Questions on Heaven from Corban University Students

Last month I did a Q&A on Heaven at Corban University’s chapel. I enjoyed meeting students and sharing what God’s word says about our eternal home. (I’ll be going back to Corban in May to teach a three-day graduate course titled “Spend 3 Days in Heaven,” which can be taken for credit or audited. If, and only if, it’s what God has for you and you’re able to travel to Oregon, I would love to see you there. Learn more about the class.)

During the chapel session, students submitted some great questions, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to get to all of them. Campus Pastor Dan Huber shared the remaining questions with me, so I wanted to provide answers for the students and also for anyone who has had similar questions. Special thanks to EPM staff member Julia Stager, who pulled all these answers together!

Here’s the full-length video of the session.

Here are some highlights from the students’ questions. I’ve also included the complete list below.

How can we start a conversation with unbelievers on Heaven, especially those (unbelievers) in our own homes?

See Is the subject of Heaven a good evangelistic topic? and How can I be better prepared for evangelism?


Was Heaven created as a result of The Fall?

See Was Heaven created as a result of the Fall?


Is Heaven a real physical place somewhere in this universe?

Answered at Will Heaven really change locations?


We all really like food. :) Will we eat good food in Heaven?

See Will we eat good food in Heaven? How will it taste like?


What is your response to the book Heaven is for Real? What do you think of the people who claim to have seen Heaven or Hell and then return to this world? What is your view on stories involving an unbelieving person dying, getting a glimpse of Hell, and then returning to life to tell of the story?

See my blog post Heaven is for Real, 90 Minutes in Heaven, and other books about visits to Heaven or Hell

      

The full list of questions and answers:

Will we instantly know other believers in Heaven even if we had never met them on earth? 

Answered at Once in heaven, will people know and recognize those they knew on earth?

On this new planet, is there going to be knowledge of good and evil? Could the new planet turn out with sin just like this one?

Answered at Will we have the opportunity to sin in Heaven?

If we are all rulers in the New Earth, who will be ruled? How does that work/look?

Answered at How does having a servant’s heart affect one’s rewards in Heaven?

Will knowing some of our loved ones are not with us in Heaven make us sad? I have a hard time seeing myself joyful in Heaven knowing that some of my friends and family are in hell and it's too late to do anything. Your thoughts?

Answered at If our loved ones are in Hell, won’t that spoil Heaven?

If we will live on the New Earth, what is the purpose of the New Heaven?

Answered at What does the Bible mean by the term New Heavens?

We all really like food. :) Will we eat good food in Heaven?

See Will we eat good food in Heaven? How will it taste like?

What will we do in Heaven? Will we be with people from our lives, recognize them and even "socialize" with them?

Answered at What will do in Heaven?

What if something tragic has happened but it’s not your fault, but you keep blaming yourself for it? And you can’t stop.

See Guilt, God and Self-Esteem and I carry around unbearable guilt. Is there any hope for me?

How can we start a conversation with unbelievers on Heaven, especially those (unbelievers) in our own homes?

See Is the subject of Heaven a good evangelistic topic? and How can I be better prepared for evangelism?

What does Heaven look like now? Do people have bodies now?

Answered at What will our bodies be like in the present, intermediate Heaven?

My church read your book about Heaven and everyone is excited about Heaven; I’m concerned because now many don’t want to face this world.

See Heavenly Minded and of Earthly Good

What do you think about Rob Bell's idea of Heaven?

See my blog post Rob Bell’s Love Wins

How can we do all things for the glory of God? How would I go about watching football for the glory of God?

See Culture, Creator, and Anticipating a Redeemed Earth

In Mark 12:18-27 it discusses marriage at the resurrection. Will there really be no marriage then or am I misreading?

Answered at Will there be marriage in Heaven?

Will the New Earth have the same land masses as now?

Answered at New Song, New Car, New Earth

Do those in Heaven, like family members and friends, know how we are doing here on earth?

Answered at Do people now in Heaven know what’s happening on earth?

Do you think there will be animals in Heaven? Specifically, will OUR animals be in Heaven?

See Will there be animals in Heaven? and Pets in Heaven?

Will there be sports in Heaven?

Answered in my blog post Faith and Football

Do unborn babies go to Heaven?

See “If an unborn baby is better off in God’s presence…” See also Do infants go to Heaven when they die? and Will we be reunited with children who have died?

What is your response to the book Heaven is for Real? What do you think of the people who claim to have seen Heaven or Hell and then return to this world? What is your view on stories involving an unbelieving person dying, getting a glimpse of Hell, and then returning to life to tell of the story?

See my blog post Heaven is for Real, 90 Minutes in Heaven, and other books about visits to Heaven or Hell

Can you expound upon 2 Cor. 12 and the differences between the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Heaven?

See What is the first, second, and third Heaven?

Is Heaven a real physical place somewhere in this universe?

Answered at Will Heave really change locations?

Will we remember anything from our lives here on earth when we are in Heaven?

Answered at Do people now in Heaven remember what happened on earth?

I have been tempted to do things I shouldn’t be doing, and I want to stop, but things have happened to make me want to keep doing it. How do I stop?

See Is there hope for me and my addiction?

If Heaven is real, what proof of it can we see on earth?

See Is Heaven real? The evidence for Heaven (video)

How will the treasures I've "stored up in Heaven" affect my life there? How much should "heavenly rewards" factor into our anticipation of heaven?

See How much will rewards really matter on the New Earth? and How does a servant’s heart affect one’s rewards in Heaven?

Where does a believer go when he or she dies? Straight to Heaven or is there a waiting period until Christ returns?

See Are we instantly with the Lord when we die?

Will we be able to see those suffering in hell from heaven? Will they be able to see us?

Answered at Is there awareness in Heaven of events on earth?

There's not a whole lot said in the Bible about what it will be like in Heaven. Why do you think that is?

See What does the Bible say about Heaven?

On page 8 in your heaven booklet you say that we will go to a place without suffering but it's not Heaven. Where in the Bible does it say that?

The booklet says that the place we go when we die IS Heaven, but it is the present Heaven, not the future or eternal Heaven. See Present Heaven vs. Eternal Heaven

Was Heaven created as a result of The Fall?

See Was Heaven created as a result of the Fall?

What made you want to be a writer and does your writing help you express your faith and help you grow closer to God?

See Writing as Ministry First, Vocation Second; Why I Write Fiction, and Creativity in Writing; and browse the rest of my blog posts on writing.

The Lord’s Prayer says “your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” What do you think it means to bring heaven to earth? Examples?

See The Ultimate Answer to the Lord’s Prayer “They will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven”

Do we, as believers, have the ability to bring 'Heaven' to earth? i.e. some ministries entire theology being based around this (signs and wonders).

I’ve not yet addressed this topic, but will in my next book to some degree. For a fairly balanced approach to this subject, see “Signs and Wonders,” a sermon by Henry Dixon.

Do you think the dispensationalist perspective affects your view of Heaven?

Generally, one of the most contentious issues regarding the dispensationalist perspective is in relation to the millennial kingdom. For more on this, see Further Thoughts on the Millennium