Heaven (Part 16) – What Will We Do in Heaven? (Part A)

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Heaven (Part 16) – What Will We Do in Heaven? (Part A)

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Worship God

1. The saints in the present heaven worship God and sing praises to Him (Rev 5:8-14; Rev 7:9-12).
2. The saints on the new earth will likewise sing praises to God (Isa 35:10).
   1. We will worship God together on the new earth (Isa 66:23).
   2. This passage had a fulfillment in the NT church, but it also points to the new heavens and the new earth (Isa 66:22).

Serve God

1. The saints that came out of great tribulation serve God day and night in His temple in the present heaven (Rev 7:13-15).
   1. Serve – I. To be a servant (to), render service (to). 1. a. intr. To be a servant; to perform the duties of a servant.
   2. Servant n. – 1. A personal or domestic attendant; one whose duty is to wait upon his master or mistress, or do certain work in his or her household.
2. The saints on the new earth likewise serve God in His presence (Rev 22:3-4).

Rest

1. Our rest began in this life when we first believed on Jesus Christ and ceased from our own works and entered into spiritual rest for our souls (Heb 4:3, 9-11; Mat 11:28-30).
2. Our rest will be complete in the present heaven (Isa 57:1-2; Rev 6:11; Rev 14:13).
   1. We will finally get to rest from the battles we fight with sin, Satan, the world, and ourselves (Gal 5:17; 1Pe 2:11; Rom 7:14-25; Mat 26:41).
   2. Our warfare will finally be accomplished (Isa 40:1-2).
3. Our rest will continue in the new earth after the resurrection (Isa 11:10).
   1. This verse was partially fulfilled in the NT church when the Gentiles entered it and found rest in Christ.
   2. But the ultimate fulfillment of it will be in the new earth which is the broader context (Isa 11:6-9 c/w Isa 65:17-25).

Work

1. Contrary to popular belief, in heaven we will not be sitting on clouds strumming harps all day long, nor will we be sitting around doing nothing, nor will we be assembled worshipping God nonstop either.
2. In addition to worship and rest, we will also be working in heaven.
3. Work was not part of the curse that resulted because of the fall of man.
   1. Adam was given work to do in the garden of Eden before sin entered the world (Gen 2:15, 19-20).
   2. Due to the curse, work was made painful, frustrating, and wearying (Gen 3:17-19).
   3. Heaven (specifically the new earth) is a restoration and glorification of the original creation (see Section IX – The nature of the new earth).
   4. Therefore, we should expect to have profitable and enjoyable work to do in heaven.
4. In the present heaven we will serve God, which is labor (Rev 7:13-15) (see above).
5. In the new earth we will likewise have work to do.
   1. We will serve God there also (Rev 22:3-4).
   2. We will also have other work to do as well on the new earth.
   3. We will plant vineyards (Isa 65:21).
      1. This is similar to the work Adam did prior to the fall.
      2. After the flood on the “new” earth Noah planted a vineyard (Gen 9:20).
      3. This might just have been a shadow of things to come on the new earth.
   4. We will enjoy the work of our hands (Isa 65:22).
      1. Enjoy v. – 1. a. intr. To be in joy, or in a joyous state; to manifest joy, exult, rejoice.  2.  a. trans. To put into a joyous condition; to make happy, give pleasure to.  b. refl. To experience pleasure, be happy; now chiefly, to find pleasure in an occasion of festivity or social intercourse, in a period of recreation, etc.  3. a. trans. To possess, use, or experience with delight. Also with reference to the feeling only: To take delight in, relish.  4. a. In weaker sense: To have the use or benefit of, have for one’s lot (something which affords pleasure, or is of the nature of an advantage).
      2. Work n. – I. 1. Something that is or was done; what a person does or did; an act, deed, proceeding, business; 2. Something to be done, or something to do; what a person (or thing) has or had to do; occupation, employment, business, task, function.
      3. We will experience joy, happiness, and pleasure in whatever we do in heaven.
      4. We will also get to keep the fruit of our labor and enjoy it in heaven without having it confiscated by thieves and criminals (both inside and outside of government) (Isa 65:22 c/w Pro 27:18).
   5. We will not labour in vain (Isa 65:23).
      1. It doesn’t say that we shall not labour, but that we shall not labour in vain.
      2. Labour v. – 1. To spend labour upon (the ground, vegetable growths, etc.); to till, cultivate. 2. a. gen. To spend labour upon; to work upon; to produce or execute with labour.  II. Intransitive senses.  11. a. To use labour, to exert one’s powers of body or mind; in early use chiefly said of physical work, esp. performed with the object of gaining a livelihood; to exert oneself, toil; to work, esp. to work hard or against difficulties.
      3. Labour n. – 1. a. Exertion of the faculties of the body or mind, esp. when painful or compulsory; bodily or mental toil. hard labour: see hard a. 19b. to do one’s labour: to exert oneself, make efforts (to do something).
      4. Vain adj. – I. 1. Devoid of real value, worth, or significance; idle, unprofitable, useless, worthless; of no effect, force, or power; fruitless, futile, unavailing.
      5. Our work, whether physical or mental, may be hard at times in heaven, but it will never be unprofitable, worthless, fruitless, or futile.
      6. We will always have satisfaction in our work and something to show for it after a hard day’s labour.
   6. There will be no more laboring in sorrow and sighing (Isa 35:10).
      1. Sorrow n. – 1. a. Distress of mind caused by loss, suffering, disappointment, etc.; grief, deep sadness or regret; also, that which causes grief or melancholy; affliction, trouble.
      2. Sigh n. – 1. A sudden, prolonged, deep and more or less audible respiration, following on a deep-drawn breath, and esp. indicating or expressing dejection, weariness, longing, pain, or relief.
      3. Our work will not make us stressed, disappointed, or sad.
      4. We will never be letting out deep sighs at the disappointments of work or the weariness of it.