The Infinity of Heaven

[Chorister]

Hi,

Are there any verses anywhere in Scripture that talk about the infinity of Heaven or its vastness or maybe about the number of souls that go there?

I’m talking to somebody who is worried that there might not be enough “places” in Heaven and while I explained to her that because of Heaven’s super-materiality, the number of “places” is irrelevant, I’d really love to offer some Scripture to back that up.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MarcoPolo]

According to Ludwig Ott’s Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, the number of people that go to heaven is fixed:
*The resolve of Predestination, as an act of the divine knowledge and will, is as immutable as the Divine Essence itself. The number of those who are registered in the Book of Life (Phil 4:3, Rev 17:8; cf. Lk 10:20) is formally and materially fixed, that is, God knows and determines with infallible certainty in advance, how many and which men will be saved . . .*However, this means God knows before time who will respond to His grace and therefore knows everyone who ever lived that goes to heaven. You can read the whole thing here.

The number of souls is unclear, however, Scripture calls those in heaven “few” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Your friend should not be worried that there are not “enough places” in heaven. While the number is known to God, He will accept as many as come to Him. He won’t run out of room. He doesn’t operate on the condition of saving those who do His will*
*while supplies last.

Perhaps she could use comfort of verses like:
1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved…
She just needs to follow Him and she’s set.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Chorister,

As of now, before the final resurrection, heaven is not really a place, since only the souls of the departed, spiritual beings, can enjoy it. Essentially, heaven is the “beatific vision”, the contemplation of God “face to face”, as He is. He is like a book, so interesting that you do not notice eternity go by. As for heaven, after the final resurrection, Revelation (Apocaplypse) speaks of a “new heaven” and a “new earth” for us to live in. What this really means is open to speculation, but our bodies will occupy space so they will need a place to “be” in.

But let us remember that these will be “spiritual” bodies, not in the sense that they will not be real, material bodies, but in the senses that they will be endowed with special gifts. What these gifts may be we get an inkling of by reading the gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. He could go instantly from one place to another; he could go through walls etc. And of course we won’t be subject to illness or death or any kind of suffering.

Anyway, you can be sure that God has found a way to accomodate all of us.

Does this answer your question?

Verbum