Two Recent Views of Heaven

Yesterday I saw the movie Heaven is for Real even though I had earlier said I would not see it because I don't believe people with near-death experiences actually see Heaven. But because of the Christianity Today review and another more in depth discussion for subscribers of the online magazine, I began to realize that anyone's "experience" with God (even visions) is worth listening to and helps me better understand both God and people. Who am I to judge? See a quote from the article in my comment to this post.

This movie is very well done and enjoyable to watch with lots of truths shared, but mostly a movie about love and relationships which after all is mostly what God is about. Since I have not read the book, I cannot compare the two, but it is supposedly based on a true story about 4 year old Colton who nearly dies and tells about heaven afterwards. Not good theology, but an enjoyable movie to watch with some fresh takes on Heaven, even though I still doubt that it actually happened as presented.


It is not exactly a contrast to the Broadway Play The Great Divorce I saw a couple of weeks ago, but it is certainly a different view of Heaven! I liked them both, but having already read the book The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, I still see it as more like my vision of Heaven than little Colton's. But they are both worthy of seeing and discussing from two totally different perspectives.

Either way, I still look forward to being there!

A New Heaven & A New Earth & A New Eden

Revelation Chapters 21 & 22

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

22 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 ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 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.⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

This morning's worship service focused on Heaven as described in Revelation