An Apologetical Explanation of

Heaven

What is Heaven?

“In my Father’s house are many rooms…. And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  (Jn 14:2-3)

The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first’ then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.  (1 Thes 4:16-17)

I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men.  He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”  (Rev 21:1-4)

Heaven is the state of eternal happiness and everlasting life with God.  In Heaven we will share completely in the divine life of God and enjoy perfect happiness and complete fulfillment beyond human imagination.  “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, / nor the heart of man conceived, / what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9)

In Scripture the word Heaven designates the dwelling-place of God, his angels, and the saints.

The blessed in Heaven behold the immediate vision of God and remain in perfect communion with him and with one another; they become like God in glory and enjoy eternal happiness.  Each person receives the full measure of happiness that he or she can desire.  (Cf. CCC 1023-1027)

The essential happiness of Heaven consists in the Beatific Vision—the immediate vision of God—in the vision of creatures in God, and in the infinite joy of their vision. (Cf CCC 1028, 1045)  The blessed possess all that is good in a union of perfect love, and sharing in one another’s happiness only increases their own (cf. The Catechetical Instructions of St. Thomas Aquinas, pp. 74-76).  Meeting those whom we loved while on earth will give a special joy.  (Cf. CCC 1022, 1038)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraphs 1024 and 1027.

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To get a hardcopy of these Apologetics or the Didache Bible please visit the Midwest Theological Forum (publisher) at: http://www.theologicalforum.org