Revelations of Heaven

I have always been fascinated with what heaven will be like. And I hope mightily to find out one day – through God’s will, His love, grace, and gifts, I long to experience all that heaven is.

And as a Catholic, I believe completely in the existence of heaven and in God’s gift of everlasting life through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. But my concepts of heaven and what it might be like continue to evolve and grow richer as I mature. Childhood concepts that I continue to cling to make me imagine a heaven where I am reunited with loved ones and where there is complete joy – no sadness, envy, anger, or anxiety. My more adult expectations are that I will be more knowledgeable, gaining wisdom as I gaze on the face of God and hear His explanations first-hand. However, a recent reading of a few verses in the book of Revelation brought even more clarity.

Have you ever been in the presence of someone truly “great?” It could be a famous speaker, a renowned musician, a well-known entertainer, or even an international religious figure. This person likely travels with an entourage with tight security, and crowds follow him or her everywhere. If you are lucky enough to get an autograph or exchange a few words with this great person, it will be such a remarkable experience – but so brief, so fleeting, and likely so unmemorable for the great one.

Now for a bit of Revelation (7:15-17): “Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them. They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of the life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Okay, so there’s the Great One upon His throne. And He’s a bit far away with the angels surrounding Him like celestial bouncers. Maybe He’ll notice me as I serve him. And I’m not hungry or thirsty or hot – that’s good, right? And there’s the Lamb to lead me to quenching waters. But wait a minute, there’s that final sentence that brings me such joy. That God will be so close to me that He is able to see my tears, is able to touch my cheek, and loves me so dearly that he wipes away any tear that has fallen.

And it’s that intimacy that we all crave. Whether in a relationship with our spouse, with a dear friend, a child, our God. We want a relationship that is one-on-one and private. We don’t want to gaze on a great one far, far away – we want to feel like we are the most important and most dearly loved human being.

And that’s the revelation that struck me. That in my heavenly life, where I continue to live forever with my Father, He will not be an unapproachable, untouchable being. He loves me so dearly that He craves that intimacy with me, and I will not have to stand in a long queue hoping to get just a few seconds of His time. He will patiently answer my questions, share with me His most intimate secrets, and continue to shower graces and blessings on me, His beloved child.

What are your views on heaven? I look forward to reading your thoughts and thank you for the time you took reading mine.