1 Corinthians 15:20–26
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Storytelling is at the heart of Christianity. God is a storyteller. We are either enraptured by and absorbed into this story, or we reckon it repugnant and run from the “Once upon a time”. Adam and Eve ate the fruit, bringing death into the world. Yet, in the primordial darkness, the first note of a grand symphony rang: Eve’s offspring would crush the serpent’s head. And two millennia before our time, a baby was born in Bethlehem. He would die and rise again, and in rising, as Paul notes in the passage above, He would secure our resurrection from the dead. In Christ was the death of death and the guarantee of life after death. For this reason, as the hymn says, “our hope springs eternal”. In this article, I seek to focus on one part of this story, namely our eternal hope.
We will begin our brief journey by contemplating what heaven is. It is where God “will wipe away every tear from [his people’s] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Heaven is a great city with “no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:9-23). “By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, its gates shall never be shut by day”, and “there will be no night there” (Revelation 21:24-26). There shall be a “river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” and the “tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.” (Revelation 21:1-2). We shall behold “[God’s] face” and “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:4-5).
One reflection concerning heaven is the presence of other humans. We grow up and naturally drift away from others. It is more than likely that you are no longer in contact with some of your friends from primary school. That is how life works: the strands of time draw us apart. Or death stings. Friends and family die. In heaven, we will see those we have loved again if they have rested in Christ. I imagine that there will be a lot of the following: “I haven’t seen you in years.”, “Darling, we’re home.” and “Weren’t we good friends in high school?”. Long conversations (which even in our world may be a glimpse into heaven) will be part of what it means for Christ to be our lamp, for Christ is the one who draws us together initially (Ephesians 2:13-16).
See You Again by The Gray Havens is a beautiful expression of this future reality. The chorus is this: “Gonna see you again / On the gold streets / Standing next to me, I know / I’m gonna see you again / Darling, won’t be long / Till every trace of trouble is gone / We’ll be together / And I’m not sure what that means / But I know it’ll be better than we ever dreamed / When I see you again”. One could imagine a dying father saying this verse to his child, or a spouse to her husband, or, substituting the “Darling” for “Brother”, a man to his friend. This reality is prefigured in our world: “I always knew you could be like this / I saw flashes and glimpses before”. We will be glorified. The image of God will be restored. The reflections of the deity we saw in one another will be magnified and cemented (Revelation 22:4). We will all form a chorus directing one another to the Lamb.
Another point is the beatific vision. This idea refers to seeing God face to face. It is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). R. C. Sproul writes in his Highland Hymn: “Above the mists of Highland hills / E’en far above the clear blue skies / The end of pain and earthly ills / When we shall see His eyes”. Even now, we experience a glimpse of this vision, for “His face now hidden from our sight / Concealed from ev’ry hidden gaze / In hearts made pure from sinful flight / Is the bliss that will amaze”. But ultimately, “The beatific glory view / That now our souls still long to see / Will make us all at once anew / And like Him forever be”. This reality should grant us great and sure hope. One concert at Sproul’s church played through a collection of his hymns. As Sproul sat in front of the orchestra, his face, worn by theological controversy, burst into childlike wonder. His hands jubilantly mirrored the movements of the conductor. This joy should be ours.
The previous is a supposal. But Christians believe it further to be reality. If Christ is raised, then the beatific vision is certainly ours. We will walk in a city illuminated by the Lamb, giving glory to Him who paid for our sins on the cross. But this city is for those who love the Lamb. Those who hate the Lamb and sin against Him would find no joy even if they were to enter this city. The glory of God, which delights believers, would disintegrate unbelievers. But it is my earnest plea with you that you come to Christ. In Him, there is all forgiveness, joy, and mercy. Outside of Him, there is ruin and misery. That is the heart of Easter.