I went on retreat with the women of my church this past weekend, and our topic of study for the three day weekend was Heaven. It’s been a sort of continuation of January’s book club topic.

Anyway, I thought I’d share with you a selection of quotations, songs, Bible verses, pictures, and miscellany relating to Heaven. Enjoy. Even as we repent and remember that we are ashes, we also have the hope that we will someday be like Him for we will see Him face to face.

Revelation 21:2-3 (NKJV): Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOd, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people. God himself will be with them and be their God.”

“Wherever we go and whatever we do, we’ll never leave the presence of the King. For although he dwells especially in the New Jerusalem, he will yet be present in the far reaches of the new universe—in which every subatomic particle will shout his glory.” ~Heaven by Randy Alcorn, p. 260.

“I do live expecting great things in the life that is ripening for me and all mine—when we shall have all the universe for our own, and be good merry helpful children in the great house of our Father. Then, darling, you and I and all will have grand liberty wherewith Christ makes free—opening his hand to send us out like white doves to range the universe.” ~George Macdonald

The nearer my approach to the end, the plainer is the sound of immortal symphonies of worlds which invite me. For half a century I have been translating my thoughts into prose and verse: history, philosophy, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song; all of these I have tried. But I feel I haven’t given utterance to the thousandth part of what lies within me. When I go to the grave I can say, as others have said, “My day’s work is done.” But I cannot say, “My life is done.” My work will recommence the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes upon the twilight, but opens upon the dawn. ~Victor Hugo

“If the earth is fit for laughter then surely heaven is filled with it. Heaven is the birthplace of laughter.” ~Martin Luther

“If the Lord should bring a wicked man to heaven, heaven would be hell to him; for he who loves not grace upon earth will never love it in heaven” ~Christopher Love.

“To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.” ~Jonathan Edwards.

Revelation 5:12-13 (NKJV): “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Peter Kreeft: What Will Heaven Be Like?

Heaven at Semicolon Book Club, January, 2009.

A Heavenly Hymn: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.

Wherever God is, there is heaven. ~Teresa of Avila