Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Heaven (the final state of the redeemed)

The everlasting life of the redeemed with God after the resurrection — not a disembodied elsewhere but resurrection life in a renewed creation, with God dwelling among his people and the redeemed seeing his face.

Old English heofon; in Scripture 'heaven' is God's dwelling and, by extension, the redeemed's destiny — though the final hope is 'a new heaven and a new earth'.

Isaiah 25:6–9; 65:17–25; Matthew 5:12; 13:43; 25:34; John 14:2–3; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 21:1–22:5.

Recent theology (N. T. Wright, and much evangelical writing) has corrected a popular 'souls in the clouds' picture: the biblical hope is bodily, on a remade earth, communal (a city, a people), active ('they reign'), and centred on the vision of God. The intermediate state ('with Christ' at death) is real but provisional, awaiting the resurrection.

Its heart is the beatific vision — 'they will see his face' (Rev 22:4); 'we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is' (1 John 3:2). Degrees of reward are indicated, though all are fully blessed.

The nature of the beatific vision (seeing the essence — Aquinas; participating in the energies — the East); how much continuity between this world and the new earth; the reality and nature of degrees of reward.

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