Resources by Topic: Heaven

Though there is nothing specific in Scripture to answer this question, Randy Alcorn validates the possibility of some type of economy. It's clear that people will be productive and that everyone will be provided for in God's Kingdom. But we do not know what system the Lord will use. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Randy Alcorn explains that Scripture doesn't give us many details about things outside of the New Jerusalem. But it does seem to indicate that there are many nations and many people on the the New Earth living outside the New Jerusalem. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Revelation is not the only book that talks about the New Earth. Randy Alcorn looks at a passage in Ezekiel that is consistent in detail with the description of the New Earth in Revelation 21 and 22. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Randy Alcorn discusses several verses from Revelation 21 and 22 that describe the New Jerusalem. They tell us that it will be a place of beauty and natural wonder. And the Tree of Life is at the center of this paradise. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Heaven is described in Scripture as a country, a city and our home. But we often transfer our negative feelings toward these three things in this life onto our concept of heaven. In this video Randy Alcorn encourages us to not let our present understandings color our view of heaven. Heaven will be perfect - all of the good with none of the bad. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Some wonder if on the New Earth all the redeemed will live within the New Jerusalem or if some will live among the nations surrounding the city. Randy Alcorn shares some thoughts regarding this question and makes some helpful distinctions. He ends by reassuring that we will be completely fulfilled wherever we live. 

Randy Alcorn answers this question emphasizing that moral perfection in Heaven does not mean that we all will have exactly the same abilities. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

In a parable Jesus tells of the master who puts his faithful servants in charge of cities. Is ruling cities just a metaphor? Randy Alcorn suggests that it might not be. He quotes Dallas Willard who says that asking if we could rule over a city now is good preparation for eternity. Randy shows what Scripture says about the reality of our rule. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

This parable shows that we all have a term of service to God in this world and that term of service will come to an end. But how will our financial stewardship here affect our life in the Millennium and beyond? Randy Alcorn answers this question from the parable. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Believers often wonder about the connection between suffering and being the heirs of God, which Paul talks about in Romans 8:16-17. Randy Alcorn addresses this by pointing out that a spoiled prince turns into a tyrant king. In contrast to this, suffering in this life prepares us to rule with grace and mercy in the life to come. Randy emphasizes that though we will be made perfect (free of sin) in Heaven, we will not suddenly lose all the growth and refinement we went through on earth. Our life here prepares us for Heaven. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Randy Alcorn quotes Abraham Kuyper, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, who emphasized that the knowledge and dominion that we gain here over this world will continue to be significant in the Kingdom. Randy argrees that there is continuity between this life and the next. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Randy Alcorn quotes Dallas Willard who says that we were created to govern the earth and were therefore made in the divine likeness of God. Randy further clarifies that the statement found in Genesis 1 that we were created in the divine image is in the immediate context of our God given job to rule the earth. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Randy Alcorn quotes several verses showing that in Heaven God will give authority as a reward. And though we will lay our crowns before God like the elders do in Revelation 4:10, this does not mean we will walk away from our positions of leadership as given by God. Rather, the image of laying our crowns before Him demonstrates that our positions of leadership will be dedicated to God. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.

Because of our experiences with hierarchy in this world, the idea of having someone over us and someone under us inherently carries a negative connotation. But Randy Alcorn explains that because God is absolutely good, hierarchy in God's kingdom will not have the negative aspects we experience in this fallen world. All will have some area of responsibility, will be under the authority of someone and possibly have authority over others. This video clip was excerpted from Randy's Eternity 101 DVD class.