I once read an illustration from the book "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn in which he attempts to correct several misconceptions people have about the eternal state. In his book he wrote that a pastor once confessed to him that when he thinks of heaven, it makes him depressed. After asking him why he felt this way, the man replied that he couldn’t stand the thought of all the endless tedium that will be in heaven. He said that floating around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp would be terribly boring. He didn’t see any difference from Hell. He said he would rather be annihilated than spend eternity in a place like that.

All I can say in response to that assumption is "how sad." How could someone, much less a pastor, have the idea that Heaven will be just floating on clouds and playing harps? Fortunately, God did leave us with a vision of what Heaven will be like. Some of that vision is right here in Revelation 21.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. 7 The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. 8 But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars —their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” The New Jerusalem 9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the 12 tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The city wall had 12 foundations, and the 12 names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles were on the foundations. 15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. 18 The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Isn't that a beautiful portrait of eternity with the Lord? John is borrowing from Genesis, Isaiah, and Ezekiel to describe the new creation. These Old Testament promises find their fulfillment in (Revelation 21-22). On so many occasions Christians picture eternity in a nonphysical and nonliteral way, but this passage and really the entire Bible stress a transformed physical universe similar to what God has already created. This final vision that John gives his readers in these remaining two chapters stresses the main goal and theme of the entire Bible. It is God's presence among His people in the new creation.

The best way to imagine what the new creation will be like is to think of the current creation in all of its beauty, glory, and power without the presence of any kind of evil. But honestly, that too falls short of eternities true reality. Although it is still the best way to wrap your mind around what is beyond the human mind's ability to grasp.

Even our human language could never develop the words to describe what life is like in the presence of God. Maybe that is why John used words like "no more death, mourning, crying, or pain." When John does use positive images he connects them to our relationship with the Lord; God as faithful husband (verse 2), God's tender hand wiping away tears from our face (verse 4), God giving a drink of water to a parched traveler (verse 6), God, the King, giving the kingdom inheritance not to His subjects but to His children (verse 7).

The Apostle Paul put it so well in (1 Corinthians 13:12) "For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known." It is almost like we are looking at a black and white photo of a friend or family member instead of seeing that person face-to-face in living color.

If you and I think the comfort and love we experience now from God's indwelling Holy Spirit is amazing and awesome, just wait till we encounter God in all His splendor and glory as we dwell in His very presence. At this moment we only see a faint preview.