'll have eternity to learn as many languages as they wish.

  What purpose will different languages serve on the New Earth? Knowing a language is part of understanding who people are and what their culture is like. As we develop new friendships in Heaven, we might enjoy learning people's first language in order to know them better. Perhaps within days or weeks we'll be able to understand new languages. Maybe throughout the course of a dinner conversation we'll steadily pick up the language of new friends, creating a bond and appreciation for them and their culture and our God.

  WILL HEAVEN HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL TRIBES AND LANGUAGES?

  Tribes, peoples, and nations will all make their own particular contribution to the enrichment of life in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 21:24-26). Daniel prophesied that the Messiah would be "given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him" (Daniel 7:14, ESV). Just as the church's diversity of gifts serves the good of others (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), so our diversity will serve everyone's good in the new universe. Cornelius Venema wrote, "Nothing of the diversity of the nations and peoples, their cultural products, languages, arts, sciences, literature, and technology—so far as these are good and excellent—will be lost upon life in the new creation."289

  Consider what it will be like to see the Masai of Kenya, the Dinka of Sudan, the Hmong, Athabaskans, Tibetans, Aucans, Icelanders, Macedonians, Moldovans, Moroccans, and Peruvians. Hundreds of nations, thousands of people groups will gather to worship Christ. And many national and cultural distinctives, untouched by sin, will continue to the glory of God.

  God brings good even out of evil. His judgment on Babel accomplished his good purpose of creating a diversity of nations and languages, which would bring him glory through Christ's redemptive work. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he deter­mined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live" (Acts 17:26). The nations are not afterthoughts or accidents.

  Although Israel has been the apple of God's eye, Scripture is full of affirma­tions that God's desire is to be glorified in all nations of the earth. God prom­ised to make Abraham "the father of many nations" and told him "through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed" (Genesis 17:4; 22:18). Scholars make various theological distinctions between Israel and the church, but the New Jerusalem includes "the twelve tribes of Israel" (Revelation 21:12) and is also called the bride of Christ, which is the church (Revelation 21:9). Paul says to the church in Galatia, "the Jerusalem that is above . . . is our mother" (Galatians 4:26). God has one bride, yet she consists of a wide diversity of peo­ple who will be healed of their divisions while maintaining their distinctives, testifying to their Creator's richness.

  Through general revelation, God has made known his presence in people groups and cultures: "In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony" (Acts 14:16-17). God is not a tribal deity. He transcends all cultures yet is evident in all. Each culture has a memory of a time when people knew about God. Consider, for instance, the ancient Chinese language. The character meaning "create" consists of other characters for "speak," "dust," "life," and "walk." The character meaning "devil" consists of "secret," "man," and "garden." The character meaning "boat" combines those of "vessel," "eight," and "people," highly suggestive of Noah's ark. Chinese believers consider these and many other examples as evidence that their five-thousand-year-old lan­guage goes back to a time when biblical truths were well known in their culture.290

  That God will redeem people of every tribe and language suggests that he has special interest in the work of Bible translation, the broad international reach of the JESUS film, and all mission endeavors, especially toward unreached people groups.

  When we see the extent and diversity of Christ's redemption, we'll praise him. When we picture in our minds what Scripture tells us about resurrected people, nations, and cultures on a resurrected Earth, in a resurrected universe—we will think bigger thoughts of God.

  WILL ANCIENT CULTURES BE RESURRECTED TO THE NEW EARTH?

  At Christ's return, the earth will be healed from sin's wounds. These include not only toxic waste and chemical pollution but also cultural and moral pollu­tion. The healing of wounds implies the return to an original condition. If our new bodies will look enough like the old bodies to be recognizable, doesn't this suggest that the New Earth will look enough like the old Earth for us to recognize it?

  The New Earth will still be just as much Earth as the new us will still be us. Our resurrection bodies will have our eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Like Christ's body, ours will maintain their distinguishing features. If our new bodies will so closely correspond to the present ones, won't the New Earth just as closely cor­respond to the present one? Will there be a New Mount Saint Helens and New Himalayas and a New Alaska under the new northern lights? Will there be a New Bermuda, a New Canada, a New Australia?

  My understanding of Scripture suggests that the New Earth
will include not only resurrected geographical locations but also resurrected cultures. The kings of the nations will bring their tribute, splendor, and glory into the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:24,26). There will be not one nation but many. This reference gives us biblical basis to suppose that the best culture, history, art, music, and the lan­guages of the old Earth will be redeemed, purified, and carried over to the New Earth.

  Theologian Anthony Hoekema suggests, "Kings in those days were more than political rulers; they were the representatives and bearers of the cultures of the nations over which they ruled. John is here speaking about the cultural and ar­tistic contributions of various national groups which shall then have made their home in the new Jerusalem.... [I]n the life to come various types of people will retain their unique gifts. These gifts will develop and mature in a sinless way, and will be used to produce new cultural products to the everlasting glory of God's name. "291

  As the Lamb of God he will draw all of the

  goods, artifacts, and instruments of culture to

  himself; the kings of the earth will return their

  authority and power to the Lamb who sits

  upon the throne; Jesus is the one whose

  blood has purchased a multi-national

  community, composed of people from every

  tribe and tongue and nation. His redemptive

  ministry . . . is cosmic in scope.

  RICHARD MOUW

  Surely these kings and cultures who bring their "splendor" and "glory" into the new world a national and personal history, an ethnic identity, and a wealth of customs, art forms, and knowledge. All these will be puri­fied, but that leaves plenty of room for distinctive cultural celebrations, holidays, meals, sports, and many customs.

  Hoekema also says, "The fact that not only kings but nations are mentioned implies that the various cultural contributions of different ethnic groups will then no longer be in competition with each other, but will harmoniously enrich life in the Holy City. Christ, who is the lamp of that city, will then draw all these cultural products into his service, for the glory of his Father."292