Heaven a Place of Service and Newness, Says Author
by Allie Martin
November 2, 2004
(AgapePress) - A popular Christian author says many believers have an incomplete view of heaven. It is vital, he says, for them to have a complete understanding of God's plan for them after they die -- a plan that is anything but a never-ending series of church services.In his latest book Heaven, author Randy Alcorn explores what the Bible says about the final destination for those who have a relationship with Christ. He says the resurrection of Jesus is significant not only for believers, but also for the Earth, which he says will eventually be made new and whole along with heaven.
Read a review of Alcorn's book Heaven
"The resurrection is a promise that we will spend eternity as embodied people on a new Earth -- that's what the Bible tells us," Alcorn states. "It could not be more explicit in numbers of passages. This concept of drifting around as disembodied spirits, in a place made for angels, just simply is not true."
According to the author, many Christians have misconceptions about eternity. But the Bible is clear, he says, that a Christian's final destination will be the resurrected Earth and heaven, in resurrected bodies.
"You read in Revelation 22 about the tree of life, about no longer any curse," he says. "His servants will serve Him -- and servants are active; they have stuff to do, places to go, people to see -- and then they will see God's face and they will reign forever and ever."
And where will they reign? "They will reign over the Earth," Alcorn explains. "This is a direct fulfillment of God's commands in Genesis 1 and 2, that man was to rule the Earth to His glory -- so God will fulfill His plan; it has not be thwarted."
Alcorn says it is important to remember that the Bible says a believer will go to the intermediate heaven at death, but eventually will have a bodily resurrection along with a permanent relocation to the new Earth.
