What is Heaven?

[Singinbeauty]

To you, what is Heaven? This is like the ‘What is Hell?’ question. I would like to know what you perceive Heaven to be like. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut!

 

[Verbum]

Hi Singin__,

Heaven is seeing God “face to face”, as the expression of St. Paul is.

Being able to contemplate God is like reading a book so enthralling that you don’t see time gooing by for all eternity.

Revelation speaks of a new heaven and a new earth after the Second Coming of Jesus. Some think this may mean that, following the resurrection of bodies, we shall continue to live in a new earth where there will be no pain, physical or moral. At any rate, since we shall have bodies, we will have to be in a a place.

As for hell, right now it is not a place; it is only a state, since the souls of the damned, if any, are spiritual. After the resurrection, who knows. Maybe they will have to keep living on earth, earning t heir bread by the sweat of their brow, still be subject to sickness and pain.

For church doctrine on these matters, you may want to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church starting with par. 1020. You can read it online by clicking scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a12.htm#1049

Verbum

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

Well, this is purely my feelings about what it might be like. I don’t think my earthly human imagination is quite capable of coming up with an accurate picture of Heaven, but this is how I picture it. I imagine it being like Earth, only without even a hint of sin, pain, or death. We are able to walk and talk with God, as well as all the saints who are there with us. Maybe one day (if there are days) I’ll have lunch (if we eat) with Saint Peter, and later I’ll have dinner with one of my great-great-great-grandchildren. I imagine myself going on long walks through vast forests, climbing high mountains and running for hours (without getting tired) through grassy plains. At any rate, I know Heaven will be so far beyond anything I can imagine.

I will say what I think Heaven is not. I definitely don’t think it’s like an eternal church service, as I’ve heard some people suggest. I also don’t think it’s just sitting on clouds and playing harps (although I wouldn’t mind trying both).

God Bless!

 

[Fidelis]

Again (as from the What Is Hell" threadhttp://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=76223), from the Catechism:

**II. HEAVEN **

1023 Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they “see him as he is,” face to face:598

By virtue of our apostolic authority, we define the following: According to the general disposition of God, the souls of all the saints . . . and other faithful who died after receiving Christ’s holy Baptism (provided they were not in need of purification when they died, . . . or, if they then did need or will need some purification, when they have been purified after death, . . .) already before they take up their bodies again and before the general judgment - and this since the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into heaven - have been, are and will be in heaven, in the heavenly Kingdom and celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels. Since the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, these souls have seen and do see the divine essence with an intuitive vision, and even face to face, without the mediation of any creature.599

1024 This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity - this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed - is called “heaven.” Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.

1025 To live in heaven is “to be with Christ.” The elect live "in Christ,"600 but they retain, or rather find, their true identity, their own name.601

For life is to be with Christ; where Christ is, there is life, there is the kingdom.602

1026 By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has “opened” heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.

1027 This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him."603

**1028 ** Because of his transcendence, God cannot be seen as he is, unless he himself opens up his mystery to man’s immediate contemplation and gives him the capacity for it. The Church calls this contemplation of God in his heavenly glory “the beatific vision”:

How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God, . . . to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God’s friends.604

1029 In the glory of heaven the blessed continue joyfully to fulfill God’s will in relation to other men and to all creation. Already they reign with Christ; with him "they shall reign for ever and ever."605

598 1 Jn 3:2; cf. 1 Cor 13:12; Rev 22:4.
599 Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336):ds 1000; cf. LG 49.
600 Phil 1:23; cf. Jn 14:3; 1 Thess 4:17.
601 Cf. Rev 2:17.
602 St. Ambrose, In Luc.,10,121L 15 1834A.
603 1 Cor 2:9.
604 St. Cyprian, Ep. 58,10,1:CSEL 3/2,665.
605 Rev 22:5; cf. Mt 25:21,23.