The Beauty of Heaven: Insights from Revelation
By Elizabeth Prata
Do you think about heaven? Sometimes we get busy and forget there is a home waiting for us. We forget this is not our home and we are temporary pilgrims here on earth living a life that is a mere shadow of the real life we will be living ‘over yonder.’
Paul said what is waiting for us is beyond anything we can imagine. The words he heard were inexpressible which a man is not allowed to speak, and the revelations were great.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Our God is a God of beauty, and He will lavish His beauty on the city He is preparing for His people.“
John wrote down what he was instructed and we have a vision of heaven in Revelation 4 and 5, 21 and 22. Of course we have Ezekiel and Isaiah’s visions as well which give us a glimpse. (Ezekiel 1, Isaiah 6).
Revelation 21:21b says,
And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
BUT, the whole city is of gold! Revelation 21:18b says,
and the city was pure gold, like clear glass
What a sight that will be! God’s glory will shine everywhere.
Matthew Henry’s Whole Commentary makes a note,
The light of this city. Where there is no light, there can be no lustre nor pleasure. Heaven is the inheritance of the saints in light. But what is that light? There is no sun nor moon shining there, v. 23. Light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is to behold the sun. What a dismal world would this be if it were not for the light of the sun! What is there in heaven that supplies the want of it? There is no want of the light of the sun, for the glory of God lightens that city, and the Lamb is the light thereof. God in Christ will be an everlasting fountain of knowledge and joy to the saints in heaven; and, if so, there is no need of the sun or moon, any more than we here need to set up candles at noon day, when the sun shineth in its strength
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2484). Hendrickson.
Further Reading
What does the Bible say about heaven? Randy Alcorn.
Heaven: A World of Love by Jonathan Edwards, read online at Chapel Library or download
